Ferry to Sweden
Travemünde – Malmö
The only direct ferry from Germany to Malmö – a relaxed crossing of the Baltic Sea to southern Sweden
- Up to 3 departures a day – daytime, evening and night sailings
- Direct crossing from Germany to Sweden in around 9 hours with Finnlines from the Skandinavienkai terminal
- Car package for 2 people with a car – bikes travel free
Route guide
Travemünde - Malmö: the route guide
Everything about the Travemünde–Malmö route with Finnlines: getting to the Skandinavienkai terminal, check-in times, what's on board, vehicle, bike and pet rules, and onward travel from Malmö.
Getting to Travemünde ferry terminal
Finnlines departs from the Skandinavienkai terminal in Lübeck-Travemünde, the only direct sailing from Germany to Malmö. For your sat nav, enter Zum Hafenplatz 1, 23570 Travemünde, or simply search for "Skandinavienkai". Via the A1 motorway to Lübeck and on via the A226, it's just over an hour's drive from Hamburg to the terminal. A high-visibility vest must be worn outside your vehicle within the port area, so keep it within easy reach.
Check-in and departure
Check-in times depend on your departure: for morning sailings it opens around two hours beforehand, for evening and night sailings in the early evening or the evening before. Check-in closes one hour before departure in every case, so make sure you arrive in good time. Payment at check-in is by card only (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro) – cash isn't accepted. Foot passengers check in at the terminal and are taken on board by shuttle bus. Keep a valid ID document handy, as checks are possible at the Swedish border.
On board
Four ships operate the route: Finnswan, Finntrader, Finnpartner and Finnfellow. On board you'll find a buffet restaurant, a bar, the Sailor's Shop, a children's play area and a sauna area that's free to use. Wi-Fi is chargeable and can be booked in advance or on board. A cabin is compulsory on evening and night sailings; on daytime crossings you'll spend your time in the public areas. All cabins have a shower, WC and satellite TV.
Payment on board is cashless only; there's no ATM or currency exchange, so you don't need to carry any Swedish kronor. Your usual card is all you need for the crossing.
Vehicles, bikes and pets
Finnlines carries bikes free of charge on all ferries, and you cycle on board yourself. Cars up to six metres long travel in the regular car package; taller and longer motorhomes have their own discounted package, and combinations over eight metres can be booked with no length limit through the Finnlines booking centre.
Pets are welcome but must be declared at the time of booking, and a fee per animal applies. Booking a pet cabin is compulsory, even on daytime crossings; a maximum of two animals travel per cabin. There's a pet deck on board with a dog toilet, pets stay out of the restaurant, bar and sauna, and they aren't allowed to stay in the vehicle during the crossing.
Arrival in Malmö and onward travel
In Malmö, the ferry docks at Norra Hamnen, on Lappögatan in the north of the city. Check-in here takes place at the blue check-in booths by the harbour. The city centre is only around two kilometres away, and bus line 35 connects the port with town. Shortly before arrival, the ferry passes under the Öresund Bridge, a real highlight of the crossing.
From Malmö Central Station, Öresund trains run over the bridge all the way to Copenhagen, putting it within reach of a day trip. If you're continuing by car, the E6 gets you quickly to anywhere in Skåne.
Tickets and fares
Finnlines offers two fare types: the cheaper SPECIAL fare, with no rebooking or cancellation, and the flexible STANDARD fare. On the STANDARD fare, you can cancel free of charge up to ten days before departure; after that, fees rise in stages until no refund is possible shortly before departure. Rebooking is free up to ten days beforehand.
You can save with the free Star Club loyalty programme, which gives 5% off every booking, as well as by booking your outbound and return crossing together. The booking window shows the current prices for your travel date, and you'll find an overview on the prices page.
Bookable as a mini-cruise
Finnlines also markets the Travemünde–Malmö route as a mini-cruise: an outbound and return crossing in one package, two nights on board, with a full day in Malmö in between, including dinner, breakfast and sauna access. For the full day-by-day breakdown, see the guide Mini-cruise Travemünde - Malmö.
Travemünde - Malmö
The only direct ferry from Germany to Malmö
The Travemünde–Malmö route is the only direct ferry from Germany to Malmö: in around nine hours, Finnlines takes you from the Skandinavienkai terminal in Lübeck-Travemünde across the Baltic Sea to southern Sweden. Up to three departures a day (daytime, evening and night sailings) keep your travel plans flexible. Shortly before arrival you'll pass under the Öresund Bridge, a real highlight of the crossing.
