European ferries

Introduction

Northern Islands

© ian-w

Although planes and trains are much faster and also buses and cars are popular way of getting around Europe, taking a ferry between countries in Europe is a great way to travel. Sometimes you can take advantage of good deals and take a night boat between countries. Also, when driving around Europe, the best way to visit islands like Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily or even Malta, is just to hop on a ferry and bring your own car.

This article is about international ferries between countries in Europe. Of course, there are numerous other options of getting around the respective countries as well. For those ferries, it is best to check the articles about the specific countries which have more details about getting around by ferry. There are also different styles of travelling over the water, including the popular cruise ship or even the odd but adventurous cargo ship.

Not all countries are listed here. In western and northern Europe the main countries are the UK, Sweden and Germany which are listed, as well as a short passage about ferries to Iceland. Norway, Denmark, Aland, Finland, the Baltic States, the Netherlands, Belgium and Russia have ferries as well. Most of them you can find here as well, but again for more details check the respective countries. For the east and south of Europe this applies as well, as here France, Italy, Greece are the main countries with small passages on Turkey, Cyprus and some former Soviet Republics.

For more information about getting to and from Europe by ferry from Africa, you can check the International ferries article.

Northern and Western Europe

Iceland - Mainland Europe vv

The Smyril Line company is your only option to get to Iceland by boat. The Norröna ship travels between Hanstholm in Denmark and Seydisfjördur in Iceland from about half April to the end of October. The ship stops on the way to Iceland in Torshavn, Faroe Islands and in Bergen, Norway year round and in Scrabster, Scotland only during the summer period of half June to the end of August.

To and from the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is very well connected to quite a few countries in the western and northern parts of Europe.

Ireland

• Irish Ferries between Rosslare and Pembroke.
• Irish Ferries Dublin and Holyhead.
• Stena Line between Rosslare and Fishguard.
• Stena Line between Dun Laoghaire and Holyhead.
• Stena Line between Dublin and Holyhead.
• P&O Irish Sea Ferries between Dublin and Liverpool.
• Fastnet Line between Cork and Swansea.

Sweden:

• DFDS Seaways between Gothenburg and both Harwich and Immingham.
• Stenaline between Harwich and Gothenburg.

Netherlands

• DFDS Seaways between IJmuiden and Newcastle
• Stenaline between Harwich and Hoek van Holland
• P&O Ferries between Rotterdam and Hull.

Belgium

• Superfast Ferries has overnight ferries service 3 times a week from Rosyth (Scotland) to Zeebrugge (arrive 11:30 next day).
• P&O Ferries offers daily overnight ships between Hull (England) and Zeebrugge as well.

Germany

• DFDS Seaways between Cuxhaven and Harwich.

Norway

• Colorline between Newcastle and both Bergen and Stavanger.
• Fjordline between Newcastle and both Bergen and Stavanger.
• DFDS Seaways between Newcastle and Kristansand.

Denmark

• DFDS Seaways between Esbjerg and Harwich.

Spain

• P&O Ferries between Portsmouth and Bilbao.
• Brittany Ferries between Plymouth and Santander.

France

• Norfolk Line between Dunkerque and Dover.
• My Ferry Link between Calais and Dover.
• Hoverspeed between Calais and Dover.
• P&O Ferries between Calais and Dover.
• Hoverspeed between Boulogne and Folkstone.
• Hoverspeed between Dieppe and Newhaven.
• Transmanche Ferries between Dieppe and Newhaven, Dieppe and Dover, Boulogne and Dover and Le Havre and Portsmouth.
• P&O Ferries between Le Havre and Portsmouth.
• LD Lines between Le Havre and Portsmouth.
• P&O Ferries between Caen and Portsmouth.
• Brittany Ferries between Caen and Portsmouth.
• P&O Ferries between Cherbourg and Portsmouth.
• Brittany Ferries between Cherbourg and Poole.
• Condor Ferries between St Malo and Poole and Weymouth and between Cherbourg and Portsmouth.
• Brittany Ferries between St Malo and Portsmouth.
• Brittany Ferries between Roscoff and Plymouth.

Jersey and Guernsey

• Condor Ferries from Guernsey and Jersey. Boats travel to Weymouth and Poole from Jersey and to these places and Portsmouth from Guernsey.

To and from Germany

The Queen Mary 2 regularly sails from New York to Hamburg, usually once or twice a year in the summer months.
There are no longer direct ferries from the UK to Germany, the closest connections are Harwich to Hoek van Holland (Netherlands) and to Esbjerg (Denmark).

Other ferries to Germany operate on the Baltic sea, connecting various ports of Germany with Scandinavia. Destinations are Gedser and Rodby in Denmark, Gothenburg, Helsingborg and Trelleborg in Sweden, Oslo in Norway and Hanko (Helsinki) in Finnland.

