Ferry Kiel–Gothenburg – our experiences and tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

Taking the ferry between Kiel and Gothenburg is a convenient way to travel between Germany and Sweden by car or camper. Unlike the shorter ferry crossings across the Baltic Sea, the ferry runs overnight, and with a cabin, restaurants and more on board, the journey is almost like a hotel night on the road.

We have travelled from Kiel to Gothenburg by motorhome ourselves and really enjoyed the crossing. Here we tell you how the ferry journey works, what is on board and what is good to think about before the trip.

Ferry between Kiel and Gothenburg

The ferry line between Kiel and Gothenburg is operated by Stena Line. Today, the ships Stena Germanica and Stena Scandinavica operate on the route and the crossing takes approximately 14 hours. You travel in the evening and arrive the next morning.

It is a significantly longer ferry journey than, for example, Trelleborg–Rostock, but that does not have to be a disadvantage. On the contrary, the night ferry can be a convenient way to combine transport and overnight accommodation.

Our experiences of Kiel–Gothenburg

When we took the ferry from Kiel to Gothenburg, we had been on a two-month motorhome trip in Europe. Driving aboard the ferry, leaving the motorhome on the car deck and checking into a comfortable cabin felt almost like ending the trip with a night in a hotel.

We had previously taken several of the shorter ferry routes between Sweden and Germany and experienced quite a big difference. On Kiel–Gothenburg, the crossing itself becomes more of a part of the journey.

Instead of a few hours that are mostly about transportation, you get a whole evening on board, a night in the cabin and the opportunity to eat breakfast before it's time to drive on.

Cabin on the ferry between Kiel and Gothenburg

On our trip we had a panoramic cabin high up on the ship, with large windows and a view of the sea. After many weeks in the camper, it felt like real luxury with plenty of space, comfortable beds and a private bathroom.

The range of cabins and what is included may of course change over time, so instead of choosing a cabin based on what we had on our trip, we recommend comparing the current options when you book.

For us, it was fantastic to travel in a slightly nicer cabin. When the journey itself takes the whole night, the cabin becomes a much bigger part of the experience than on a short ferry crossing.

Food and drinks on board

There are several options for eating and drinking on board. The range may change, but today there are restaurants, bars and other catering options on the ferries.

We had a three-course dinner during our trip and remember the evening as a really nice end to our European trip. It was something completely different than having a quick bite to eat on a shorter ferry.

If you want to make a little more of the trip, we think it might be nice to book a table or plan a dinner on board.

A night on the Baltic Sea

After dinner, the evening continued in the bar and later it was time to crawl into the cabin. One of the things we remember best from the trip was the passage under The Great Belt Bridge. We managed to see the bridge before we went to bed and it was a magnificent sight.

Then it's quite nice to let the ship do the work. Instead of continuing to drive through Denmark and Sweden, you can sleep while moving north. In the morning, Gothenburg awaits.

Breakfast on the ferry

We started the morning with breakfast on board before the ferry arrived in Gothenburg. Again, we recommend checking what is included in the cabin and ticket you book, as different options can change.

But we like the setup itself: wake up, shower, eat breakfast and then go down to the camper and drive off the ferry in Sweden. This means that the night ferry in a way replaces both an overnight stay and many hours of driving.

By motorhome on the Kiel–Gothenburg ferry

The ferry also works well for those traveling with a camper. When booking, please state the vehicle type and dimensions of the camper. Remember to include, for example, bike racks or other equipment that affects the total length of the vehicle.

Once you have driven aboard and parked the camper on the car deck, you take what you need for the night to the cabin.

We therefore usually pack a small separate bag with the things we need on board. It's much easier than standing on the car deck trying to figure out what we need for the night just before going up to the cabin.

Arriving by ferry in Gothenburg

In Gothenburg, the ferry from Kiel arrives at the Germany terminal at Elof Lindälvs gata, near Älvsborgsbron. Please note that Stena Line has different terminals in Gothenburg for the ferries to Kiel and Fredrikshamn respectively.

When the car tire opens, all you have to do is go down to the car or camper and get ready to drive off. For us, the arrival meant the end of a long European trip. After two months on the road, it was actually quite nice to wake up and realize that we were back in Sweden.

Kiel–Gothenburg or Trelleborg–Rostock?

Which ferry is best between Sweden and Germany depends primarily on where you start and where you are going.

Trelleborg–Rostock is a significantly shorter crossing and is suitable if you want to get quickly between southern Sweden and northern Germany.

Kiel–Gothenburg takes considerably longer, but since the journey is overnight, it can replace both driving and an overnight stay. It is particularly interesting if you are going to or from western Sweden or further north.

We wouldn't say that one of the routes is always the best. But when we went Kiel–Gothenburg ourselves, we were pleasantly surprised. Of the ferry crossings between Sweden and Germany that we had tried at the time, this was definitely one of the most pleasant.

Is the Kiel–Gothenburg ferry worth taking?

For us, the answer is yes – especially if the route fits the rest of the trip. This is not the fastest way to cross the sea between Sweden and Germany. However, it can be one of the most comfortable. You avoid a long drive through Denmark and Sweden and can instead have dinner, sleep in a real bed and wake up on the other side.

And after a long motorhome trip, it can actually be quite lovely to end your vacation with a little dose of ferry luxury.

The ferry trip was organised in cooperation with the German Tourist Board. Texts, pictures and opinions are as usual our own.