Sweden Ferry Timetable
Four direct routes connect Germany with Sweden: Rostock-Trelleborg in around 6 hours with Stena Line and TT-Line, Travemünde-Trelleborg in 7 to 9 hours with TT-Line, Travemünde-Malmö in around 9 hours with Finnlines, and Kiel-Gothenburg overnight in just over 15 hours with Stena Line. Travelling via Jutland, the short Frederikshavn-Gothenburg crossing is the quickest link. Choose a date, departure port and destination port to see that day's sailings with operator, ship and arrival time.
Seasonal Calendar - Ferries to Sweden
When do the ferries to Sweden depart?
Ferries to Sweden run all year round, no route pauses for winter. What changes is frequency: around 13 sailings a day leave the German ports in summer, dropping to about 9 in winter. Rostock-Trelleborg, the busiest route, sees the biggest swing; Kiel-Gothenburg runs once daily throughout the year. In the off-season, ships are quieter and fares are lower.
/day from Germany
Peak season: book early
Between June and August, cabins and motorhome spaces sell out first, especially on Rostock-Trelleborg and Travemünde-Malmö. Book your preferred departure and cabin three to six months ahead.
Best fares: off-season
From November to March, Stena Line, TT-Line and Finnlines charge their lowest fares for the Baltic crossing. The cheapest time for a short trip to southern Sweden or travel outside school holidays.
Use flexible fares
If your travel date isn't fixed yet, a flex fare is worth it: it costs more than the saver rate but can be rebooked right up until shortly before departure.
Night ferries to Sweden
Kiel-Gothenburg departs at 17:45 and arrives the following morning; Rostock and Travemünde also have evening departures with cabins. That way you save a night's hotel stay too.
Sweden Ferry Timetable: Your Questions, Our Answers
FAQ - Sweden Ferry Timetable
Frequently asked questions about the Sweden ferry timetable - find all the key information on departure times, routes, crossing durations and seasonal changes here.
What ferry connections are there from Germany to Sweden?+
There are four direct routes from Germany to Sweden: Rostock-Trelleborg with Stena Line and TT-Line, Travemünde-Trelleborg and Travemünde-Malmö with TT-Line and Finnlines respectively, and Kiel-Gothenburg with Stena Line. Travelling via Denmark, Frederikshavn-Gothenburg is the shortcut; via Poland, take Świnoujście-Ystad or Gdańsk-Nynäshamn. Depending on the route, you can choose between day and night crossings.
How often do the ferries to Sweden run, and when are the first and last departures?+
From the German ports, around 9 to 13 ferries a day sail to Sweden, depending on the season. Rostock-Trelleborg has the most departures: the first ferry leaves at around 06:30, the last at 23:55. Travemünde-Trelleborg and Travemünde-Malmö run two to three sailings a day, while Kiel-Gothenburg departs once daily at 17:45. You'll find the exact times for your travel day in the timetable above.
How long does the ferry to Sweden take?+
It depends on the route. The fastest option from Germany is Rostock-Trelleborg: around 6 hours, with the quickest sailings covering the distance in 5 hours. Travemünde-Trelleborg takes 7 to 9 hours, Travemünde-Malmö around 9 hours; night crossings are often scheduled a little longer so you arrive at a comfortable time. The longest direct connection is Kiel-Gothenburg at just over 15 hours, designed as an overnight crossing with a cabin. From Denmark it's much quicker: Frederikshavn-Gothenburg takes just 3.5 hours.
Does the Sweden ferry timetable change with the season?+
The timetable changes with the season, but no route is dropped. In summer, operators add extra departures; from November to March the schedule is thinned out - Rostock-Trelleborg drops from six to around four sailings a day. The schedule can also vary around public holidays and school holiday periods. Always check the departures for your specific date, and book early for the summer months, this also keeps the price down.
Is there a direct ferry from Germany to Stockholm?+
Not from Germany. The direct ferries end in Trelleborg, Malmö and Gothenburg. From there, you continue to Stockholm, around 6 hours by car from Gothenburg and about 6.5 hours from Trelleborg, faster by train. If you'd rather sail close to the capital, take Gdańsk-Nynäshamn with Polferries: Nynäshamn lies about 60 kilometres south of Stockholm. Further ferries to Stockholm also run from Helsinki, Turku, Tallinn and Riga.
How do I find the departures for my travel date?+
Set the date in the timetable above and filter by departure and destination port. You'll then see all that day's sailings with time, operator, ship and crossing duration. Use the return tab to see the opposite direction, departures from Sweden. You can book any connection directly from its row; prices depend on date, vehicle and cabin, and appear in the booking window.