Rostock - Gedser + Öresund Bridge

From Rostock to Malmö: how it works

The journey starts at the Rostock Overseas Port, signposted from the A19 and reachable from the Berlin ring road in just over two hours. The crossing to Gedser takes two hours. In Gedser you drive straight onto the E55, which takes you via Falster and Zealand towards Copenhagen. South of the capital, switch to the E20 and cross the Öresund Bridge to Malmö.

From Gedser that's about 190 km, or just over two hours of driving. Altogether, allow around four hours from departure in Rostock to arrival in Malmö. The bridge is open around the clock, and the ferry also runs at night, so if you set off early you can be in Skåne by lunchtime.

Because the bridge voucher stays valid for seven days after the travel date, you don't have to drive straight through. A stopover in Copenhagen or on Møn is possible without the ticket expiring.

On board the hybrid ferries

The hybrid ferries M/V Berlin and M/V Copenhagen operate on this route, both with room for up to 1,300 passengers and 460 vehicles. On board there's a restaurant, a café, an onboard shop, free Wi-Fi and a play area for children. Two hours is long enough for a proper sit-down meal, rather than rushing between the car deck and the stairwell. That is exactly what sets this route apart from the short Vogelfluglinie (bird flight line) crossing.

Dogs are welcome on board but must stay on a lead or in a crate. Details on bringing pets are in the dog and pet guide, and notes on vehicle lengths and body types are in the motorhome guide.

Check-in and toll station

With a vehicle, check in at least 15 minutes before departure; without a vehicle, 30 minutes. Your number plate or booking number is enough; no printout needed. Even within Schengen, keep your ID to hand in the glovebox, as spot checks happen at the Danish-Swedish border.

At the Öresund Bridge toll station, choose the blue lane for self-service or the yellow lane with staff, and show your voucher. Read more about the bridge, its lanes and alternatives on the Öresund Bridge page.

Fares and prices

Scandlines has four fare types. Low Price is the cheapest entry point, bookable online only within a fixed time window before departure, with limited availability and mainly on evening and night sailings. Early Booker rewards booking ahead. Standard is valid for your booked departure plus any other departure with space available on the same day, taking the pressure off your plans. Flex is the most expensive fare but can be rebooked and refunded free of charge, valid for up to three months after the booked departure.

Season and demand matter too: summer holidays, weekends and midday departures are the most expensive, night and off-peak times the cheapest. You'll find current fares for all combinations in the price overview, and a comparison of the four route combinations in the Sweden Ticket guide.

Just the ferry, without the bridge

If you don't need the Öresund Bridge, for example because your trip ends in Copenhagen or continues via the Helsingør - Helsingborg ferry, book the crossing on its own.

When this route makes sense

For travellers from Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Rostock is the nearest ferry port. You skip the detour via Hamburg and Fehmarn, the drive to the port is short, and the two hours on board are a genuine break rather than a rush.

If you're coming from Hamburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony or North Rhine-Westphalia, though, Puttgarden - Rødby is usually faster: a shorter crossing and more frequent sailings, but more motorway driving in Denmark. And if you'd rather spend the night on board and arrive in Sweden without a stopover in Denmark, Rostock - Trelleborg direct is the better choice.