Frequently Asked Questions

There are three ways to reach Finland by ferry: a direct crossing of the Baltic Sea, a route via Sweden, or a route via the Baltic states.

Direct crossing: the year-round Travemunde - Helsinki ferry with Finnlines, the only direct connection with no stop along the way - useful if you are driving from Germany or further afield in continental Europe.

Via Sweden: Stockholm - Helsinki and Stockholm - Turku with Tallink Silja and Viking Line, plus Kapellskar - Naantali with Finnlines and, further north, Umea - Vaasa with Wasaline.

Via the Baltic states: the short Tallinn - Helsinki crossing, run by several operators.

These are the main operators on the Finland routes:

• Finnlines on Travemunde - Helsinki and Kapellskar - Naantali
• Tallink Silja and Viking Line on Stockholm - Helsinki, Stockholm - Turku and Tallinn - Helsinki
• Wasaline on Umea - Vaasa
• Eckero Line on Tallinn - Helsinki

Operators are our booking partners - we compare their offers for you.

That depends on where you are travelling from and where you are headed in Finland.

• No detour by land: the direct Travemunde - Helsinki ferry - drive your own car straight on board and skip the long haul through Sweden
• Combining Sweden and Finland: via Stockholm - Helsinki or Stockholm - Turku
• Via the Baltic states: the two-hour Tallinn - Helsinki crossing at the end of a drive through Poland and the Baltics
• Into western Finland: Umea - Vaasa across the Gulf of Bothnia

Rule of thumb: if you want to arrive relaxed with no legs on land, take the direct ferry. If you are planning a wider Scandinavian road trip, go via Sweden.

Crossing times range from a little over two hours to about a day and a half. The direct Travemunde - Helsinki ferry takes around 30 hours with two nights on board. Via Sweden, Stockholm - Helsinki takes about 16 hours overnight, Stockholm - Turku around 11 hours and Kapellskar - Naantali about 10 hours.

Much shorter are Umea - Vaasa at around four hours across the Gulf of Bothnia and Tallinn - Helsinki at only about two hours.

Up-to-date departures for every connection are listed in the timetable. Times can change with the season, day of the week and weather conditions, so treat the listing as a guide. The exact departure for your date appears during booking on the relevant route page.

Yes. The Stockholm - Helsinki connection runs as a classic overnight sailing - you board in the evening and arrive in Helsinki the next morning. The long direct Travemunde - Helsinki ferry also spends two nights at sea. On these routes a cabin is worth booking early, as they sell out quickly in high season.

Prices depend on the route, season, how far ahead you book, vehicle length and number of passengers. As a rough guide, the short Tallinn - Helsinki crossing has the lowest ferry fare, but adds a long drive through the Baltic states. The direct Travemunde - Helsinki ferry costs more but saves time and fuel on land. Your booking on the relevant route page shows the exact price for your date and vehicle.

These levers reliably help:

• 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 weekends
• Go off-peak: outside the summer holidays, vehicle spaces and cabins cost noticeably less
• Join Star Club: Finnlines' free loyalty programme gives a discount on every booking

Travelling by motorhome? Check the length brackets too - a roof box or trailer can easily push you into the next pricing category.

After booking and payment, a confirmation email usually arrives within a few minutes - this is also your ticket. At check-in in the port you show the barcode printed out or on your phone. If nothing has arrived after 24 hours, check your spam folder and contact the operator's customer service.

As a rule of thumb, arrive at the port around 90 minutes before departure if you are travelling with a vehicle - earlier still on the long direct ferry, and earlier again in high season. Exact times are shown in your booking confirmation and vary by port and operator. Arriving after check-in closes risks losing the booking with no refund.

This depends on the fare, not the route. Cheaper saver fares are usually non-refundable and only changeable within limits, while flexible fares can be changed or cancelled up to shortly before departure for a small fee. The earlier you report a change, the lower the cost. The binding terms are set out in your booking confirmation.

The larger ferries offer cabins ranging from inside cabins to suites, restaurants and buffets, bars and cafes, an onboard shop, lounges and a children's area. Finnlines and the ships from Stockholm also have a sauna area. On board you pay by card; in Finland itself the currency is the euro, and card or phone payment works almost everywhere.

Yes, all Finland ferries are car ferries. Cars, motorhomes, caravans, motorbikes and bicycles travel on board too. The vehicle fare depends on length and height, so give the exact dimensions, including any roof box or trailer, when booking. On the direct Travemunde - Helsinki ferry, Finnlines allows a generous 4.4 metres of height. Everything you need to know about travelling by camper is in our guide Travelling to Finland by motorhome.

No. For safety reasons the car deck is closed while under way and is only reopened by announcement shortly before docking. Take everything you will need during the crossing out of the car before boarding - medication, valuables, travel documents and, on the longer crossings, toiletries and a change of clothes. If you are travelling with a pet, it will need a pet cabin on the direct ferry and the overnight sailings.

Yes, dogs and cats are welcome on the Finland ferries, but they must be registered in advance. On the direct Travemunde - Helsinki ferry and the overnight sailings, your pet travels with you in a pet cabin. The number of these cabins is limited and they sell out early during holiday periods. Full details are in our guide Travelling to Finland with a dog.

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

Finland is a member of the EU and the Schengen area. Travellers from EU and Schengen countries need a valid national ID card or passport, and children also need their own ID document; travellers from outside the EU or Schengen area should check passport and visa requirements before booking. Carry the vehicle registration document too. If you are travelling via the Baltic states, you will also pass through other Schengen countries along the way. Without valid documents, carriage can be refused with no refund, so check everything before you set off.