Ferry Trelleborg–Rostock – to Germany by car or campervan

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Taking the ferry between Trelleborg and Rostock is a convenient way to get directly from Sweden to northern Germany. We have traveled the route ourselves several times, not least with a camper van, and appreciate that after a few hours at sea you can roll off the ferry and continue straight onto the German roads.

Here we tell you about the ferry between Trelleborg and Rostock, how the journey works and what might be good to consider when traveling by car or camper.

Ferry between Trelleborg and Rostock

The ferry line between Trelleborg in Skåne and Rostock in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania connects southern Sweden with northern Germany. Today, the route is operated by both Stena Line and TT-Line, with several departures and the possibility of traveling both during the day and at night. The journey time varies between different departures, but expect about six to eight hours.

For those of us traveling by motorhome, the route is practical. You board in Trelleborg and when the ferry docks in Rostock you are already on the continent, with good road connections through Germany and the rest of Europe.

Our experiences of Trelleborg–Rostock

We have traveled between Trelleborg and Rostock several times and would primarily describe the crossing as smooth. It may not be the ferry journey itself that is the big adventure of the trip – but it is a convenient way to travel between Sweden and Germany.

When the weather is nice, it is of course extra nice. On one of our trips we had brilliant sunshine and were able to sit out on deck for a large part of the crossing.

On board there are various options for eating and drinking and, depending on the ship, different types of cabins and other facilities. As ships and offerings are subject to change, we recommend checking what applies to the particular departure you book.

With a camper on the ferry to Germany

Bringing your camper on the ferry is easy. When you book, you specify which vehicle you are traveling with and the vehicle's dimensions. It is important to specify the correct length and height - and to remember any bike racks, boxes or other things that make the vehicle longer.

At the port, you check in and then drive to the lane you are directed to. When it is time to board, follow the staff's instructions and drive aboard to the car deck.

A tip is to take everything you need for the crossing with you before you leave the motorhome. Once the ferry has left the port, the car deck is normally closed to passengers.

How early should you be in Trelleborg?

How long before departure you need to be there depends on the shipping company and departure. At Stena Line, check-in in Trelleborg currently closes 60 minutes before scheduled departure. Rules and times are subject to change, so always check the information related to your own booking.

We generally think it's nice to have a little margin when traveling by motorhome. Port areas can be large and it's much nicer to stand in the right queue and wait a while than to rush through the port with a ferry that's about to leave.

Day ferry or night ferry to Rostock?

There are both daytime and overnight departures on this route. Which one is best for you depends of course on how the rest of your trip is going.

A day ferry means that the crossing itself takes up a fairly large part of the travel day, but at the same time you can take the opportunity to eat, rest and – if the weather permits – go out on deck.

A night departure can instead serve as transportation and overnight accommodation at the same time. In that case, a cabin can be a comfortable option, and in the morning you can continue your journey south in Europe.

We usually simply look at the ferry as part of travel planning: Which departure will get us to the right place at a reasonable time?

Arriving by ferry in Rostock

Rostock ferry port, Überseehafen, is large and located a bit from the city center. However, for those traveling further by car or camper, the location is practical.

The port is located directly adjacent to the A19, which leads south towards Berlin, among other places. Via the A20 you can quickly continue both east and west in northern Germany. This means that you do not have to drive through central Rostock if your goal is to continue your journey through Germany.

Stay in Rostock – or drive on?

Of course, it's also perfectly possible to start your German holiday in Rostock. The old Hanseatic city has a historic city centre with brick Gothic architecture, churches, squares and restaurants.

On the coast is also Warnemünde with a long sandy beach, promenade and seaside resort feel. If you want to continue west along the Baltic Sea coast, for example, Wismar and Lübeck good to go. To the south, the rest of Germany awaits – and eventually the Alps, Italy, France or wherever the journey is heading.

This is exactly what we like about the ferry to Rostock: when you get off the ferry, it feels like your European trip is really beginning.

Trelleborg–Rostock or Gothenburg–Kiel?

Which ferry to Germany is best depends a lot on where in Sweden you start and where you are going. Trelleborg–Rostock is well suited if you are in southern Sweden and want to get across relatively quickly. Rostock is also well located if you are heading towards Berlin, eastern or southern Germany or further through Central Europe.

Gothenburg–Kiel This means significantly longer time on board, but can be practical for those starting further north or west in Sweden. This also saves you many miles of driving through Sweden and Denmark.

For us, it is therefore not obvious that the same ferry line is best every time – we usually choose according to the current travel route.