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Fastest Ferry Between Finland and Sweden

The fastest route connecting mainland Finland to the Swedish capital is from Turku via the islands of Åland. Viking Line and Tallink Silja operate several ferries per day on this route.

There are three fast ferry routes from Finland to Sweden. The fastest ferry route from Finland to Sweden is between the cities of Vaasa and Umeå, though this is only relevant if you are not passing through Stockholm. Other options include the routes between Turku - Åland - Stockholm and Helsinki - Åland - Stockholm. In terms of speed, we recommend the Turku - Åland - Stockholm route, which has multiple operators and sailings daily. Note that technically ferries from Åland to Stockholm are the fastest, but these are not relevant for most travelers since most travellers do not start or end their journey in the Åland islands. In this article, we explore the fastest ferries from mainland Finland to mainland Sweden.

Map of ferry routes between Finland and Sweden

An overview of the fastest ferry routes between Finland and Sweden is shown below.

RouteDescriptionBooking Info
Vaasa ↔ UmeåThe fastest route between Finland and Sweden, but it may not be the most convenient. Due to the location of these cities, this route is only relevant for those traveling to/from Northern Sweden and Norway.Book on FerryScan
Turku ↔ StockholmThe ferry route between Turku and Stockholm is the fastest between mainland Finland and Mainland Sweden. With a duration of 10-12 hours, this route is operated by Viking Line, Tallink-Silja and Finnlines. Considering the number of ferries available, this is the most convenient and fastest route for most people traveling between Finland and Sweden.Book on FerryScan
Helsinki ↔ StockholmThe last and final ferry route from mainland Finland to Sweden are the ferries between Helsinki and Stockholm. This route is longer, taking between 17 and 18 hours, however it is the most convenient for those traveling from the capital of Finland to the capital of Sweden. This route is operated by Viking Line and Tallink-Silja, with usually one departure each day per operator.Book on FerryScan

Fastest Ferry from Finland to Sweden: Vaasa - Umeå

The fastest ferry route from Finland to Sweden is between the cities of Vaasa and Umeå, operated by Wasaline. The ferry crosses the Gulf of Bothnia in just 3.5 or 4 hours in relative comfort. It is worth nothing that this ferry is technically the shortest in duration, but is only relevant for those travelling to/from Northern Sweden and Norway. In all other cases, it is almost always a better option to take the ferry from Turku to Stockholm or Helsinki to Stockholm.

Duration3.5 hours
Sailings per Day2+
Port in VaasaVaasa Port
Port in UmeåUmeå Port

Other Ferry Option: Turku - Åland Islands - Stockholm

If driving, the ferry route between Turku and Stockholm (with a brief stop in Åland) is the fastest between mainland Finland and Mainland Sweden. With a duration of 10-12 hours, this route is operated by Viking Line, Tallink-Silja and Finnlines. Considering the number of ferries available, this is the most convenient and fastest route for most people traveling between Finland and Sweden. Additionally, this route has at a minimum two overnight sailings daily, which is very useful for those who want to save on accommodation costs.

Duration10-12 hours
Sailings per Day5+
Port in Turku Turku Harbour - Main harbor in Turku for Viking Line and Tallink Silja - located not far from Turku city center.

Turku (Naantali) Port - Located 10 km west of Turku, this is the main port for Finnlines, with ferries going to Kapellskär in Sweden via the Åland Islands.
Port in Stockholm Stockholm (Stadsgården) Port - City-center port for Viking Line ferries departing from Turku.

Stockholm (Kapellskär) Port - Located 90 km north of Stockholm, this is the port for Tallink Silja ferries departing from Turku, and Finnlines ferries departing from Naantali.

Silja Symphony ferry pulling into Helsinki, one of the main ferries sailing between Helsinki and Stockholm

Other ferry option from Finland to Sweden: Helsinki - Stockholm

The last and final ferry route from mainland Finland to Sweden are the ferries between Helsinki and Stockholm. This route is longer, taking between 17 and 18 hours, however it is the most convenient for those traveling from the capital of Finland to the capital of Sweden. This route is operated by Viking Line and Tallink-Silja, with usually one departure each day per operator. In terms of speed, the ferry route from Turku to Stockholm is the fastest.

Duration17-18 hours
Sailings per Day2+
Port in Helsinki Helsinki (Katajanokka) Port - City-center port used by Viking Line for ferries to Stockholm and Tallinn.

Helsinki (South Harbor Olympia Terminal) Port - City-center port used by Tallink Silja for ferries to Stockholm only.
Port in Stockholm Stockholm (Stadsgården) Port - City-center port for Viking Line ferries to Turku, Tallinn and Helsinki.

Stockholm (Värtahamnen) Port - Located a bit further from the city center, this is the port for Tallink Silja ferries to Åland and Helsinki.