Ferry Malmö–Travemünde with Finnlines – to Germany by car or campervan

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | The ferry between Malmö and Travemünde is a convenient alternative for those who want to travel to Germany by car or camper. Finnlines operates the route all year round and the crossing takes around nine hours. Travemünde is located just outside Lübeck and is a good starting point for continuing towards Hamburg, northern Germany or further south in Europe.

Ferry Malmö–Travemünde with Finnlines

Finnlines has several departures per day on the route between Malmö and Travemünde, both day, evening and night departures. We chose the departure that leaves at 16:00 from Malmö and arrives at 1am in Travemünde. If you would rather arrive in the morning or during the day, other departures may be more suitable. Always check the current timetable with Finnlines as departure times vary.

Travemünde is located on the Baltic Sea coast just outside Lübeck. From here it is easy to continue on by car or camper, for example towards Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania or further south in Europe.

Traveling by car or camper

You can bring both a car and a camper on the ferry between Malmö and Travemünde. When booking, you specify the type of vehicle you are traveling with as well as the length and height of the vehicle. Then, simply check in at the port and follow the staff's instructions when it is time to board.

When we travelled on the route we had our campervan with us and were also able to connect it to electricity during the crossing. This meant we could keep the fridge running without LPG. The availability of electricity and its cost may change, so check with Finnlines for the current conditions for your departure.

Cabin on Malmö–Travemünde

We travelled by cabin, and it was very nice. After all, the journey takes quite a few hours, and we spent a lot of these in the cabin working on the computers, reading and sleeping. You should turn off roaming at sea, but you can order a WiFi package if you want. We did not actually do that, but took the opportunity to be offline for a while.

Food and drinks on board

The Finnlines Malmö - Travemünde ferry carries many trucks and their drivers, and is not exactly a 'pleasure ferry'. However, you will find most of what you need, as long as you check the opening hours carefully. A lot of services are available only open the first hour after departure and the last hour before arrival.

Next to the restaurant is a small bar, where we had a beer and worked on the computers for a while.

There is another bar higher up the ship. This one was open a little longer, and here you can order a sausage or a hot sandwich even when the restaurant has closed.

The restaurant is open for the first and last hour, so you have to take advantage of that if you want a real meal. During our trip you could choose early dinner and/or extremely early breakfast.

Since we were driving to Hamburg and needed energy for the journey, we had breakfast. Expect a hearty one with fried potatoes, meatballs, sausages, white beans in tomato sauce and scrambled eggs!

What is there to do on board?

What else is on board Finnlines Malmö - Travemünde? As mentioned above, this is not a pleasure cruise, so a hot tip is to bring a good book or things to do on the computer.

In addition to the restaurant and bars, there is an information desk where you can ask about things, which is open at the beginning and end of the trip. Right next door is a small shop and a small arcade.

There is actually also a sauna and jacuzzi. We were not tested, but we understand that it was included in the price and was open for part of the trip.

From Travemünde to Lübeck and Hamburg

When you arrive in Travemünde you are twenty kilometers from Lübeck and seventy kilometers from Hamburg. During this particular trip we visited Hamburg, but both cities are nice acquaintances. Of course you can also continue your journey in Germany, for example in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, or continue south in Europe.

Lübeck is a Hanseatic city full of history, where you can also take the opportunity to try the city's famous delicacy in the form of marzipan.

Hamburg is a very nice city to discover, with a harbor, culture and many exciting attractions and experiences.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is a region in northern Germany that offers, among other things, nature, beaches, spas and wonderful dining experiences.