Route · Baltic Sea · Finnlines
The only direct link between Germany and Finland: Finnlines sails daily from the Skandinavienkai in Travemünde to Helsinki. The crossing takes around 31 hours – two nights in a cabin, a full day at sea, and your car stays on the vehicle deck throughout.
Finnlines runs the route daily, all year. The Travemünde departure is at 02:00, but boarding starts the evening before.
| Departure | Arrival | Duration | Operator | Ship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02:00 | 10:00 (+1) | 1860 min | Finnlines | Finnstar |
From the Bay of Lübeck the course runs through the western and central Baltic, past Bornholm and Gotland, into the Gulf of Finland. The final hour threads through the archipelago outside Helsinki – the best part of the trip if you get up in time.
The calculator adds a vehicle surcharge to the live passenger fare. The surcharges are derived from published fares for this route (as of August 2026) and are for orientation – the price in the booking flow is the binding one.
How the total price adds up
At 31 hours the ship stops being transport and becomes a hotel with a view.
The inside cabin is about 10 m² with a private bathroom. Families can book combination cabins, and the range runs up to a 38 m² suite. Worth knowing: when you book a whole cabin, the passenger fare is charged for two adults only – from three people up it gets noticeably cheaper.
The outside cabin offers about 16 m² and a window to the sea. On a crossing that includes a full day of daylight that is worth more than on an overnight hop. Travelling with a dog means booking one of the pet cabins – there is an exercise area on deck.
The Star class ships have a buffet restaurant, the Star Café and a bar, plus a sauna with jacuzzi, a gym and two children's play areas on deck 11. The Sailor's Shop sells duty-free, which matters heading to Finland, where alcohol is otherwise sold only through the state Alko chain.
Four things that work differently here than on a short Baltic hop.
The ship leaves at 02:00, but check-in at the Skandinavienkai opens around 20:00 to 21:00 the previous evening and boarding runs around midnight. You can arrive unhurried, go to bed in your cabin and sleep through the departure entirely.
Once under way the ship runs on Finnish time, one hour ahead of Germany. Restaurant hours and the arrival time all refer to it. Passengers who forget to change their watch find breakfast already closed.
The ferry does not use the Olympia Terminal but Vuosaari on the eastern edge of the city, roughly 20 km out. On foot, take bus 90 or 90A to Vuosaari metro station, or bus 818 to Mellunmäki. By car the route runs via Ring III; tunnel works in Vuosaari have diverted traffic since early 2026.
Between May and September you can book a seat in the reclining lounges on decks 11 and 12 instead of a cabin. It saves money but means two nights in a chair, and the option does not exist the rest of the year.
Driving to Finland
Overland it is roughly 1,800 km from Travemünde to Helsinki through Denmark and Sweden and around the Gulf of Bothnia – or via Stockholm with a second ferry. The direct crossing replaces two or three driving days with a sea voyage.
Location, getting there and other connections from both ports.
Around 31 hours. Across the August 2026 sailings we sampled, crossing times ran from 1,830 to 1,860 minutes. The clock times suggest 32 hours – one of those is the time difference to Finland.
Daily, all year round. Finnlines uses the three sister ships of the Star class: Finnstar, Finnmaid and Finnlady. Departures are at 02:00 from Travemünde and 15:00 from Helsinki.
Over two nights, effectively yes. From May to September there are reclining seats on decks 11 and 12 as an alternative; the rest of the year there are not. Booking a whole cabin means the passenger fare applies to two adults only.
In our August 2026 sample, passenger fares ran from about €167 to €429 per person depending on date and cabin. Finnlines quotes a car package for two with an inside cabin and vehicle space from €595. Live prices are in the timetable above.
At Vuosaari on the eastern edge of the city, around 20 km from the centre – not at the Olympia Terminal. Without a car, bus 90 or 90A connects to Vuosaari metro station.
Yes. Finnlines has dedicated pet cabins and an exercise area on deck. Within the EU the pet passport, microchip and a valid rabies vaccination apply; travellers arriving from outside the EU should check the rules for entering Finland. Pets must be declared when booking.
All Finnlines sailings between Travemünde and Helsinki compared – booking direct with the operator, at no extra cost.
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