Ferries to the Baltics
Ferries to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
Each of the three Baltic states has its own ferry gateway: Tallinn in Estonia, Ventspils and Liepāja in Latvia, and Klaipėda in Lithuania. Ferries come in from Finland, Sweden and Germany, and many of them sail overnight, so the cabin doubles as your hotel. There is no ferry from the UK, but with one North Sea crossing and a drive through Germany you can be on a Baltic ferry within a day.
Which Baltic ferry should you take?
Start with where you are coming from. From Finland, Helsinki to Tallinn is so quick and frequent that it works as a day trip. From Sweden, the overnight ferries to Paldiski, Tallinn, Ventspils and Klaipėda save a long drive round the Baltic. From Germany, Kiel to Klaipėda and Travemünde to Liepāja take you straight to Lithuania or Latvia in about a day, and once you are there the three countries are easy to drive through: you can arrive in one and leave from another.
More detail per country: ferries to Estonia, ferries to Latvia and ferries to Lithuania.
Ferry Guides for the Baltics
Everything you need to know before booking your ferry trip to Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
Popular Ferry Maps to and Around the Baltics
Use our handy map with all the crossing and various routes to the Baltic States. Ferries to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. See quickly the fastest routes, and find the different options for a round trip through the Baltics and/or Nordics.
All Crossings to the Baltic States
Popular ferry crossings in and around Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia
All Baltic ferry routes at a glance
| Route | Operator | Crossing | Sailings (autumn 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helsinki to Tallinn | Tallink, Viking Line, Eckerö Line | 2 to 2h40 | Many sailings a day; see Helsinki to Tallinn |
| Stockholm to Tallinn (via Mariehamn) | Tallink | about 16 hours, overnight | Every other day in each direction |
| Kapellskär to Paldiski | DFDS | 9h30 to 10h30 | 6 a week each way; with a vehicle only, no foot passengers |
| Nynäshamn to Ventspils | Stena Line | about 9h30 to 10h30, mostly overnight | About 9 a week each way |
| Travemünde to Liepāja | Stena Line | about 22 to 23 hours | 6 a week each way |
| Kiel to Klaipėda | DFDS | 20 to 21h30 | 6 a week each way |
| Karlshamn to Klaipėda | DFDS and TT-Line | about 13 hours, overnight | About 9 a week each way |
| Trelleborg to Klaipėda | TT-Line (also sold by DFDS) | 16h30 or more | Up to 5 a week |
| Travemünde / Rostock to Klaipėda | TT-Line | 18 to 31 hours | Some direct sailings; others change ship in Trelleborg or Karlshamn |
Checked on the operators’ websites in October 2026. Timetables change by season, so always check the sailing you book.
What changed recently
- DFDS and TT-Line share Klaipėda routes. Since autumn 2025 you can book Karlshamn to Klaipėda and Trelleborg to Klaipėda with either company.
- Tallink’s Paldiski to Kapellskär has been suspended since May 2026. DFDS still sails the route.
- No ferry to Riga. The Stockholm to Riga ferry has not returned, and Tallink’s Helsinki to Riga sailings in 2026 were only a handful of summer cruises.
- By train: since January 2026 there is a direct daily train Tallinn to Tartu to Riga, just under 6 hours, handy if you arrive in Tallinn on foot.
Blogs & News
Interesting blogs and useful tips about ferry travel and the Baltics
FAQ: ferries to the Baltics
Is there a ferry from the UK to the Baltics?
No. Sail from the UK to the Netherlands, then drive to Kiel or Travemünde in Germany. From Kiel, DFDS sails to Klaipėda in Lithuania; from Travemünde, Stena Line sails to Liepāja in Latvia.
Is there a ferry to Riga?
Not on a regular basis. There is no Stockholm to Riga ferry at the moment. For Latvia, sail to Ventspils from Nynäshamn or to Liepāja from Travemünde; both are within about three hours’ drive of Riga.
What is the quickest ferry to Estonia?
Helsinki to Tallinn, which takes about two hours with Tallink, Viking Line or Eckerö Line and runs many times a day.
Can I take the ferry from Germany to Lithuania?
Yes. DFDS sails Kiel to Klaipėda six times a week in about 20 hours, and TT-Line sails to Klaipėda from Travemünde and Rostock, partly with a change of ship in Sweden.
Can foot passengers use the Paldiski to Kapellskär ferry?
No. DFDS only takes passengers travelling with a vehicle on this route. Without a car, take Helsinki to Tallinn or Stockholm to Tallinn instead.
Ferry Talk
Questions or experiences? We'd love for you to share them.
How do I see which port sails to which port across the Baltic sea including Norway? Surely that’s possible? I want to plan a trip through Denmark\ Norway\ Sweden \ Northern Germany and Poland.
Hi Ian,
We’re currently working on making all the ferry maps interactive, so you’ll be able to click on the crossings you’re interested in and access more information or book directly. On the specific ‘Baltics’ page, the maps aren’t interactive yet, but many of the maps and pages for the surrounding countries already are.
Previously, I wrote a setup in Dutch here: https://ferrygogo.nl/rondreis-zweden-noorwegen-denemarken/. It primarily covers Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, but it’s worth noting you can also start your journey in Germany. From there, you could sail to the Baltics first, take a ferry to Finland, continue from Finland to Sweden, then /Sweden to Norway, and finally from Oslo in Norway back to Kiel in Germany. Alternatively, you could drive to Bergen or Kristiansand in Norway and take a ferry to Hirtshals in northern Denmark.
It’s also useful to know that there are ferries from Kiel in Germany to both Oslo, Norway and Gothenburg, Sweden.. From Gdansk in Poland, you can catch a ferry to Stockholm, and from Travemünde in Germany, there’s a direct ferry to Helsinki. These are all fantastic options, though I might be a bit biased!
I hope this provides some helpful information. You can find more routes using the interlinks provided in this comment.
Best regards, JW – Team Ferrygogo.
Second option, also in Dutch, but more to give an idea: https://ferrygogo.nl/reisroute-helsinki-stockholm-goteborg/ – including a ferry map there as well.
I can make a tailormade post / route for you as well, might be a nice post. Will look into it.