Nestled in northeastern Europe, Finland offers several ferry routes across the Baltic Sea. One of them is the ferry from Finland to Germany. A quick two-hour ferry ride links Helsinki to Tallinn but travelling between Germany and Finland requires a bit more planning. Check out my guide for making this sea voyage smooth and stress-free!
Which ferry to take?
Finnlines ferries run between Travemünde in Germany and Helsinki in Finland. These ferries are primarily used for cargo and trucks but also offer passenger facilities.
The Finnlines ferry departs from Vuosaari Harbour’s Hansaterminaali in Helsinki at 3pm, arriving in Travemünde the following evening at 9. There’s a bus stop across from the ferry terminal, and several of Travemünde’s hotels are within easy reach.
From Travemünde, the ferry leaves at 2am, arriving in Helsinki’s Vuosaari Harbour at 10am – after 30 hours at sea.
Price and duration
A windowless cabin starts at 290 euros, while a cabin with a window costs at least 360 euros. For those on a budget, a shared 4-person cabin (with female/male separation) is available starting from 166 euros. The travel time is approximately 30 hours.
Facilities on the Ferry from Germany to Finland
While these ferries aren’t primarily aimed at leisure travellers, they offer some amenities. These include a small spa, sauna, and gym to help passengers stay refreshed and active during the voyage. All are included in the ticket price. Various packages are available to keep your Wi-Fi working throughout the 30-hour trip. I’ve worked on board without issues, so the Wi-Fi is reliable. There are also a few cafes and restaurants on board. A meal package, which includes breakfast, brunch, and dinner costs 82 euros.
Are you interested in taking other ferries in the Baltic Sea? Read my guide to ferry-hopping between Helsinki and Tallinn!
Continuing your journey after the ferry
In Travemünde and Helsinki, buses conveniently stop in front of the ferry terminal.
In Helsinki, take bus number 90 to the Vuosaari stop, a 19-minute ride. From there, transfer to the metro to reach the city center in about 25 minutes. You can buy a ticket at the ferry terminal’s Hansaterminaali ticket machine or download the HSL app (hsl.fi) to purchase tickets online. A single ticket for zones AB costs €2.95 and is valid for 80 minutes.
In Travemünde, you can either spend the night in the city and continue by train the next morning. Or, take a direct bus to Lübeck (buses 30, 31, or 40), a journey of around 20 minutes. These buses also stop also at Travemünde city centre, near many hotels.
To see how my journey continued after the trip, read my overland itinerary from Finland to Portugal.
Bon voyage!