Switzerland
The Schweizerische Bodensee-Schiffahrtsgesellschaft car ferry travels across Lake Constance between Romanshorn in Switzerland and Friedrichshafen in Germany, taking around 40 minutes one way.

Norway

• Color Line between Kiel and Oslo.

Sweden

• Stena Line between Gothenburg and Kiel.
• TT Line between Trelleborg and both Rostock and Travemünde.
• Scandlines between Trelleborg and Sassnitz.
• Nordö Link between Travemunde and Malmo.

Finland

Ferry to Stockholm leaving Helsinki Harbour

© filipve

• Silja Line between Rostock and Helsinki.
• Finn Lines between Travemunde and Helsinki.
• Superfast Ferries between Rostock and Hanko, about 90 minutes from Helsinki.

Denmark

• Langeland-Kiel has ferries between Kiel and Bergenkop (Langeland).
• Scandlines between Puttgarden and Rodby and between Rostock and Gedser.
• Scandlines between Sassnitz and Ronne on the island of Bornholm.
• Bornholmstrafikken between Sassnitz and Bornholm as well.
• Syltfaehre between List/Sylt and Rømø.

Latvia

• Terrabalt between Liepaya and Rostock.
• Lisco Baltic Services between Ventspils and Lubeck.
• Lisco Baltic Services between Riga and Lubeck.

Russia

• Trans Russia Express operates a ferry between St Petersburg and both Sassnitz and Lubeck in Germany.

Lithuania

• Lisco Baltic Service between Klaipeda and the German cities of Kiel and Sassnitz.

Estonia

• Silja Line between Rostock and Tallinn.

United Kingdom

• DFDS Seaways between Cuxhaven and Harwich.

To and from Estonia

Getting to and from Estonia by boat is very easy. Most ferry companies service Tallinn but some of the smaller towns also have boat service. Remember to book online for cheaper tickets and ahead during busy times of the year.

• Nordic Jet has boats running between Helsinki and Tallinn, 1 about every 2 hours starting at 8 am and ending at 7:30 pm. A one way super economy ticket is 28 € but you have to book your tickets online.
• Tallink Silja also has regular service between Helsinki and Tallinn starting at 7:30 am. It also offers services to several other Scandinavia cities.
• Viking Line has a boat that makes its first or last stop in Tallinn before going to Helsinki.

To and from Sweden

Ferry out of Stockholm

© mrwallac

Finland

• Silja Line and Tallink between Turku and Stockholm.
• Viking Line and Silja Line between Helsinki and Stockholm.

Aland

• From Grisslehamn (Sweden) to Eckerö (Åland) with Eckerolinjen
• From Kapellskär (Sweden) to Mariehamn (Åland) with Viking Line
• From Stockholm to Mariehamn with Viking Line, Silja Line, Birka Cruises and Tallink

Germany

• Stena Line between Gothenburg and Kiel.
• TT Line between Trelleborg and both Rostock and Travemünde.
• Scandlines between Trelleborg and Sassnitz.

Denmark

• Stena Line and Silja Line between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn.
• Stena Line between Varberg and Grena.
• HH Ferries and Scandlines between Helsingborg and Helsingor.
• Scandlines between Helsingborg and Copenhagen.
• Scandlines from Landskrona
• Bornholmstrafikken between Ystad and the island of Bornholm.

Norway

• Colorline between Stromstad and Sandefjord.

Estonia

• Tallink between Stockholm and Tallinn.

Latvia

• Stockholm to Riga with Riga Sealine.
• Terrabalt between Karlshamn and Liepaya.

Lithuania

• Lisco Baltic Service between Karlshamn and Klaipeda.

Poland

• Stena Line between Karlskrona and Gdynia.
• Polferries between Nymashamn and Gdansk, between Ystad and Swinoujscie and between Trelleborg and Swinoujscie.
• Unity Line between both Ystad and Trelleborg and Swinoujscie.

Russia

• Lisco Baltic Service between Karlshamn and Baltysk.

United Kingdom

• DFDS Seaways between Gothenburg and both Harwich and Immingham.

Southern and Eastern Europe

To and from France

It is possible to catch the ferry across the English Channel from the United Kingdom and Ireland. There are also boat travelling to and from Spain, Italy and countries in Northern Africa.

Ireland

• Irish Ferries between Rosslare and both Cherbourg and Roscoff.
• Brittany Ferries between Cork and Roscoff.
• Transmanche Ferries between Le Havre and Rosslare.

