Ferry to Latvia, from Sweden and Germany
Overnight with Stena Line, about 9 sailings a week · Ventspils is about 2h30 from Riga
Ferries to Latvia, from Sweden and Germany
Latvia’s two regular international passenger-ferry gateways are Ventspils and Liepāja, and neither of them is Riga. Stena Line sails to Ventspils from Nynäshamn near Stockholm, and to Liepāja from Travemünde near Lübeck. Both ports are a drive of roughly two and a half to three hours from Riga, which makes them a good starting point for a road trip through the Baltics.
Best starting point for most travellers: Nynäshamn – Ventspils if you come from Sweden or Norway, Travemünde – Liepāja if you drive from the UK, the Netherlands or Germany.
In short: ferries to Latvia
- From Sweden: Nynäshamn – Ventspils, about 9h30 – 10h30, mostly overnight, about 9 sailings a week
- From Germany: Travemünde – Liepāja, about 22 – 23 hours, 6 sailings a week
- To Riga: no regular passenger ferry at the moment
- From the UK: no direct ferry; go via the Netherlands and Travemünde
Ferry map: Ferries to Latvia
Both Latvian ferry routes are run by Stena Line. Ventspils and Liepāja lie on the Baltic coast in the west of the country; Riga is on the Gulf of Riga, further east.
Top ferry routes to Latvia (quick overview)
| Route | Crossing | Sailings (autumn 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nynäshamn – Ventspils | about 9h30 – 10h30, mostly overnight | about 9 a week each way | Coming from Sweden or Norway; Riga and the north |
| Travemünde – Liepāja | about 22 – 23 hours | 6 a week each way | Coming from Germany, the Netherlands or the UK by car |
| Via Tallinn (Helsinki – Tallinn, then drive) | 2 hours + about 4 hours’ drive | many sailings a day | Coming from Finland |
| Via Klaipėda (Kiel or Karlshamn – Klaipėda) | 13 – 21 hours + about 3 – 4 hours’ drive | 6 – 9 a week | Combining Latvia with Lithuania |
Checked on stenaline.co.uk in October 2026.
From Sweden to Latvia: Nynäshamn ⇄ Ventspils
Nynäshamn is about an hour south of Stockholm. Stena Line sails from here to Ventspils with Stena Scandica and Stena Baltica. Most sailings leave in the evening and arrive the next morning, so you sleep through the crossing of roughly 9h30 – 10h30; on some days there is an extra daytime sailing. In autumn 2026 there are about nine sailings a week in each direction, and fares start from about £87 one way for a car with driver.
From Ventspils it is about 2h30 by car to Riga. Remember that Latvia is one hour ahead of Sweden, which affects the arrival time on your ticket.
From Germany to Latvia: Travemünde ⇄ Liepāja
Stena Line sails Travemünde – Liepāja six times a week with Stena Horizon and Stena Flavia. The crossing takes about 22 – 23 hours: a typical sailing leaves in the afternoon and arrives the following afternoon, local time, so you will want a cabin. Fares start from about £119 one way for a car with driver.
Liepāja is less than three hours from Riga. Prefer Lithuania first? DFDS sails Kiel – Klaipėda, about four hours’ drive from Riga.
From the UK: the easiest ways to reach Latvia
There is no ferry from the UK to Latvia. With a car, a practical option is a North Sea ferry to the Netherlands, then about 5.5 to 6 hours’ drive from Hook of Holland to Travemünde and the Stena Line ferry to Liepāja.
- Fast and simple: fly to Riga for a city break.
- Road trip via Germany: Netherlands, Travemünde – Liepāja, then explore the Baltics.
- Road trip via Scandinavia: drive through Denmark and Sweden and sail Nynäshamn – Ventspils.
Good to know
- Time zone: Latvia is one hour ahead of Sweden and Germany; timetables show local times.
- Currency: Latvia uses the euro.
- Cabins: on Travemünde – Liepāja a cabin is all but essential; on the night ferry from Nynäshamn it is strongly recommended.
- Driving on: Riga – Tallinn is about 4 hours by car, and Riga – Vilnius about the same.
More options for the region: all ferries to the Baltics, Estonia and Lithuania.
Quick questions: ferries to Latvia
Are there ferries from Germany to Latvia?
Yes, one: Stena Line sails Travemünde – Liepāja six times a week. The crossing takes about 22 to 23 hours, so book a cabin.
Can you travel to Latvia by ferry from Sweden?
Yes. Stena Line sails Nynäshamn, near Stockholm, to Ventspils about nine times a week in each direction, mostly overnight, in about 9.5 to 10.5 hours.
Is there a ferry from the UK to Latvia?
No. Sail from the UK to the Netherlands, drive to Travemünde in Germany and take the Stena Line ferry to Liepāja. Alternatively, drive on to Kiel for the DFDS ferry to Klaipėda in Lithuania.
Is there a ferry to Riga?
Not at the moment. There is no regular passenger ferry to Riga; Tallink only ran a few summer cruises from Helsinki in 2026, and no regular service has been announced for 2027. Ventspils and Liepāja are both within about three hours of Riga by car.
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- Ferry routes Estonia Latvia Lithuania
Useful for travellers to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: the Baltics
Tips for ferry travellers
