Ferry from Åland to Gotland
Mariehamn - Visby
Summer route: overnight from Åland to Gotland on the Birka Gotland
- Around 10 hrs overnight
- Departs 00:40, arrives Visby 10:00
- 24 sailings, 2 Jun to 2 Sep 2027
Mariehamn - Visby
The route in detail
Table of Contents
There's only a direct ferry between Åland and Gotland in summer. When it runs, Viking Line's Birka Gotland sails overnight from Mariehamn to Visby, with no detour via Stockholm. You sleep in your cabin and sail into the Hanseatic port the following morning.
Departure from Mariehamn
The Birka Gotland departs from Västerhamn on Hamngatan, the same terminal Viking Line uses for its sailings to Stockholm. Parking outside the terminal is free, there's a taxi rank right in front, and lockers are available inside. Pay by card at the terminal.
Check-in opens 60 minutes before departure and closes 20 minutes before; without a vehicle, aim to be checked in at least 30 minutes before departure. Your ID is checked before boarding. Watch the date: the 00:40 departure belongs to the travel date printed on your ticket, not the evening before.
The crossing
The Birka Gotland takes around 10 hours and 20 minutes and reaches Visby at 10:00. Because Åland is an hour ahead of Sweden, the clock shows one hour less. The ship has sailed for a joint venture between Viking Line and Gotlandsbolaget since 2024. Every cabin has a shower and toilet, and a cabin berth is always included in the fare. On board there are restaurants, bars and live music in the evening.
Car, motorhome, bike or dog
The Birka Gotland has no vehicle deck. Cars, motorhomes, motorbikes and bikes can't travel; Viking Line explicitly rules this out on these sailings. If you want to bring a vehicle to Gotland, go via the Swedish mainland and take a car ferry from there, for example from Nynäshamn. Tips on travelling by motorhome are in our guide Travelling to Sweden by motorhome.
Pets aren't allowed on the Birka Gotland, unlike Viking Line's other routes. The exception is guide and assistance dogs, which you register by phone in advance. Sweden's entry rules are under Travelling to Sweden with a dog.
Arrival in Visby and onward travel
The ship docks at the Visby hamnterminal, right below the old town. Viking Line runs transfer buses from the berth to Österport, the eastern gate in the city wall, and taxis wait outside the terminal. From Visby, Gotland's ferries continue to the Swedish mainland, to Nynäshamn and to Oskarshamn. From Nynäshamn you're quickly in the capital; more on that under Ferries to Stockholm.
Timetable, season and prices
The route only runs in summer: in 2027 from 2 June to 2 September, two days a week, 24 sailings in total. Dates are shown in the timetable. The price depends on the travel date and cabin category; enter both in the booking window to see the total price. More on ferry pricing is under Prices.
Åland - Gotland
Summer crossing from Åland to Gotland
The ferry from Mariehamn to Visby is a summer-only route. Viking Line runs it with the Birka Gotland, a cruise ship with no vehicle deck, which shuttles between Åland and Gotland two days a week from early June to early September. In summer 2027 that's 24 sailings from 2 June to 2 September.
The Birka Gotland leaves Mariehamn just after midnight and reaches Visby in the morning. A cabin is included with every booking.
- Crossing
- approx. 10 hrs 20 min
- Operator
- Viking Line
- Frequency
- 2× a week, summer only
Next departures
FAQ Mariehamn - Visby
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about the Mariehamn - Visby ferry
How long does the ferry from Mariehamn to Visby take? +
Around 10 hours and 20 minutes. The Birka Gotland leaves Mariehamn at 00:40 and reaches Visby at 10:00. Åland is an hour ahead of Sweden, so the clock shows one hour less than the crossing actually takes.
When does the ferry sail? +
Summer only, on two days a week. In 2027 the Birka Gotland sails from 2 June to 2 September, 24 sailings in total from Mariehamn to Visby. The dates are in the timetable.
When do I need to be at the terminal in Mariehamn? +
Check-in at the Västerhamn terminal opens 60 minutes before departure and closes 20 minutes before; without a vehicle, aim to be checked in at least 30 minutes before departure. Your ID is checked before boarding.
How much does the ferry from Mariehamn to Visby cost? +
That depends on the travel date and cabin category; a cabin is always included, with the base fare covering a berth in a shared inside cabin. Enter your travel date and cabin choice in the booking window above to see the total price. More on ferry pricing is under Prices.
Can I bring my car or bike? +
No. The Birka Gotland has no vehicle deck, so cars, motorhomes and bikes stay on land. To reach Gotland with a vehicle, go via the Swedish mainland instead. Tips on travelling by motorhome are in our guide Travelling to Sweden by motorhome.
Can my dog come on the ferry? +
No. Pets aren't allowed on the Birka Gotland, apart from guide and assistance dogs, which you register by phone in advance. What's required to bring a pet into Sweden is under Travelling to Sweden with a dog.