One loop, three possible ferry landings, every leg measured. Below you’ll find the two-week family route day by day, two one-week versions, and the Swedish rules that catch German drivers.
When you need this
- You’re driving from Germany to Sweden with children for one or two weeks
- You’ve booked a ferry and want to know what fits between arrival and departure
- You’re weighing a loop against an open-jaw trip, in by one ferry and out by another
- You want Astrid Lindgren’s World, Kolmården and Stockholm in one trip without 500 km days
Which crossing to take is covered in driving to Sweden from Germany and ferries from Germany to Sweden. This page starts on the Swedish quay.
The three plans at a glance
A German car reaches Sweden at one of three places. Trelleborg takes Stena Line and TT-Line from Rostock and TT-Line from Travemünde. Malmö takes Finnlines from Travemünde, plus everyone who came through Denmark and over the Øresund Bridge. Gothenburg takes Stena Line’s overnight ferry from Kiel.
The two-week route is a loop that passes all three, so you can join it wherever your ferry lands and leave from any of them — including a different port from the one you arrived at. We measured every leg with a route planner (OSRM, on OpenStreetMap data). The figures are pure driving time, with no stops or traffic.
| Plan | Arrive / leave | Main stops | Distance (measured) | Pure driving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-week family loop | Any of Trelleborg, Malmö, Gothenburg | Ystad, Kalmar, Öland, Vimmerby, Kolmården, Stockholm, Gränna, Gothenburg, Halland coast, Helsingborg | about 1,650 km | about 22 h |
| One week: south-east loop | Trelleborg or Malmö both ways | Ystad, Kalmar, Öland, Vimmerby | about 900 km | about 13 h |
| One week: west coast, open jaw | In at Gothenburg, out at Trelleborg or the Øresund Bridge | Gothenburg, Varberg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Malmö | about 325 km | about 4.5 h |
Two older plans to drop: Sassnitz–Trelleborg has not sailed since 30 September 2024, and the Fehmarnbelt tunnel is not open and has no published opening date. The short Danish crossing is still Scandlines’ 45-minute Puttgarden–Rødby ferry.
The two-week family loop
Thirteen nights, shown clockwise from Trelleborg. There are ten driving days, and the longest leg is 292 km.
| Day | Leg | Distance | Pure driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trelleborg → Ystad | 60 km | under 1 h |
| 2 | Ystad → Kalmar | 270 km | about 3 h 40 min |
| 3 | Kalmar → Borgholm (Öland) and back | 2 × 40 km | about 40 min each way |
| 4 | Kalmar → Vimmerby | 135 km | about 2 h |
| 5 | Astrid Lindgren’s World | — | — |
| 6 | Vimmerby → Kolmården | 159 km | about 2 h 15 min |
| 7 | Kolmården → Stockholm | 146 km | about 2 h |
| 8–9 | Stockholm, car parked | — | — |
| 10 | Stockholm → Gränna | 292 km | about 3 h 30 min |
| 11 | Gränna → Gothenburg | 184 km | about 2 h 25 min |
| 12 | Gothenburg | — | — |
| 13 | Gothenburg → Varberg → Halmstad | 75 + 71 km | about 1 h 55 min |
| 14 | Halmstad → Helsingborg → Malmö → Trelleborg | 80 + 65 + 34 km | about 2 h 30 min |
Days 1–3: Skåne, Kalmar and Öland
Day 1 is short on purpose after the crossing. Ales stenar, Sweden’s largest ship setting of 59 standing stones, is at Kåseberga, 19 km east of Ystad. It stands on grazed land in a protected area near a cliff edge, so keep children back from the edge. Day 2 is the first real drive, 270 km up the coast to Kalmar.
On day 3, Kalmar Castle was built in the Middle Ages and given its present form in the 1500s; it describes itself as the best-preserved castle of the Vasa era in the Nordic region. Öland is across the 6 km Öland Bridge, opened in 1972. The bridge is toll-free, and Kalmar to Borgholm is 40 km.