United Kingdom

• Norfolk Line between Dunkerque and Dover.
• My Ferry Link between Calais and Dover.
• Hoverspeed between Calais and Dover.
• P&O Ferries between Calais and Dover.
• Hoverspeed between Boulogne and Folkstone.
• Hoverspeed between Dieppe and Newhaven.
• Transmanche Ferries between Dieppe and Newhaven, Dieppe and Dover, Boulogne and Dover and Le Havre and Portsmouth.
• P&O Ferries between Le Havre and Portsmouth.
• LD Lines between Le Havre and Portsmouth.
• P&O Ferries between Caen and Portsmouth.
• Brittany Ferries between Caen and Portsmouth.
• P&O Ferries between Cherbourg and Portsmouth.
• Brittany Ferries between Cherbourg and Poole.
• Condor Ferries between St Malo and Poole and Weymouth and between Cherbourg and Portsmouth.
• Brittany Ferries between St Malo and Portsmouth.
• Brittany Ferries between Roscoff and Plymouth.

Jersey and Guernsey

• Condor Ferries from St Malo to both Guernsey and Jersey.

Italy

• Transmanche Ferries between Toulon and Civitavecchia.
• SNCM between Marseille and Porto Torres on Sardinia.
• SNCM between both Ajaccio and Propriano on Corsica and Porto Torres on Sardinia.
• SNCM between Bastia (Corsica) and Livorno.
• Corsica Ferries between Bastia and Portaferrao (on Elba).
• Corsica Ferries between Bastia and Savona and also Bastia and Livorno.
• Corsica Ferries between Ile Rouse (Corsica) and Savona.
• Corsica Ferries between Calvi and Savona.

Spain

• Trasmediterranea between Marseille and Palma de Mallorca.

Morocco

• Comanav has services between Tangier and Sete, which is located between Marseille and Montpelier.
• SNCM also operates a service between Tangier and Sete.

Algeria

• Algerie Ferries is one of the major operators, with scheduled services between Marseille and Algerian cities like Algiers, Oran, Bejaia, Skikda and Annaba.
• SNCM travels between Marseille and Algiers as well.
• Cnan Maghreb Lines (website under construction) has boats from Marseille to Oran and Algiers.

Tunesia

• Cotunav operates a service between Marseille and Tunis.
• SNCM has services from Marseille to Tunis as well.

To and from Italy

Italy being a peninsula, there are many possible entry points for those wanting to arrive by water. For bookings on most ferries, you can use Ferries Online or Viamare. Off-season, you can get much better deals just showing up at the harbour, although this typically requires some flexibility in your travel plans, as many routes don't have daily service.

Italy can be reached across the Adriatic from Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro. Across the Ionean Sea lie Greece, Albania and Malta (no direct connections with Turkey exist). Across the Mediterranean proper lie Spain, France, Tunisia and Morocco (no direct connections exist with Libya, Egypt and Algeria, nor with Israel, Lebanon and Syria).

Albania

• Ventouris between Bari and Durres.
• Agoudimos Lines between Brindisi and Vlore.

France

• Transmanche Ferries between Toulon and Civitavecchia.
• SNCM between Marseille and Porto Torres on Sardinia.
• SNCM between both Ajaccio and Propriano on Corsica and Porto Torres on Sardinia.
• SNCM between Bastia (Corsica) and Livorno.
• Corsica Ferries between Bastia and Portaferrao (on Elba).
• Corsica Ferries between Bastia and Savona and also Bastia and Livorno.
• Corsica Ferries between Ile Rouse (Corsica) and Savona.
• Corsica Ferries between Calvi and Savona.

Spain

• Grimaldi Ferries between Civitavecchia and Barcelona.
• GNV between Genoa and Barcelona.

Croatia

• Crossings from Venice arrive in Mali Losinj, Porec, Pula, Rovinj and Rabac, check the Venezialines websites for details. Note that some crossings are only made during high season, meaning July and August.
• From Ancona, there are crossing to Split, Zadar, Hvar and Vis. Check the Jadrolinija website for details.
• From Ancona and Pescara, crossings by ferry arrive in Split and Hvar respecitvely, but only during the summer months of June to September. Check Jadrolinija or SNAV for details.
• From Termoli, Larivera has ferries in the summer months of June to September to the Croatian towns of Korcula and Lastovo.
• From Bari, Azzurraline (summer) and Jadrolinija (all year) have crossings to Dubrovnik.
• SEM Maritime Company between Ancona and Split, seasonal between Ancona and both Hvar and Vis Island.
• Hydrofoil Miatrade between Ancona and both Bozava and Zadar.