Four ships operate the route: the Finnswan, Finntrader, Finnpartner and Finnfellow. On board you'll find a buffet restaurant, a bar, the Sailor's Shop, a sauna area (free to use) and a children's play area. Wi-Fi is chargeable and can be booked in advance or on board.
- Crossing time
- approx. 9 hrs
- Operator
- Finnlines
- Frequency
- up to 3x daily
- From price
- €16
Next departures
Ferry Travemünde–Malmö
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about the Travemünde–Malmö ferry with Finnlines
Which ferry company operates the Travemünde–Malmö route, and how often?+
The ferry from Travemünde to Malmö is operated exclusively by the shipping company Finnlines – it's the only direct connection from Germany to Malmö. Ferries run up to three times a day (daytime, evening and night sailings) from the Skandinavienkai terminal in Lübeck-Travemünde. The crossing takes around 9 hours. Four ships operate the route: the Finnswan, Finntrader, Finnpartner and Finnfellow.
All ships offer a buffet restaurant, a bar, an onboard shop (Sailor's Shop), a sauna area (free to use) and a children's play area. Wi-Fi is chargeable and can be booked in advance or on board.
How much does the ferry from Travemünde to Malmö cost?+
Prices depend on the fare type, departure time and season. Finnlines offers two fare types: the cheaper SPECIAL fare (no rebooking or cancellation possible, limited availability) and the more flexible STANDARD fare. Daytime crossings without a cabin are the cheapest; evening and night crossings cost more because a cabin is included, and all fares are higher in peak season. The booking window shows the current price for your travel date, and you'll find an overview on the prices page.
Money-saving tips: joining the free Star Club loyalty programme gets you a 5% discount on every booking. Booking the outbound and return crossing together also gets you a 20% discount on the return leg.
Can I travel as a foot passenger or by bicycle?+
Yes, the ferry can also be used without your own vehicle. Foot passengers check in at the port terminal and are taken on board by shuttle bus. Cyclists can ride on board themselves – bikes travel free on all Finnlines ferries. An adult passenger travelling with a bicycle gets a particularly good fare on a daytime crossing, and considerably cheaper still in low season than in summer; the booking window shows the current amounts for your travel date.
How much does the ferry cost with a motorhome or camper van?+
Yes, motorhomes and camper vans are easy to bring along. Vehicles up to 6 m long and of any height are included in the regular car package. For motorhomes up to 8 m long (over 2.10 m high), the discounted motorhome package applies; night crossings cost more than daytime crossings because a cabin is included (the booking window shows current prices). Vehicles and combinations over 8 m long can be booked through the Finnlines booking centre – there's no maximum length. Sleeping in the motorhome on board isn't permitted for safety reasons; a cabin is compulsory on evening and night crossings.
When do I need to arrive for check-in at the port?+
Check-in opening times in Travemünde vary depending on your departure: for the 10:00 departure from 08:00, for the 11:00 departure from 09:00, for evening departures (21:45/22:00) from 19:00, for the 01:00 departure from 23:00 the evening before, and for the 02:30/03:00 departure from 00:00. Check-in closes 1 hour before departure in all cases.
In Malmö, check-in opens 2 hours before departure and also closes 1 hour before departure. Check-in takes place at the blue check-in booths in the Norra Hamnen port. Important: a high-visibility vest must be worn outside your vehicle within the port area in Travemünde.
Can I bring my pet on the ferry?+
Pets are welcome on all Finnlines ferries. A fee per animal applies – you'll find the current terms in our pet travel guide. However, some important rules apply: all pets must be declared at the time of booking. Booking a pet cabin is compulsory – even for daytime crossings. A maximum of two pets is allowed per cabin. There's a dedicated pet deck on board with a dog toilet. Pets aren't allowed in public areas such as the restaurant, bar and sauna. Leaving pets in the vehicle during the crossing is prohibited.
Do I need a cabin for the crossing?+
No cabin is required for daytime crossings – passengers can use the public areas (restaurant, bar, sauna, outer decks). A cabin is compulsory for evening and night crossings. All cabins have a shower/WC and satellite TV. Several categories are available: inside cabins, outside cabins with sea views, and special pet cabins. Cabin prices depend on the category and are reasonable relative to the ticket price.
Can I cancel or rebook my ticket?+
On the STANDARD fare, bookings can be cancelled free of charge up to at least 10 days before departure. Between 9 and 5 days before departure, a 25% cancellation fee applies; between 4 and 2 days, 50%; and less than 48 hours before departure, 100%. Rebooking is free up to 10 days before departure, after which a rebooking fee applies. The ticket can be changed a maximum of twice and postponed by up to twelve months.
On the SPECIAL fare, neither cancellations nor rebookings are possible – in exchange, you benefit from the lowest available prices.