The magic of Scandinavia is that you can tour much of it without having to check into a hotel. How? Choosing overnight stays on luxury ferries that have everything from saunas, smorgasbord and duty-free shops, to bars and restaurants. Ships that sail virtually every night from Helsinki to Stockholm and back.
What do you need to know about this interesting and traveling experience?
Why is this movement loved and chosen not only by tourists but also by locals?
Everything you need to know about travelling by ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm and back!
Travelling to Finland from one of the Nordic countries is relatively easy and quick by plane. But this is a typical practice of most tourists, right? So if you want to add an extra dose of adventure and excitement to your trip, you should experience a ferry or cruise in Helsinki.
The fantastic thing about these ships is that they offer a luxury experience at very good prices. Something you don’t find in other countries! Both Viking and Tallink Silja sail every night between Stockholm and Helsinki all year round. In both directions, the boats depart between 16:30 and 17:30 and arrive the next morning around 8 to 10:00.
Step 1: Choose your ferry company first
There are several ferry companies that travel between Stockholm and Helsinki, the best known being Tallink and Viking Line. Viking Line, however, is the most popular company and the one most Finns choose when heading to Stockholm and the one they will choose from Stockholm to Helsinki.
Step 2: Book your tickets for the ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm
Choose your date, location and additional services. Here you can choose which cabin category you want to stay in to maximise your overnight experience on board. Most people opt for the standard 4-person cabin with a combination of a private toilet and shower, as it is often the cheapest option and most people rarely stay in their cabins except to sleep. However, there are also premium options (rooms with hotel amenities) and suites that have large windows and sometimes even a balcony.
Step 3: Board and enjoy your cruise between Helsinki and Stockholm
When boarding, keep in mind that you must show your passport or ID and your ticket either printed or from your phone (they need the QR code). You’re practically going out of the border. But in fact the process is easy. Finland is a Schengen country like Sweden, so for Greeks the baggage and entry control process is a piece of cake.
Why travel by ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm?
Stockholm, known for its amazing natural wonders, is a UNESCO heritage site! Its well-preserved culture and rich history make it not just another beautiful capital but a cluster of 14 islands. From here, the ferry will take tourists to Helsinki and vice versa. An equally beautiful albeit smaller capital city with a lot of history, architectural wonders and wonderful museums. It also hosts diverse natural landscapes, including majestic lakes and lush forests and rich salmon production and consumption.
How long is the Helsinki – Stockholm trip?
The duration of the ferry on this route can range from 16 hours to 17 hours. These time differences are due to various factors such as the weather conditions at the time of departure. Ferry operators, the ferry’s itinerary and other external factors.
Overall, it’s an overnight cruise, so expect to leave Sweden in the afternoon and be in Finland in the morning and vice versa. Viking Line also stops at the island of Åland or Ahvenanmaa. For a short stop between Stockholm-Elsinque-Skokholm for fuel or to disembark passengers. Otherwise, expect to be on board for between 16-18 hours.
What are the prices of ferry tickets?
After a quick search, prices for a typical cabin that seats 4 people cost between €70 and €120 one-way (€160 and €240 return). If you’re travelling with a partner or friends, it’s much cheaper! You can divide the cabin price between two, three or four! If you’re travelling with, say, three of your friends, you’ll end up paying between €40 and €60 for return tickets! Therefore, the cost of tickets is quite low. If you think that at this price you have your own bed – bunk bed.
Where do we get the ships from?
The port of Stockholm includes a number of port areas: the Värtahamnen, Frihamnen, Stadsgården and Skeppsbron.
When you arrive in Stockholm by ferry, you are likely to arrive at one of the three ports. Freehamnen is the busiest cruise terminal in the region, with ships departing for Riga and St Petersburg. The port is well connected to the city centre via a scheduled shuttle service, costing €12 one way.
Just north of Freehamnen, lies Vartahamnen. Passengers travelling with Silja Line will disembark at this port.
All Viking Line ferries travelling between Stockholm and Turku, Helsinki and the Åland Islands arrive in Statkartin. The port is 20 minutes from the city centre. To get to Statkarten, you can easily take the bus, metro or train from different stops around the city.
Ferries to Helsinki depart from the port of Stockholm, which is about 3km away. from the city centre.
Alternative ferry route: Stockholm → Turku
In addition to the Stockholm – Helsinki ferry route, there is also a Stockholm to Turku route. Helsinki is just two hours from Turku by train. There are more daily ferry departures between Stockholm and Turku than Stockholm to Helsinki.
Go to the ferryscanner website and book your ferry tickets from Helsinki to Stockholm and vice versa and enjoy a unique experience that only Scandinavia can offer you!