New Gdańsk-Karlshamn ferry adds another way from Poland to Sweden

There is a new ferry route between Poland and Sweden. Since July 2026, ferries have been sailing between Gdańsk and Karlshamn, adding a useful new option for travellers taking a car across the Baltic.

The important part is not simply that another Poland-Sweden ferry has appeared. It is where in Sweden you arrive. Gdańsk already has a ferry to Nynäshamn, which works well for Stockholm and eastern Sweden. Karlshamn is much further south, making the new route more useful for Blekinge, southern Sweden and journeys continuing west towards Malmö, Denmark or eventually Norway.

If you’re comparing ways to cross the Baltic, see our ferries from Poland to Sweden. The new Karlshamn route gives that choice an interesting extra dimension.

Gdańsk-Karlshamn at a glance

Route	Gdańsk, Poland – Karlshamn, Sweden
Started	July 2026
Operator	POLSCA Baltic Ferries / Polferries
Crossing	Approximately 13-15 hours depending on the sailing
Best for	Blekinge, southern Sweden and onward travel towards western Sweden or Denmark

The regular service started in July 2026. Passenger sailings are available and vehicles can be taken on board, making this a practical option for road trips rather than a freight-only Baltic connection.

Crossing times and sailing days can vary, so check the timetable for your exact travel date rather than planning around a fixed frequency.

Why does Karlshamn make a difference?

Look at the Swedish arrival ports and the logic becomes clearer.

Nynäshamn is south of Stockholm and is usually the more logical Gdańsk ferry if Stockholm, Uppsala or central-eastern Sweden is your destination.

Karlshamn is in Blekinge, around 450 km further south-west by road. That puts you much closer to destinations such as Kristianstad and the southern part of Sweden, while the E22 gives you a straightforward route west towards Malmö.

So although both ferries leave from Gdańsk, they solve different travel problems.

• For Stockholm: Gdańsk-Nynäshamn normally makes more sense.
• For Blekinge and south-east Sweden: Gdańsk-Karlshamn is particularly well placed.
• For Malmö and southern Sweden: Karlshamn can work, but compare it with ferries arriving directly in Malmö, Ystad or Trelleborg.
• For a longer Scandinavian road trip: Karlshamn gives you a useful starting point for travelling west through Sweden towards Denmark or north-west towards Gothenburg and Norway.

But there are several Poland-Sweden ferries to compare

The new route doesn’t suddenly make Karlshamn the obvious choice for every journey. Poland and Sweden already have one of the more extensive ferry networks in the Baltic.

Stena Line operates the established Gdynia-Karlskrona crossing, while Finnlines connects Świnoujście and Malmö. Other services link Polish ports with Ystad and Trelleborg.

That means the best ferry often comes down to two questions: where are you starting in Poland, and where do you actually want to be in Sweden?

For someone already travelling through northern Poland or visiting Gdańsk, the comparison between Nynäshamn and Karlshamn is particularly useful. Travellers coming from Germany or western Poland may find Świnoujście and the southern Swedish ports more logical because they avoid driving east to Gdańsk first.

Gdańsk-Nynäshamn or Gdańsk-Karlshamn?

This is probably the most useful comparison created by the new route because both ferries start in the same city.

Choose	When it makes most sense
Gdańsk-Nynäshamn	Stockholm, eastern Sweden and destinations further north on the east coast
Gdańsk-Karlshamn	Blekinge, southern Sweden and journeys continuing west

If the ferry itself is only one part of a much longer road trip, don’t compare crossing time alone. The driving distance after you arrive in Sweden can easily matter more than an hour or two difference at sea.

Karlshamn is also a useful Baltic ferry hub

Karlshamn is not new to international ferry travel. The port also has a ferry connection with Klaipėda in Lithuania.

That makes the new Polish route particularly relevant to the wider Baltic network. Rather than looking at Poland-Sweden as an isolated pair of countries, it is possible to combine ferries and road routes through the Baltic States, Poland and Scandinavia.

For example, travellers planning a longer trip could enter Scandinavia through Karlshamn and return via another Swedish port, or combine Sweden with a crossing to Lithuania.

This kind of route planning is where the dense Baltic ferry network becomes particularly useful: you don’t necessarily need to drive back the same way you came.

What has changed in 2026?

Gdańsk-Karlshamn is also part of a broader reshaping of the Polish ferry market.

POLSCA Baltic Ferries was launched in 2026 as a common commercial brand bringing together Polish ferry activities including Polferries, Unity Line and EuroAfrica. The Karlshamn connection is one of the most visible route developments since that cooperation began.

At the same time, the established alternatives are not disappearing. Stena Line’s Gdynia-Karlskrona operation is covered by a new terminal agreement running from 2026 to 2032, while Finnlines continues to operate between Świnoujście and Malmö.

For passengers, the result is simply more choice – and slightly more reason to compare the arrival port rather than automatically booking the best-known route.

Our view: a useful new route, especially for southern Sweden

Gdańsk-Karlshamn looks most useful for travellers who are already in northern Poland and want to reach southern or south-eastern Sweden. It is less compelling if Stockholm is the destination, where Nynäshamn has the geographical advantage, and travellers starting much further west in Poland should also compare Świnoujście.

The route becomes more interesting again for longer road trips. Karlshamn provides good onward access across southern Sweden and can form part of a wider Scandinavian or Baltic itinerary rather than simply an out-and-back ferry crossing.

We’ll add the connection to our Poland-Sweden comparison, Sweden ferry guide and Poland ferry guide.

Timetables, vessels and frequencies can change. Check the operator’s current timetable for your travel date before building the rest of your journey around the crossing.