Ferries to Sweden with a motorhome – routes, booking and overnight stops

Start with where you want to wake up in Sweden. A few days in Skåne call for a different crossing than a trip towards Stockholm or the north. This guide helps you choose an arrival port, book your motorhome on board and plan a first overnight stop without another long drive.

Whether you travel in a compact campervan or a larger motorhome, plan the first night alongside the crossing. Check that you can get into the campsite after the ferry arrives. If you land in the morning, ask when your pitch will be ready.

Stena Scandica off Nynäshamn, June 2023. Photograph: Bene Riobó, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and optimised for the web; original framing retained.

Choose your Swedish arrival port first

Match the arrival port to your first few days, not just the shortest sea crossing.

Your Swedish itinerary	Ports to compare
Skåne and a southern start	Trelleborg, Malmö and Ystad; Helsingborg if approaching through Denmark.
Blekinge and the southeast	Karlskrona from Gdynia, or Karlshamn from Klaipėda or Gdańsk.
The west coast	Gothenburg from Kiel or Frederikshavn; Strömstad from Sandefjord.
Stockholm and the east coast	Nynäshamn, Stockholm or Kapellskär, depending on where you sail from. These are separate ports, not interchangeable terminals.
A northern start from Finland	Umeå, whose ferry terminal is in Holmsund rather than beside the city campsites.

Night ferry or more driving? Compare the crossing and cabin with the fuel, bridge and road tolls, and overnight stops you would need if you drove instead. An overnight ferry can cover the distance while you rest, but check how much sleep the sailing times actually allow. A daytime crossing may suit you better if there is only a short drive to your first stop. Neither is automatically cheaper.

Motorhome ferry routes to Sweden

These are international vehicle-carrying connections, grouped by departure country. Individual sailings, ships and vehicle availability depend on your travel date.

• Germany: Rostock–Trelleborg with Stena Line or TT-Line; Travemünde–Trelleborg with TT-Line; Travemünde–Malmö with Finnlines; Kiel–Gothenburg with Stena Line.
• Poland: Świnoujście–Ystad with POLSCA; Świnoujście–Trelleborg with TT-Line or POLSCA; Świnoujście–Malmö with Finnlines; Gdynia–Karlskrona with Stena Line; Gdańsk–Nynäshamn with POLSCA/Polferries; Gdańsk–Karlshamn with POLSCA/Unity Line.
• Lithuania: Klaipėda–Karlshamn and Klaipėda–Trelleborg are marketed by both DFDS and TT-Line. Shared services may be involved; two booking brands do not necessarily mean two separate sets of sailings.
• Latvia: Ventspils–Nynäshamn with Stena Line.
• Estonia: Tallinn–Stockholm with Tallink Silja Line; Paldiski–Kapellskär with DFDS.
• Mainland Finland: Helsinki–Stockholm and Turku–Stockholm with Viking Line or Tallink Silja Line, with Åland calls on Finland services; Naantali–Kapellskär via Långnäs with Finnlines; Vaasa–Umeå with Wasaline, also marketed by Stena Line.
• Åland, part of Finland: Eckerö–Grisslehamn with Eckerö Linjen; Mariehamn–Stockholm with Viking Line or Tallink Silja Line; Långnäs–Stockholm on selected Finland services; Långnäs–Kapellskär with Finnlines. Check the exact island port and sailing.
• Denmark: Rønne on Bornholm–Ystad with Bornholmslinjen; Frederikshavn–Gothenburg with Stena Line; Helsingør–Helsingborg with Öresundslinjen.
• Norway: Sandefjord–Strömstad with Color Line.

POLSCA brings together Polferries, Unity Line and Euroafrica, so older names may still appear during booking. For Gdańsk–Karlshamn, use Unity Line’s timetable and select the period covering your travel date.

Do bicycle racks count towards vehicle dimensions?

Measure your motorhome or campervan as it will travel. Include the rear bicycle rack and loaded bicycles in its total length, and roof boxes or other rooftop equipment in its total height. Check width and trailer details too. Stena Line explicitly includes accessories in vehicle dimensions; an incorrect category can mean an extra charge or refusal if suitable space is unavailable. Ask before booking an unusual conversion or oversized vehicle.

When do I need to check in?

Use the check-in deadline for your particular port and sailing, not a generic ferry rule. Finnlines publishes different arrangements by route. Allow for the approach to the actual vehicle booths, and remember that a departure shortly after midnight can require check-in the previous evening. Keep the booking confirmation and required travel documents accessible, including documents for children.

Can I sleep in my motorhome on the ferry?

Do not plan to sleep in the motorhome or return to it freely. Vehicle-deck rules vary, but Finnlines prohibits access during the voyage. Pack medicines, chargers, warm layers and overnight essentials in a small bag before joining the boarding queue.

Cabin requirements depend on the route and departure. Finnlines, for example, requires cabins on evening and night departures with specified exceptions for shorter Åland sectors. Check whether accommodation is mandatory or optional before comparing fares. A cabin can also be useful on a daytime sailing if rest is the priority.

Can I bring my dog or cat?

Book pets when you book the crossing. Pet cabins, permitted areas and exercise arrangements differ by vessel and operator. Finnlines normally requires a pet cabin, with an exception for daytime departures on its Kapellskär–Långnäs–Naantali route. Do not assume leaving an animal in the vehicle is allowed. Check Sweden’s current entry requirements with the Swedish Board of Agriculture as well as the ferry rules.

