Ferries to Sweden

Travemünde - Trelleborg

From Travemünde, you can reach Trelleborg at the southern tip of Sweden (Skåne region). This route is a good option if you're travelling from the Hamburg area or northern Germany. The connection runs several times a day - with departures both during the day and at night. Daytime crossings don't require a cabin, which makes them cheaper; overnight departures offer cabins so you can sleep comfortably on board. Trelleborg is an excellent gateway to southern Sweden, with motorways from there leading on towards Stockholm or along the west coast to Göteborg.

Travemünde - Malmö

As an alternative to the Trelleborg route, there's a connection direct to Malmö. This crossing runs regularly (up to three times a day) and takes around 9 hours straight into Sweden's third-largest city. Malmö lies in southwestern Sweden and is particularly appealing thanks to its closeness to Copenhagen and its modern urban development. Both day and evening departures are available - on the overnight ferry you can sleep in a cabin and arrive in Malmö well-rested in the morning. This route is ideal if your destination is in the Skåne region or you want to start right in the Öresund area.

Rostock - Trelleborg

If you're travelling from Berlin or eastern Germany generally, Rostock is the ideal departure port. The route to Trelleborg (southern Sweden) is also offered several times a day. As with the Travemünde connections, you can choose between affordable day crossings without a cabin and comfortable overnight crossings with a cabin. The crossing takes around 6-7 hours. This route is especially handy for getting to southern Sweden quickly - you land in Trelleborg and can continue your trip through Skåne or further north from there.

Via Denmark to Sweden

The route via Denmark offers flexible combinations of short ferry crossings and driving. Scandlines also offers a combined ticket that covers the ferry crossing and the Öresund Bridge with a single ticket - ideal for a seamless trip to Sweden.

Puttgarden - Rødby (Bird Flight Line)

The classic Bird Flight Line (Vogelfluglinie) connects the German island of Fehmarn with the Danish island of Lolland in just around 45 minutes. From Rødby, it's about a 2-hour drive to Copenhagen, then across the toll Öresund Bridge to Malmö. Alternatively, around 60 km north of Copenhagen, you can take the ferry from Helsingør to Helsingborg in Sweden - well worth it if your destination lies further north in Sweden, since it lands you directly in northwestern Skåne.

Rostock - Gedser

This connection from Rostock to Gedser on Falster (Denmark) is an alternative to the Bird Flight Line and only marginally longer in total travel time. The ferry crossing itself takes about 2 hours. From Gedser you also have a choice: either via the Öresund Bridge near Copenhagen, or - a little further north - by ferry from Helsingør to Helsingborg into Sweden. This route suits travellers from eastern Germany especially well (for example from Berlin), since Rostock is quickly reached by motorway from that direction.

Grenå - Halmstad

For Sweden's west coast, the connection from Grenaa (Jutland, Denmark) to Halmstad is an appealing alternative. Ferries run up to several times a day and the crossing takes around 4.5 hours. You land directly in the province of Halland on Sweden's west coast - ideal for destinations between Göteborg and Malmö. This route lets you skip the detour via Copenhagen and the Öresund Bridge if your holiday destination is on the west coast anyway (for example around Halmstad, Falkenberg or Göteborg).

Frederikshavn - Göteborg

From northern Jutland in Denmark, this route takes you straight to Göteborg. Ferries between Frederikshavn and Göteborg run several times a day, and the crossing takes only about 3 hours. This connection is especially useful if you're already travelling in northern Denmark or starting from there - for example after a holiday on Denmark's North Sea coast. From Göteborg you can continue comfortably to western and central Sweden, or even head towards Norway.

Via Poland to Sweden

If you're travelling from eastern Germany, the Polish ferry routes are often the shortest and cheapest connections to Sweden. The Polish Baltic ports lie close to the German border and offer affordable crossings, which makes them especially attractive for travellers from Berlin, Brandenburg and the surrounding area.

