Rostock-Gedser Ferry

The Rostock-Gedser ferry is the direct route across the Baltic Sea between Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Denmark: 52 kilometres at sea, around two hours, several sailings a day in each direction. Scandlines runs it with the two hybrid ferries M/S Berlin and M/S Copenhagen. Coming from northern Germany and heading for Denmark or on to Sweden, you save half a day against the land route through Jutland - and swap motorway for a break out on deck.

This page walks through the crossing in order: getting there, check-in, the time on board, vehicles and bikes, arrival and choosing a fare. The two figures that change most often sit elsewhere on purpose - departure times in the timetable, fares on the Prices & Fares page.

Getting there and the terminals

In Rostock, the Scandlines terminal is in the Überseehafen at Zum Fährterminal 1. Coming down the A19 from Berlin or the A20 from Lübeck and Stralsund, take the Rostock-Überseehafen exit; a four-lane access road then leads through the port area to the berth. Watch for signs towards Gedser - other lines sail from the Überseehafen too.

Without a car you travel to Rostock main station and continue by S-Bahn and bus to the terminal, roughly 40 minutes in total. On the Danish side the terminal sits at Jernbanevejen 1 in Gedser, at the end of the E55 and with a direct bus link from Nykøbing Falster. Both journeys in detail: Rostock Port & Ferry Terminal and Gedser Port & Ferry Terminal.

Check-in and departure

With a vehicle, check-in closes 15 minutes before departure, on foot and by bike, 30 minutes apply in Rostock, more on that in a moment. In peak season, 30 to 45 minutes of slack is the better choice, because the lanes can back up ahead of the desks.

There are two lanes at the terminal. In the blue lane a camera reads your number plate, or you enter your booking number at the machine. The yellow lane is staffed - for motorhomes and trailer combinations, for travellers with reduced mobility, and for anyone arriving without a booking who wants to buy a ticket on the spot.

Foot passengers check in at the passenger terminal. In Rostock, be there 30 minutes before departure, because a free shuttle bus takes you to the ship; in Gedser 15 minutes is enough, as a passenger bridge leads on board. Keep your booking confirmation and ID to hand - the route crosses an internal EU border and spot checks are possible. The full process is on the check-in page.

On board

Two hours is too short for a cabin - there are none on this route - and long enough for a proper meal. On board you find a buffet restaurant, a cafeteria for quick food, a coffee bar and the Travel Shop; cafeteria and shop are open around the clock. Wi-Fi is free, both on the ship and in the waiting areas of either port.

Payment is cashless. That helps on this route, because you switch between euro and Danish krone: with a card you need no local currency for the crossing. There is a play area for children, and parking bays near the lift for travellers with reduced mobility - those are limited, so state the need when booking. What makes the two ships tick is described on Scandlines and the Ships on the Route.

Vehicles, bikes and pets

Both ferries have two vehicle decks with 800 lane metres each. Clearance is 4.60 metres on the lower and 4.20 metres on the upper deck - so motorhomes and trailer combinations are unproblematic here as long as you declare the dimensions correctly when booking. Motorcycles have their own fare, and a bicycle travels for a small surcharge on top of the passenger ticket.

Dogs and cats may travel, but have to meet the import rules and stay in defined areas on board. Everything on that is on the Travelling with Pets page.

Arrival and onward travel

From Gedser the E55 takes you to Copenhagen in around two hours; the chain of legs with and without a car is described on From Rostock to Copenhagen. Heading on to Sweden, it is a good half hour from Copenhagen across the Øresund Bridge to Malmö - ferry and toll can be combined in one booking, see Combined Ticket with the Øresund Bridge.

In the other direction, the access road from the Rostock terminal leads straight onto the A19 and on to the A20. The return has its own departure times and a different terminal routine; both are on the Gedser-Rostock Ferry page.

Tickets and fares

The crossing is sold per vehicle: the driver and everyone travelling with them are included in the car ticket. What you pay therefore depends mostly on the ticket type and on when you book.

If your travel day is fixed, the cheapest online fare is the right pick - it is valid for the booked departure only. The standard fare covers every departure on your travel day, and the flexible fare allows free rebooking. On top of those come day and return tickets plus separate fares for motorcycles and foot passengers. Buying at the terminal is possible but costs a multiple of the online price. The full overview with source and date is on the Prices & Fares page; common questions are answered in the FAQ.