Finland to Sweden Ferries: Guide for 2024

• By Niko Suominen
• 20 January 2024 - 13 min read

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Sailing across the Baltic Sea by ferry is a fresh alternative to flying. Cruising on the sea is a practical way of travelling between Nordic countries. Please read our detailed ferry guide on how to travel by ferry from Finland to Sweden or vice versa.

Finland and Sweden - Nordic Neighbours

Finland and Sweden are neighbour countries in the North Europe. The countries are members of the European Union and the Schengen agreement. You can visit both countries with the same visa.

Finland and Sweden have a border on the land and sea. The capital of Finland, Helsinki, is located in Southern Finland, while Stockholm, the Swedish capital, is in the eastern part of the country. The distance between these Nordic capitals is only 496 kilometres. Because the Gulf of Finland separates Finland and Sweden, flying or taking a ferry is the only practical way to travel between the capitals or other southern cities.

Travelling by Ferry between Finland and Sweden

Taking a ferry is the most comfortable and recommended way of travelling from Finland to Sweden or vice versa. Flying is an option for people not comfortable sailing on the sea or in a hurry.

It is possible to take a ferry to Sweden from Helsinki, Turku, Naantali and Vaasa. The route from Vaasa to Umeå is the shortest, the routes from Turku and Naantali to Stockholm and Kapelskär are a little longer, and the route from Helsinki to Stockholm is the longest.

Why not Flying instead?

Passengers travelling between Finland and Sweden often depart from a capital. Driving the route would take a long time because there is no land connection between Finland and Sweden in the south. Flying between Helsinki and Stockholm is fast and inexpensive but not the easiest option since Stockholm Arlanda Airport is far from the city centre.

We think that sailing by ferry is the most comfortable way to travel between Finland and Sweden. Ports are near the centres, and the journey time varies between 4 and 18 hours, which is not too long. The ferries are also comfortable, so spending a day or a night on the boat won't bore you. Especially for first-timers, , the ferries have much to experience.

Ferry Routes

There are multiple ferry routes between Finland and Sweden. We introduce the most important options.

Helsinki to Stockholm

Viking Line and Tallink serve the route from Helsinki to Stockholm. Both companies have huge ferries that can accommodate almost 3,000 passengers and a lot of cargo. A one-way journey between Helsinki and Stockholm lasts about 18 hours.

Tallink Silja operates two ferries from Helsinki to Stockholm: m/s Silja Serenade and m/s Silja Symphony which are identical to each other. Even though the ferries have already been built in 1990, they are still modern since they have been renovated multiple times.

The ferries can carry many cars and cargo. Still, they are more like cruise ships, offering entertainment services suitable for children and adults, various cabin classes for sleeping, numerous bars, cafes and restaurants, including one that caters to morning and dinner buffets. You can do tax-free shopping or try an authentic Finnish sauna and spa. The boats also have big floating discos; some prefer partying all night.

Normally, the ticket price includes a private cabin with a bathroom on the route between Stockholm and Helsinki.

Tallink Silja ferries depart every day at 5 pm from both ends and will arrive at the destination the next morning at about 10 am local time (Swedish time is one hour behind Helsinki time). In Helsinki, Tallink Silja uses the central South Harbour, but in Stockholm, passengers must take a metro or bus from the Värtan Terminal to the city centre.

In Stockholm, a metro ride from the Gärdet station to T-Centralen is only a few stops.

Viking Line operates only one ferry between Helsinki and Stockholm: m/s Gabriella. We have travelled multiple times on it and, based on our experiences, written a review of Gabriella. Gabriella is a little smaller than Tallink's ferries but still comfortable. It offers almost the same services as Tallink Silja's ferries.

Viking Line's ferries depart almost simultaneously with Tallink's. In Helsinki, Viking Line uses the South Harbour like Tallink Silja does, but in Stockholm, Viking Line has a more central port called Stadtsgården situated near Stockholm's Old Town.

A cabin with your bathroom is included in the ticket price.

We have written a story what is cruising from Helsinki to Stockholm by Viking Line like.

Turku to Stockholm

The best ferries between Sweden and Finland depart from Turku. They are also operated by Tallink and Viking Line. Turku is a small town located 160 kilometres from Helsinki, but the Port of Turku can be reached directly by train from Helsinki within 2 hours.

Because the journey time from Turku to Stockholm is less than 10 hours, it is possible to travel in the daytime without a cabin. Travelling without your cabin significantly reduces the ticket price.

M/s Baltic Princess by Tallink Silja started operating in 2008. The ferry is modern, accommodating about 2,200 passengers and many cars. The ferry is smaller but offers better quality than the ferries between Helsinki and Stockholm.

The other ferry, m/s Galaxy, is just like m/s Baltic Princess. The ferry is just a few years older.

Turku-Stockholm ferries depart every morning and evening from Turku and Stockholm. The journey time is less than 10 hours. The ferries have a strict turnaround time, so you must leave the ship quickly after arriving at the destination. That is also why cleaning the ferry starts before arriving at the destination.

Undeniably, m/s Viking Glory is the most modern ferry between Finland and Sweden. It started operating in 2022. This ferry is also more environmentally friendly as it operates with natural gas.

The ferry is big, having a capacity of 2,800 passengers. Travelling on m/s Glory feels like being in a luxury floating hotel with many entertainment services.

M/S Grace is a few years older. It is almost similar to Glory and sails from Turku to Stockholm. Both the ferries of Viking Line are of high quality, so it does not matter which one you choose to board.