Greece

• Anek Lines between Patras and Trieste and Ancona.
• Anek Lines between Corfu and Brindisi, Ancona and Trieste.
• Anek Lines between Igoumenitsa and Trieste, Ancona and Brindisi.
• Minoan Lines between Patras and Ancona.
• Minoan Lines between Corfu and Brindisi and Venice.
• Minoan Lines between Igoumenitsa and Venice and Brindisi.
• Superfast Ferries between Patras and Ancona and Bari.
• Superfast Ferries between Corfu and Brindisi.
• Superfast Ferries Igoumenitsa and Ancona, Brindisi and Bari.
• Blue Star Ferries between Patras and Ancona.
• Ventouris Ferries between Patras and Bari.
• Ventouris Ferries between Corfu and Brindisi and Bari.
• Ventouris Ferries Igoumenitsa and Brindisi and Bari.
• Helenic Mediterranean Lines between Corfu and Brindisi.
• Helenic Mediterranean Lines Igoumenitsa and Brindisi.
• Helenic Mediterranean Lines between Zante and Brindisi.
• SNCM between Pireús and Genoa.

Turkey

• Marmara Lines between Cesme in Turkey and both Ancona and Brindisi.
• MedEuropean Seaways on the same routes.
• Fergün Shipping Company on the same routes.

Morocco

• GNV operates services between Genoa and Tangier, in northern Morocco.
• Comanav has services between Tangier and Genoa as well.

Malta

• Grimaldi Ferries between Salerno and Valetta.
• Virtu Ferries between both Pozzallo and Catania and Valetta.

Tunesia

• GNV has ferries from Genoa, Palermo and Civitavecchia in Italy to Tunis.
• Grimaldi Lines offers the same routes, as well as from Salerno.
• Cotunav has crossings between Tunis and Genoa.
• SNCM between Genoa and Tunis.

To and from Greece

There are dozens of ferries to and from Greece. Apart from the ones mentioned below, you might find even more connections on Greek Ferries website or another one about Ferries to and from Greece. Dozens of domestic services can be found here as well.

Italy

• Anek Lines between Patras and Trieste and Ancona.
• Anek Lines between Corfu and Brindisi, Ancona and Trieste.
• Anek Lines between Igoumenitsa and Trieste, Ancona and Brindisi.
• Minoan Lines between Patras and Ancona.
• Minoan Lines between Corfu and Brindisi and Venice.
• Minoan Lines between Igoumenitsa and Venice and Brindisi.
• Superfast Ferries between Patras and Ancona and Bari.
• Superfast Ferries between Corfu and Brindisi.
• Superfast Ferries Igoumenitsa and Ancona, Brindisi and Bari.
• Blue Star Ferries between Patras and Ancona.
• Ventouris Ferries between Patras and Bari.
• Ventouris Ferries between Corfu and Brindisi and Bari.
• Ventouris Ferries Igoumenitsa and Brindisi and Bari.
• Helenic Mediterranean Lines between Corfu and Brindisi.
• Helenic Mediterranean Lines Igoumenitsa and Brindisi.
• Helenic Mediterranean Lines between Zante and Brindisi.
• SNCM between Pireús and Genoa.

To and from Turkey

Turkey has several connections with neighbouring countries and even Italy by boat.

Italy:

• Marmara Lines has summer ferries travelling between Ancona and Çeşme and Brindisi and Çeşme as well.
• MedEuropean Seaways operates a service between Brindisi and Çeşme.
• Fergün Shipping Company also has ferries running the Ancoma-Çeşme and Brindisi-Çeşme routes.

Ukraine:

• Fergün Shipping Company has ferry services between Sinop and Yalta in the Ukraine in summer.
• Ukrferry has more connections between both Istanbul and Odessa, and Derince and Ilyichevsk.

Northern Cyprus:
Fergün Shipping Company operates a Tasucu-Girne service year-round. They also offer a service in summer between Alanya and Girne.

Greece:

• Fergün Shipping Company has direct services to Greece. The Bodrum-Kos is the only service operating in the low season between November and April. These are the routes they offer: Bodrum-Kos, Bodrum-Rhodes, Cesme-Chios, Kusadasi-Samos, Marmaris-Rhodes and Yalikavak-Samos.
• A few other private companies have connections between Lesbos and Ayvalik and between Rhodos and Fethiye.

To and from Ukraine

The only options for international boat travel are from the port city of Odessa (or nearby Ilichovsk) to destinations like Constanta in Romania, and Varna in Bulgaria. A fast catamaran to Varna takes about 8 hours (to Constanta 6 hours). Tickets are available through Ukrferry company or in offices inside Odessa seaport. Boats to and from Georgia (Poti and Batumi) are not always reliable and frequent.

To and from Azerbaijan

Ferries, both cargo and passenger, travel across the Caspian Sea from Baku in Azerbaijan to Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan and Aktau in Kazakhstan. Services are erratic though, but the crossing to Turkmenistan is the most popular and reliable.
Theoretically, ferries also cross the Caspian Sea to Iran, but these are unreliable and infrequent, no schedules exist, they are not comfortable and it's slow. It is adventurous though!