Ferry to Gothenburg - Routes, Times and Prices

Gothenburg is the main ferry port on Sweden's west coast, and two lines run south from here, both operated by Stena Line. There's the overnight ferry to and from Kiel in Germany, and the short daytime connection to Frederikshavn in Denmark (called "Frederikshamn" in Swedish). Which route suits you best depends mainly on whether you're bringing a car and how much travel time you have. This guide compares both lines and shows how to get into town afterwards. For an overview of all the ways to reach Gothenburg, including by air and rail, see the guide Getting to Gothenburg.

The direct ferry from Kiel

The overnight ferry between Gothenburg and Kiel is the only direct connection from Germany. Stena Line runs it with one departure per day in each direction, so around seven sailings a week. The crossing takes about 14 hours and is set up as an overnight journey, you board in the evening and arrive the next morning. The sister ships Stena Germanica and Stena Scandinavica operate the route.

Because it's an overnight ferry, a cabin is included in every ticket, there's no seat-only or business-seat fare on this route. Cabins for up to five people are available, ranging from standard to deluxe and family cabins, up to a suite with a sea view. All have their own bathroom, TV and air conditioning. The big advantage of this route is a seamless journey with your own car straight into Gothenburg, with no detour through Danish traffic.

The short crossing from Frederikshavn

Travellers already in Denmark take the much shorter Gothenburg-Frederikshavn line. It links the tip of Jutland with Gothenburg in only around three to three and a half hours and sails frequently, up to six departures a day in the high season from May to August, and around four the rest of the year, roughly 40 sailings a week in total. The Stena Danica and Stena Jutlandica operate the route.

This route is the flexible choice. The tight schedule means you're rarely tied to a single departure, and the short crossing makes a cabin unnecessary, on board there are restaurants, lounges and decks for the daytime journey. Coming from outside Denmark, though, you first need to make your own way to Frederikshavn, for instance via the Danish motorway network or by train.

What the ferry costs

Stena Line uses dynamic starting prices that vary considerably by season, day of the week and how full the ship is. As a rough guide for 2026:

• Gothenburg-Kiel, a one-way ticket for one person with a car and the compulsory cabin starts at around €171 to €241. The cabin alone costs at least around €158, since it's mandatory.
• Gothenburg-Frederikshavn, the one-way ticket for a car and driver starts at around €100. Without a compulsory cabin, this route is the cheaper option.

Timing your booking can save money. Summer and peak-season prices on the Kiel route run well above the off-season rate, and midweek departures (Tuesday or Wednesday) are often 20 to 30 per cent cheaper than weekend sailings. Stena Line publishes foot-passenger fares only to a limited extent, they vary considerably, so it's worth comparing directly in the booking system. Advertised discounts for children or students also depend on the specific offer and should be checked there.

Bringing a car, motorhome or pet on board

For most travellers, the ferry is above all a chance to bring their own vehicle. Motorhomes and caravans are permitted on both routes, depending on the line, up to about twelve metres in length for motorhomes and around ten metres for caravans, each up to roughly four metres in height. The price band depends on the length and height of the vehicle, so it's worth entering these accurately when booking.

Pets are allowed on the Kiel route but must be booked in advance. Since there are no kennels on board and animals may not stay in the vehicle, you'll need a pet-friendly cabin; designated pet areas are also available on deck. Entry into Sweden requires the animal's valid vaccinations and travel documents.

From the terminal into town, and back

Both Gothenburg terminals are positioned so you can get moving quickly after arrival.

• Germany Terminal (Kiel ferry) - Elof Lindälvs gata, 414 55 Gothenburg, in the Majorna district. Tram 3 or 9 to Chapmans Torg, then about a five-minute walk, gets you into town. Parking is right at the terminal; there's a flood risk there during severe weather.
• Denmark Terminal (Frederikshavn ferry) - Emigrantvägen 20, 413 27 Gothenburg. It's well signposted from the E6 motorway, also reachable by tram, and parking is in front of the terminal building (card payment).

For how tram, archipelago ferries and rental bikes combine locally, see the guide Getting Around Gothenburg.

On the other side, both arrival ports are similarly convenient. In Kiel, the Schwedenkai ferry terminal is central, about 0.3 kilometres from the city centre and roughly one kilometre, around ten minutes on foot, from the main railway station. In Frederikshavn, it's about 0.7 kilometres from the Stena terminal into the town centre; Frederikshavn St. railway station is around two kilometres away, a good 20-minute walk.

Booking and check-in

The easiest way to book is online; Stena Line also offers a mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play for booking and travel. Especially on the Kiel route, allow enough time at the port, in the summer high season, plan to be at the terminal at least an hour before departure. Exact check-in deadlines for each route are given by Stena Line at booking; the live timetable shown there is always the binding one.

One note for anyone weighing up the two routes: there are no direct flights between Gothenburg and Kiel, with a connection, the pure travel time is around 2 hours 40 minutes. Gothenburg (GOT) does have direct flights to Copenhagen (about 50 minutes, including with SAS), the nearest major city to Frederikshavn, but there's no direct airport link to Frederikshavn itself. For travel by air and rail, the guide Getting to Gothenburg is worth a look.