M/s Viking Grace and m/s Glory have two departures from Turku and Stockholm every day together. The journey time is less than 10 hours.

Naantali to Kapelskär

There are two ferries traversing between Naantali and Kapelskär operated by Finnlines. Naantali is 15 kilometres from Turku, and Kapelskär is 89 from Stockholm centre. We can't recommend this route because you must take a taxi or bus to reach these distant ports. However, the route may be more inexpensive and a good option for people driving a car.

Finnlines carries mainly cargo, but passenger cabins are on the ferries. M/s Finnswan travelling between Naantali and Kapelskär has a capacity of 500 passengers. Even though the ferry has been built in 2007, it is still more like a cargo ship. The cruising experience on this ferry is not at the same level as on Viking Line's and Tallink Silja's ferries. Finnlines has also a newer ferry, m/s Finnsirius. This ferry has a larger capacity of 1,100 passengers and offers more modern services than the older ferry.

Vaasa to Umeå

Travellers visiting Finland's western coast may wish to cruise from Vaasa, Finland to Umeå, Sweden. That is the most practical way to cross the Gulf of Bothnia from Finland to Sweden. The journey is short, taking only less than 4 hours.

M/S Aurora Bothnia is a brand new small ferry. It was built in Finland, and its capacity is 800 passengers. The ferry offers a comfortable and fast ride from Vaasa, Finland to Umeå in Sweden.

Comparison of the Routes

Stopover at the Åland Islands

The Åland Islands or simply Åland is an autonomous region belonging to Finland. Almost all the ferries from Finland to Sweden stop there. Since cargo is being unloaded during the stop in Åland, ferries can sell tax-free products onboard. This means cheaper shopping for passengers. For example, alcohol products, cigarettes, chocolates, candies, souvenirs and branded clothes are cheaper onboard.

You may have a stopover in the Åland islands. In that case, it is possible to continue to Sweden from Mariehamn, Långnäs and Eckerö. Eckerö Line operates a route to Grisslehamn, Sweden; Finnlines, Viking Line and Tallink Silja to Kapelskär and Stockholm.

Ticket Prices

Ferry tickets are inexpensive. The route from Helsinki to Stockholm is more expensive than from Turku to Stockholm. Also, tickets for weekend departures are pricier than tickets sold for departures on weekdays.

On weekdays, a one-way ticket from Helsinki to Stockholm costs about 60 euros per cabin and much more during weekends. A cabin can normally accommodate four persons. From Turku to Stockholm, prices are more affordable. Ticketed for morning departures are especially inexpensive.

The cheapest option is a 2-way cruise. That means you travel to a destination and come back immediately on the same day. If you plan to cruise on the sea, starting the trip from Finland is recommended to get cheaper tickets.

Booking

Finnish and Swedish residents have a good understanding of what is a reasonable price for a cruise between Finland and Sweden. If you follow the market intensively, you may find a great bargain.

Foreigners and travellers are advised to evaluate prices carefully. We recommend comparing them on Ferryscanner. By a single search, you get all prices. For example, we are using this service also while looking for ferry connections in foreign countries as we did for our cruising in Rhodes, Greece.

Ports in Finland

South Harbour in Helsinki

South Harbour or Eteläsatama in Finnish is just a short walk or tram ride away from the Helsinki Central Station in the city centre. Viking Line and Tallink Silja use this port. However, the companies have their terminals opposite each other, so be ready to head to the port's right side.

Port of Turku

There is only one passenger harbour in Turku. It can be reached within 30 minutes by walking from the centre or in about 10 minutes by bus. There is also a train connection from Helsinki and Tampere to the Port of Turku. In Turku, there are no commuter trains inside the city.

Port of Naantali

The city of Naantali has 20,000 inhabitants, and its port is 15 kilometres from Turku. There is no passenger train connection to the port, but you can take a bus from Turku. Arriving by car is easy.

Port of Vaasa

Port of Vaasa is 4 kilometres from Vaasa centre. There is a bus connection from the centre to the port 1 hour before the ferry's departure. Taking a taxi is also possible.

Ports in Sweden

Värtan Terminal in Stockholm

Värtan Terminal is a few kilometres from Stockholm's centre. The easiest way to reach the centre is to walk 10 minutes to Gärdet metro station and have a metro ride to T-Centralen. Metro in Sweden is called Tunnelbana.

Stadgården Harbour in Stockholm

Stadtgården Harbour is in Stockholm's centre. However, to reach the old town and the shopping area, you must walk 20 to 30 minutes. Taking a bus is also possible.

Umeå Port

Umeå Port is 15 kilometres from the Umeå Centre. There is a bus connection about 1½ hours before a ferry departure. No train connection is available.

Bottom Line

During a journey to the Baltics and Fennoscandinavia, sailing by ferry from one city to another is the most comfortable and practical way of moving from one city to another. You may start by visiting Tallinn first and then continuing by ferry to Finland. From Finland, it is inexpensive to take another ferry to Sweden.

Flying between Finland and Sweden may be the fastest option, but we recommend a ferry. Especially during summer, the archipelago is beautiful. For couples, why not make this a part of romantic journeys? Also, for families, we recommend taking the ferry while visiting these different cities, which will surely be a memorable experience.

Have you taken a ferry from Finland to Sweden yet? How was your experience? Comment below!

Tags: ferry, cruise, booking
Destination: Finland, Sweden