Świnoujście - Malmö

Located right on the German-Polish border on the island of Usedom, Świnoujście (Swinemünde) offers an affordable alternative to the German Baltic ports. The crossing to Malmö takes about 8-9 hours and usually runs as an overnight ferry. You board in the evening, sleep in a cabin and arrive well-rested in Malmö the next morning. This connection is particularly appealing if you're coming from Berlin or Brandenburg - the drive to Swinemünde is short, and you reach southwestern Sweden comfortably overnight.

Świnoujście - Trelleborg

The connection from Świnoujście to Trelleborg in southern Sweden is also an affordable option. Thanks to the short drive across the border (Swinemünde is quickly reached from eastern Germany), you save both time and fuel. The ferry takes around 6-7 hours; there are daytime departures and often late-night ones too, so you can cross overnight if you prefer. Trelleborg sits in Skåne at the very southern tip of Sweden - from there you have good connections towards Malmö, Göteborg or inland.

Świnoujście - Ystad

The third option from Świnoujście goes to Ystad in Scania (Skåne). This charming coastal town isn't just a pleasant arrival point - it's also an ideal base for exploring southern Sweden, from the idyllic archipelagos and the Skåne region to the provinces of Blekinge and Småland further east. This route usually has two departures a day: one during the day and one late in the evening. So you can choose whether to cross by day or take the overnight ferry with a cabin and arrive in Ystad in the morning.

Danzig - Nynäshamn

For destinations around Stockholm, this route from Danzig (Gdańsk) is a very interesting option despite its easterly location. The roughly 18-hour crossing departs in the evening at around 18:00 - you spend a relaxed night on board - and arrives in Nynäshamn around midday the next day. Nynäshamn is only about 60 km south of Stockholm, so you can reach the Swedish capital or continue on to central Sweden quickly from there. Given the long distance, the crossing including cabin and car is comparatively good value - an excellent price-to-value ratio, especially since you save yourself several hours of driving. You'll see the current price for your travel dates directly in the route box.

Via Norway to Sweden

A ferry connection via Norway can also make sense, for example if you're heading to central Sweden or want to include Norway in your trip.

Kiel - Oslo

The luxurious ships of Color Line offer a special travel experience on the Kiel - Oslo route. The daily connection is even marketed as a mini cruise - and the on-board comfort and facilities match that billing. The ship departs Kiel in the afternoon and arrives in Oslo the following morning, so you spend a relaxed night in your cabin. This route is noticeably pricier than the direct ferries to southern Sweden, but it saves you a long drive across Sweden if you're heading to central Sweden (e.g. Värmland, Dalarna). Oslo itself is also a fascinating city well worth a visit.

Which route suits my destination?

The right ferry connection depends mainly on your destination in Sweden and your starting point in Germany. Here's a quick guide:

• Stockholm and central Sweden: Stena Line from Kiel to Göteborg (a relaxed overnight crossing) or Color Line to Oslo with a fast onward rail connection. Polferries sails direct to Nynäshamn (near Stockholm) from Danzig.
• West coast (Göteborg, Halmstad): Direct with Stena Line from Kiel to Göteborg, or alternatively Frederikshavn - Göteborg or Grenå - Halmstad via northern Jutland.
• Southern Sweden / Skåne (Malmö, Trelleborg, Ystad): the Travemünde and Rostock routes to Trelleborg or Malmö, or the especially affordable option from Świnoujście if you're travelling via eastern Germany.
• Fastest crossing with a car: the Bird Flight Line Puttgarden - Rødby in 45 minutes, then a combined ticket across the Öresund Bridge to Malmö.
• Families & comfort: overnight ferries with a cabin - Stena Line Kiel - Göteborg, Color Line Kiel - Oslo or Polferries Danzig - Nynäshamn - save you a hotel stay.

Ferry prices vary considerably depending on the season, how far ahead you book and the fare type chosen. Booking early often saves 20-30% compared with last-minute prices. In peak season (June to August), popular dates can be booked out months in advance. Before booking, it's also worth comparing prices across alternative routes - sometimes a different crossing is significantly cheaper for only an hour or two more driving time.