Common questions

There are three ways to reach Finland: straight across the Baltic, via Sweden or through the Baltic states.

Straight from Germany: the year-round ferry Travemünde - Helsinki run by Finnlines, the only direct link without a stop on the way.

Via Sweden: Stockholm - Helsinki and Stockholm - Turku with Tallink Silja and Viking Line, plus Kapellskär - Naantali run by Finnlines and, further north, Umeå - Vaasa run by Wasaline.

Through the Baltic states: the short crossing Tallinn - Helsinki, served by several operators.

These are the main operators on the Finnish routes:

• Finnlines on Travemünde - Helsinki and Kapellskär - Naantali
• Tallink Silja and Viking Line on Stockholm - Helsinki, Stockholm - Turku and Tallinn - Helsinki
• Wasaline on Umeå - Vaasa
• Eckerö Line on Tallinn - Helsinki

That depends on where you start and where you are heading in Finland:

• No detour by road: the direct ferry Travemünde - Helsinki - you drive your own car on board and save the long haul through Sweden
• Combining Sweden and Finland: via Stockholm - Helsinki or Stockholm - Turku
• Through the Baltic states: the two-hour Tallinn - Helsinki at the end of the drive through Poland and the Baltic states
• Heading for western Finland: Umeå - Vaasa across the Gulf of Bothnia

Rule of thumb: if you want to arrive relaxed and without legs by road, take the direct ferry. If you are planning Scandinavia as a round trip, go via Sweden.

Anything from a good two hours to a day and a half. The direct ferry Travemünde - Helsinki takes around 30 hours with two nights on board. Via Sweden, Stockholm - Helsinki takes about 16 hours overnight, Stockholm - Turku around 11 hours and Kapellskär - Naantali 8 to 9 hours.

Far shorter are Umeå - Vaasa at about four hours across the Gulf of Bothnia and Tallinn - Helsinki at only about two hours.

Up-to-date sailings for every route are in the timetable. Bear in mind that times can change with the season, the day of the week and the weather. You see the actual departure for your date when you book on the relevant route page.

Yes. The sailings on Stockholm - Helsinki are classic overnight crossings - you board in the evening and arrive in Helsinki in the morning. On the long direct ferry Travemünde - Helsinki you spend two nights at sea. A cabin is worth having on these routes, and in high season they sell out quickly.

The price depends on the route, the season, how early you book, your vehicle length and the number of people. Broadly speaking, the short crossing Tallinn - Helsinki is the cheapest in pure ferry terms, but it needs the long drive through the Baltic states first. The direct ferry Travemünde - Helsinki costs more but saves time and fuel on land. The price for your date and your vehicle is shown when you book on the relevant route page. Every route with its entry-level prices is compared in the price overview.

These levers work reliably:

• Book early: the direct ferry in particular sells out fast in the high season from June to August
• Travel midweek: departures from Tuesday to Thursday are usually cheaper than at the weekend
• Use the shoulder season: outside the summer holidays, vehicle places and cabins are far cheaper
• Join the Star Club: the free frequent traveller programme from Finnlines gives a discount on every booking

If you travel by motorhome, check the length bands as well: a roof box or a trailer can easily push you into the next category.

Once you have booked and paid, a booking confirmation normally arrives by email within a few minutes - and that is your ticket. At check-in in the port you show the barcode, printed or on your phone. If nothing has arrived 24 hours after booking, look in your spam folder and contact the operator’s customer service.

As a rule of thumb, be at the port around 90 minutes before departure if you have a vehicle, and earlier still on the long direct ferry and in the high season. The exact times are in your booking confirmation and differ by port and operator. If you arrive after check-in has closed, you risk losing your booking without a refund.

That depends on the fare you booked, the operator and the seller. We cannot promise a blanket refund, deadline or charge. Check the conditions and the support contact in your booking confirmation: if you booked direct, contact the ferry operator; if you booked through a partner, contact the seller named there.

The large ferries have cabins from inside cabins to suites, restaurants and buffets, bars and cafés, an onboard shop, lounges and a children’s area. Finnlines and the ships from Stockholm also have a sauna. On board you pay by card; Finland itself uses the euro, and card or phone works practically everywhere.

Yes, every ferry to Finland is a car ferry. Cars, motorhomes, caravans, motorcycles and bicycles all come on board. The vehicle price follows length and height, so give the exact dimensions including roof box and trailer when you book. On the direct ferry Travemünde - Helsinki, Finnlines allows a generous 4.4 metres of height. Everything about motorhomes is in the guide Taking a motorhome to Finland.

No. For safety reasons the car deck is closed while the ship is under way and is only released by announcement shortly before arrival. Take everything you need with you before departure: medication, valuables, travel documents and, on the long crossings, washbag and a change of clothes. If an animal is travelling with you, it needs a pet cabin on the direct ferry and on the night ferries.

Yes, dogs and cats are welcome on the ferries to Finland, but they have to be registered in advance. On the direct ferry Travemünde - Helsinki and on the night ferries your animal travels in a pet cabin. The number of these cabins is limited, and in the holidays they are booked out early. Everything else is in the guide Taking your dog to Finland.

To enter you need an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (at least 21 days before entry, and no earlier than 12 weeks of age) and the EU pet passport. Finland also requires a tapeworm treatment with praziquantel, carried out by a vet 24 to 120 hours before arrival and recorded in the passport. Without that record, entry can be refused. The details are in the guide Taking your dog to Finland.

Finland is in the EU and in the Schengen area. EU citizens need a valid ID card or passport, and children need their own document too. For the vehicle, carry the registration document. If you travel through the Baltic states, you are crossing Schengen countries there as well. Without valid papers you can be refused carriage with no refund, so check your documents before you set off.