Ferry operator
Viking Line
A closer look at the Åland operator behind the night ferries from Stockholm and the daytime ferry from Tallinn
- Sailing between Finland and Sweden since 1959
- Three routes to Helsinki and Turku
- Around 4.9 million passengers a year
About Viking Line
Table of Contents
About Viking Line
Viking Line is a Finnish ferry operator based in Mariehamn on the Åland Islands. The story began in 1959 on the initiative of the Åland sea captain Gunnar Eklund: on 1 June 1959 the S/S Viking started sailing between the Finnish mainland, Åland and Sweden, and three ferry companies began marketing their ships jointly under the Viking Line name. The second-hand car ferries of the early years grew into a fleet that combines cruise comfort with large vehicle decks. Today Viking Line Abp is listed on the Helsinki stock exchange and says it carries around 4.9 million passengers a year (4,897,494 passengers and 563,081 cars in 2023), a good 2.1 million of them on the Turku - Åland - Stockholm route.
Fleet
Viking Line sails with five ships of its own, all in the highest ice class, 1A Super. The overnight route Helsinki - Mariehamn - Stockholm is served by Gabriella (built 1992, 171 m, 2,420 passengers) and, since March 2024, Viking Cinderella (1989, 191 m, 2,560 passengers). Between Turku, Åland and Stockholm you travel on Viking Grace (2013, 218 m, 2,800 passengers) and Viking Glory, which entered service in 2022 and, using around ten per cent less fuel than Viking Grace, is among the most economical passenger ships in the Baltic. Viking XPRS (2008, 185 m, 2,500 passengers) shuttles between Helsinki and Tallinn. The company also charters Birka Gotland for the Stockholm - Mariehamn - Visby route.
Routes to Finland
If you travel via Sweden, Viking Line gives you two destinations. Stockholm - Helsinki is the overnight crossing from the Stadsgården terminal on Södermalm via Mariehamn to the Katajanokka terminal in central Helsinki, around 16.5 hours with a cabin. Stockholm - Turku takes just under eleven hours and is sailed twice a day, by day with Viking Glory and by night with Viking Grace; Turku is the gateway to south-west Finland and lies two hours by train from Helsinki. If you are travelling up through the Baltic states, take Tallinn - Helsinki with Viking XPRS from the A Terminal in Tallinn to Katajanokka, about two and a half hours, several times a day.
Check-in, vehicles and pets
With a car you have to be ready to load 30 minutes before departure, with vehicles over 2.40 m high at least 45 minutes before; check-in and boarding for foot passengers close 20 minutes before the ship leaves. The self-service machines in the terminals open around two hours beforehand. Checking in online or at a machine is free; there is a charge at a staffed desk. A valid ID card or passport belongs in your hand luggage.
All ships take cars, motorcycles, caravans, motorhomes and bicycles; the fare follows the vehicle length, and the standard vehicle deck has a height limit of 2.40 m. There is more on this in the guide Taking a motorhome to Finland. Register pets when you book: on the night ferries they stay in the cabin, there is an exercise area for dogs on deck, and guide dogs travel free. The entry requirements for Finland are summed up in the guide Taking your dog to Finland.
Tickets
On board you pay by card or in cash in euros, and on the Swedish routes in Swedish kronor as well. Viking Line offers several fare levels with different rules for rebooking and refunds; what counts are the conditions shown to you before you buy. The timetable shows the sailings, the booking window on the route page shows the price for your date, and the price overview explains how to compare like with like.
Viking Line FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about Viking Line and its ferry routes to Finland
Which routes does Viking Line sail to Finland? +
Three: Stockholm - Helsinki overnight with a call in Mariehamn, Stockholm - Turku by day and by night via the Åland Islands, and the short daytime crossing Tallinn - Helsinki. There is also the Stockholm - Mariehamn route, which does not reach mainland Finland.
Which ships does Viking Line use? +
Helsinki is served by Gabriella (built 1992, 2,420 passengers) and Viking Cinderella (1989, 2,560 passengers), Turku by Viking Grace (2013, 2,800 passengers) and Viking Glory (in service since 2022). Viking XPRS (2008, 2,500 passengers) shuttles between Tallinn and Helsinki.
When do I have to be at the terminal for Viking Line? +
With a car you have to be ready to load 30 minutes before departure, with vehicles over 2.40 m high 45 minutes before; check-in and boarding for foot passengers close 20 minutes before the ship leaves. The self-service machines open around two hours before departure, and the easiest way is to check in beforehand in the app.
Can I bring a car or a motorhome? +
Yes, every ship takes cars, motorcycles, caravans, motorhomes and bicycles. The standard vehicle deck has a height limit of 2.40 m; enter taller vehicles when you book. The details are in the guide Taking a motorhome to Finland.
Can my dog come on board? +
Yes, if you register your pet when you book; on the night ferries your animal travels in the cabin, and there is an exercise area on deck. What applies when you enter Finland is summed up in the guide Taking your dog to Finland.
Ready for Finland?
Check the departure and the price for your route, then move on to booking from the route page.