Sweden Ferry Timetable
Choose your date, departure port and destination port. The timetable shows the sailings available for that day, with operator, ship and arrival time. Crossing times and frequencies vary by season and day of the week.
Which sailing suits your travel date?
Direct from Germany
Four ferry routes run direct from Germany to Sweden, and they differ mainly in how often they sail. Rostock - Trelleborg is the most frequent route: several departures a day, around the clock, and the shortest crossing of the four. If you're heading to Malmö, Lund or on to Stockholm, you'll almost always find a time that suits.
Travemünde - Trelleborg and Travemünde - Malmö sail less often, but each offers an evening sailing you can sleep through and a morning one. Both are the natural choice if you're travelling from western or central Germany and find Lübeck easier to reach than Rostock.
Kiel - Gothenburg is the only genuine night ferry on offer: one evening departure a day, and you're in Gothenburg the next morning. For western Sweden and onward travel towards Oslo, this saves you a whole day of travel by land.
Via Denmark
If you drive via Jutland, Frederikshavn - Gothenburg gives you a frequent, short hop across the Kattegat. The crossing is much shorter than any direct route from Germany, but there are several hundred kilometres of driving beforehand. Whether that's worth it depends on where you're starting from, not the timetable.
The Öresund Bridge and Puttgarden - Rødby are shorter and more frequent; both are overland routes with a short crossing rather than a ferry to Sweden. From Bornholm, Rønne - Ystad gets you to Skåne in 80 minutes, up to eight times a day.
From Poland, Norway and the Baltics
From Poland, night ferries run from Świnoujście to Ystad, Trelleborg and Malmö, and from Gdańsk to Nynäshamn; Gdynia - Karlskrona adds three departures a day, by day and overnight. From Norway, Sandefjord - Strömstad is the short day route across the Oslofjord. The Baltic routes from Tallinn, Paldiski, Ventspils and Klaipėda are all night ferries with one to three departures a day, some only on certain days of the week, so it's especially worth checking the exact date here.
From Finland and Åland
Across the northern Baltic, Viking Line and Tallink Silja sail every night from Helsinki to Stockholm and several times a day from Turku to Stockholm, both calling at Åland. The Åland routes to Kapellskär and Grisslehamn are shorter, with two to three departures a day, while in the north Wasaline connects Vaasa with Umeå.
What to check in the timetable
The times above are the scheduled departures. Two things regularly shift them: the season (more ships sail in summer than in November) and the day of the week, since several lines run a different timetable at weekends than during the week. So look up your exact date rather than carrying over the weekly pattern from a different month.
Also, if you're travelling with a vehicle, the bottleneck isn't the departure itself but the car deck. This matters especially for motorhomes and car-trailer combinations in the summer holidays: a departure showing in the timetable doesn't mean there's room for a long vehicle that day. For fares, see the prices page.
Timetable by travel date
FAQ: Sweden ferry timetable
Frequently asked questions about departures, crossing times and seasonal timetable changes.
What ferry routes run from Germany to Sweden? +
Direct connections from Germany run from Rostock to Trelleborg, from Travemünde to Trelleborg, from Travemünde to Malmö and from Kiel to Gothenburg. If you're travelling via Denmark, Poland, Norway, Finland or the Baltics, you'll find the other routes on the route overview.
How often do the ferries to Sweden run? +
The number and timing of departures depends on the route, day of the week and season. Set your travel date above to see the sailings available for that day. Double-check the final timetable with the operator before you book.
How long does the ferry to Sweden take? +
Crossing times vary by route and by the specific sailing. The timetable above shows the scheduled departure and arrival time for your travel date. Each route page also has notes on whether it's a day or night crossing.
Does the Sweden ferry timetable change with the season? +
Yes. Operators adjust times and frequencies by season and operational need. Don't rely on a general daily frequency. Check the specific date in the timetable, then again when you book.
How do I find the departures for my travel date? +
Set your date, departure port and destination port above to get the available sailings with their scheduled arrival. For the return direction, switch to the return leg. Current prices depend on date, vehicle and any onboard extras, and are shown at the booking step.
Are there night ferries to Sweden? +
Yes, several routes run overnight. Kiel - Gothenburg is the classic night ferry: board in the evening, wake up in Gothenburg. Travemünde - Malmö and Świnoujście - Malmö also have evening and night departures, as do Travemünde - Trelleborg and Rostock - Trelleborg. The longest overnight crossing is Gdańsk - Nynäshamn, at around 18 hours.
The advantage is obvious: you sleep through the crossing and save a night's hotel stay. On the long routes, a cabin is worth booking; in high season cabins sell out fast.
When do I need to be at the port for check-in? +
The check-in deadline varies by port, operator, vehicle type and sailing. Your booking confirmation and the operator's current terminal notices are what count. Also allow time for the drive there, traffic and finding your way around the port. If you arrive after check-in closes, you may lose your place on board. You'll find route-specific details under, for example, Kiel - Gothenburg and Rostock - Trelleborg.
What should I do if I miss the ferry? +
If it looks like you won't make it in time, call the operator's customer service straight away. Sometimes you can still rebook onto a later departure, if there's space and your fare allows it.
As a rule, once check-in has closed, your booking lapses without a refund. With Scandlines, Standard and Flex tickets are valid for any departure on the booked day, so if you miss your ferry you simply take the next one. With cheap saver fares, on the other hand, you generally lose your booking.
Tip: build in enough buffer time for your journey to the port, especially in high season and on routes prone to traffic jams.
What happens in a storm, or if my ferry is delayed or cancelled? +
In storms or if there's a technical problem, a departure can be delayed or cancelled. Under EU Regulation 1177/2010, you're entitled to assistance for major delays and cancellations, which means meals and refreshments, and overnight accommodation if needed.
If the operator cancels the crossing, you'll usually be offered a choice between a free rebooking onto the next available departure and a full refund. With Scandlines, if there's a disruption, all tickets are valid on any departure on the booked day.
Tip: give a mobile number you can be reached on when you book, so you hear about any changes first.
What documents do I need for the ferry to Sweden? +
Sweden is part of the EU and the Schengen area. EU citizens need a valid national ID card or passport; children also need their own identity document. For the vehicle, carry the vehicle registration document; the Green Card is no longer mandatory for EU citizens but is still useful to have.
If you're travelling with a pet, you'll also need an EU pet passport, a valid rabies vaccination and to declare it to customs. Without valid documents, boarding can be refused, with no refund of the ticket. Check your documents before you set off, not just at the terminal.