What happens to the gas supply and fridge?

Plan refrigeration before boarding. Finnlines requires gas cylinders to be closed before boarding and offers a limited number of bookable electrical connections for refrigeration. Follow your operator’s requirements for cylinder quantities, declaration and shut-off. Never assume a socket will be available or that a gas fridge may remain running.

How much does a motorhome ferry to Sweden cost?

The route, travel date, vehicle dimensions and accommodation all affect the fare. Compare totals for the same passengers and vehicle, including mandatory charges, cabin or seat, meals, pets and any electrical connection. Check amendment and cancellation terms too. An advertised car fare is not a quote for your campervan.

Check which time zone the timetable uses. Finnlines displays departure and arrival in local time; the clock on board may follow a different time zone. Give the campsite your expected arrival in Swedish local time, allowing time to leave the ferry and drive to reception.

Your first overnight stop in Sweden

Do you want to park up near the ferry or stay a little longer? Trelleborgs Ställplatser is by the terminal, while Kapellskärs Camping is an option near its arrival port. For a campsite stay or time in the city, consider Sibbarp, Dragsö or Lisebergsbyn, allowing for the drive from the ferry.

In Sweden, a ställplats is a designated motorhome stop, with facilities that vary by site. The places below are campsites or designated stops, not ferry queues. Check opening dates and pitch size before booking, and agree an arrival plan in case the ferry is delayed. Late entry has not been confirmed for these sites: self-service check-in does not necessarily mean you can arrive at any hour.

Trelleborg and Malmö: stop by the port or stay for the waterfront

For a night by the terminal: Trelleborgs Ställplatser has gravel pitches, some with electricity, plus toilets, toilet-waste disposal and fresh water. You can book and check in using Trelleborg Strand’s self-service system. This is a seasonal site, so check opening dates before travelling.

For a stay by the water: First Camp Sibbarp–Malmö sits on the Öresund waterfront in Limhamn, with motorhome pitches and campsite facilities. Finnlines’ terminal is in another part of Malmö, so allow for the drive across the city.

Ystad: choose for the season and arrival time

Travelling outside summer? Ystad Camping in Sandskogen offers year-round touring pitches for motorhomes, with drop-in arrivals during winter and the low season. Get arrival instructions from the campsite before sailing.

Ystads Marina, west of the commercial harbour, is a summer-season alternative. The municipality restricts motorhome overnight parking to a published summer period and requires tickets to be purchased at the harbour office during opening hours. Choose it when you can arrive while the office is open; the online payment service for boats is not an after-hours motorhome check-in.

Use the Skåne map to compare other stops, including options for an arrival in Helsingborg.

Karlskrona and Karlshamn: make time for Blekinge

On an island linked to Karlskrona by a bridge, Dragsö Camping has motorhome pitches for a stay after the crossing from Gdynia. It is a base for exploring Karlskrona, not a stop at the Verkö ferry terminal.

Near the coast in Karlshamn, Kolleviks Camping has motorhome pitches, showers and toilets. Allow for the drive from Stilleryd after arriving from Klaipėda or Gdańsk. Self-service is available only during set hours, so arrange your arrival with the campsite before sailing.

Gothenburg and Strömstad: a west-coast pause

Lisebergsbyn Kärralund has motorhome camping in eastern Gothenburg, making it an option for a city stay after arriving from Kiel or Frederikshavn. Plan the drive from the terminal shown on your ticket; the two ferry routes use different entrances.

Arriving from Sandefjord? You can spend the night in Strömstad at First Camp City–Strömstad. The campsite has level pitches in a hilly setting, including hardstanding pitches. Check that your chosen pitch fits your vehicle.

Nynäshamn, Stockholm and Kapellskär: plan around your arrival port

For a night in Nynäshamn after the crossing from Ventspils or Gdańsk, First Camp Nickstabadet–Nynäshamn has motorhome pitches and campsite facilities. Check the length limit of your chosen pitch.

At Flaten, south of central Stockholm, Ställplats Stockholm at First Camp City has a dedicated motorhome area with a separate entrance and grey-water and toilet-waste disposal. It suits a stay on the southern side of the city; allow for traffic on the drive from your ferry terminal.

There is no need to drive into Stockholm after landing in Kapellskär from Paldiski, Naantali or Långnäs. Kapellskärs Camping is a local option, with motorhome pitches with or without electricity and campsite facilities.

Compare these locations on the Stockholm County map, which also helps you look for stops after landing in Grisslehamn.

Umeå: settle into the north

First Camp Nydala–Umeå has motorhome pitches and campsite facilities for a first stay in the Umeå area. The ferry docks in Holmsund, so allow for the drive to the campsite.

Before sailing, save the campsite’s address and arrival instructions somewhere you can find them easily. Keep the first drive short if you can. Your first evening in Sweden need not be another evening behind the wheel.

Route and travel information

Check current departures with Stena Line, TT-Line, Finnlines, DFDS, POLSCA/Polferries, Tallink, Viking Line, Eckerö Linjen, Wasaline, Bornholmslinjen, Öresundslinjen and Color Line.