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Fastest Ferry Between Germany and Sweden
There are many ferries connecting Germany to Sweden, with the most popular routes being between Rostock and Trelleborg, and Lübeck and Malmö. There is also a longer ferry route from Kiel to Gothenburg. Also keep in mind that there are many ferries connecting Denmark to Sweden, which can also be considered. In this post, we explore all of the options, and decide which ferry is the fastest between Germany and Sweden.
The main ferry operators between Germany and Sweden are Stena Line, Finnlines and TT-Line. The onboard experience can vary greatly depending on the specific route, time of year and vessel.
An overview of the ferry routes between Germany and Sweden is shown below.
| Route | Description | Booking Info |
|---|---|---|
| Rostock ↔ Trelleborg | One of the most popular routes between Germany and Sweden. There are many services between Stena Line and TT-Line during the day and at night. | Book on FerryScan |
| Kiel ↔ Gothenburg | Niche route connecting Kiel to Sweden's second largest city. Stena Line serves this route with a daily overnight ferry. During peak times a second ferry may be added to the route, providing two departures per day in each direction. | Book on FerryScan |
| Lübeck ↔ Malmö | Finnlines connects Lübeck (Travemünde harbour) with Malmö, with 2-3 departures per day in each direction. This route is very geared towards freight and truck drivers, although regular commuters are also welcome. Malmö is located on the other side of the Oresund Bridge from Copenhagen. | Book on FerryScan |
| Lübeck ↔ Trelleborg | Served by TT-Line with several daily departures. | Book on FerryScan |
The fastest ferry from Germany to Sweden: Rostock-Trelleborg
The fastest ferry between Germany and Sweden is currently from Rostock to Trelleborg. Two ferry operators, Stena Line and TT-Line, offer multiple departures each day. Since the duration is only 6-7 hours, this is clearly the fastest ferry connection between Germany and Sweden. If you are taking an overnight ferry, consider one of the other options below, since it may be more comfortable to take a slightly longer ferry, so that you can get a full night of sleep.
| Duration | 6-7 hours |
|---|---|
| Sailings per Day | 5+ |
| Port in Rostock | Rostock Ferry Terminal |
| Port in Trelleborg | Trelleborg Ferry Terminal |
Option 1: Stena Line
You will be served by the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Skane ferries. Getting to the port of Rostock is quite easy by public transport. The port of Trelleborg is located within walking distance from the city center.
Option 2: TT-Line
TT-Line also operates the same route between Rostock and Trelleborg, sometimes in collaboration with Stena Line.
Alternate Option: Kiel to Gothenburg
A longer alternative ferry is between Kiel and Gothenburg. This ferry can be advantageous if you want to go to Gothenburg, or if you want to take a longer ferry so that you can get a full night of sleep. The ferry is operated by Stena Line, and takes over 14 hours. The ferry departs from the Schwedenkai terminal in Kiel, and arrives at the Tysklandsterminalen terminal in Gothenburg.
| Duration | 14 hours 30 minutes |
|---|---|
| Sailings per Day | 1-2 |
| Port in Kiel | Kiel Schwedenkai Ferry Terminal |
| Port in Gothenburg | Gothenburg Tysklandsterminalen Ferry Terminal |
Alternate Option: Lübeck/Travemünde to Malmö
A good alternative to the Rostock-Trelleborg ferry is between Lübeck and Malmö. The ferry lasts between 9 and 10 hours, giving you more time to sleep. Also, Malmö is located on the other side of the Oresund Bridge from Copenhagen, so you can easily get to Copenhagen from Malmö. The ferry is operated by Finnlines, and there are 2-3 departures per day.
| Duration | 9-10 hours |
|---|---|
| Sailings per Day | 2-3 |
| Port in Lübeck | Lübeck (Travemünde) Port, Skandinavienkai Terminal |
| Port in Malmö | Malmö Harbour |
Alternate Option: Lübeck/Travemünde to Trelleborg
A final option is between Lübeck and Trelleborg. This ferry is operated by TT-Line and takes 9-10 hours. There are 2-3 departures per day. This ferry is very similar to the Lübeck-Malmö ferry, except that it arrives in Trelleborg instead of Malmö.
| Duration | 9-10 hours |
|---|---|
| Sailings per Day | 2-3 |
| Port in Lübeck | Lübeck (Travemünde) Port, Skandinavienkai Terminal |
| Port in Trelleborg | Trelleborg Ferry Terminal |