Days 4–7: the two big parks
Astrid Lindgren’s World is in Vimmerby, 135 km inland from Kalmar. Give it a full day: the park itself says it is hard to see everything in one, and a ticket is valid on any day of the season. The park also warns that satnavs and map apps may show the wrong route since its new entrance road opened, so follow the road signs for the last stretch.
From Vimmerby it is 159 km to Kolmården, the zoo about 30 minutes north of Norrköping, off the E4 at exits 125, 126 or 129. The drive on to Stockholm is 146 km.
Days 8–9: Stockholm without the car
Leave the car parked. Tram 7 from T-Centralen runs to Djurgården past Nordiska museet, Gröna Lund and Skansen, and the Vasa Museum is on the same island. Stockholm charges congestion tax by camera and invoices foreign owners, so every drive into the centre becomes a bill at home — see congestion charges.
Days 10–14: Vättern, Gothenburg and the coast
Day 10 is the longest leg: 292 km, about three and a half hours on the E4 along Lake Vättern to Gränna. Gothenburg follows the next day, 184 km. Liseberg is a 10–15-minute walk from Gothenburg’s central station; its 2026 summer season opened on 18 April. Gothenburg’s congestion tax is not charged in July, at weekends or on public holidays.
Then comes the coast road south: Varberg and Halmstad on day 13, and Helsingborg, Malmö and the Trelleborg ferry on day 14. You can also drive home from Malmö over the Øresund Bridge.
Joining elsewhere. Off the Kiel ferry in Gothenburg, start at day 11 and run the loop as it stands, or reverse it. Arriving in Malmö, start at day 14.
Two one-week versions
South-east loop, 6 nights, Trelleborg or Malmö both ways. Drive days 1–5 above — Ystad, Kalmar, Öland, Astrid Lindgren’s World — then go home from Vimmerby. Vimmerby to Trelleborg measures 356 km, about 5 h 10 min of pure driving. The park gives its own figure of about 4 hours to Malmö by road 23. The loop totals about 900 km.
West coast, open jaw, 6 nights. Take the Kiel–Gothenburg ferry in: about 14 hours overnight, and a cabin is compulsory. Spend two nights in Gothenburg, then work down the coast via Varberg, Halmstad and Helsingborg to Malmö. Leave from Trelleborg or over the Øresund Bridge. Swedish driving totals only about 325 km. Stockholm doesn’t fit a week from Germany without long days. For more west-coast depth, see the west coast road trip and the coastal cycle route Kattegattleden.
Rules on the road
These are the Swedish rules that cost money or time on this route.
| Rule | What it means for this trip |
|---|---|
| ID for every traveler | Border control decided for 12 May – 11 November 2026; a driving licence isn’t a travel document for non-Nordic EU citizens. Keep documents in the front of the car. |
| Child seats | Children under 135 cm need an approved child restraint. |
| Alcohol | 0.2 per mille in blood: a single lunchtime beer can put the driver over it. |
| Speed | 50 in built-up areas, 70 elsewhere unless signed, 110 on motorways; 80 with a trailer or caravan. Dipped headlights always on. See speed limits and road signs. |
| Wildlife | Hit a moose, deer or wild boar: mark the spot and call 112, even if the animal ran off. |
| Dogs | Register with Swedish Customs on every entry. |
| Bridge fees | Sweden’s three fee bridges (Sundsvall, Motala, Skurubron) are not on this route; see bridge tolls. |
Breaks and nights. Trafikverket runs about 270 rest areas, all with toilets, tables and bins, and cleans them twice a day from 1 June to 31 August. They are meant for breaks, not overnight stays. Rest areas and signed parking allow at most 24 hours, so motorhome nights belong on a campsite or ställplats — see Sweden by motorhome. Driving electric, or planning fuel stops? Read EV charging and fuel stations.
Seasons and timing
This is a summer route, because the two big parks on it are seasonal. In 2026, Astrid Lindgren’s World opened daily from 13 May to 16 August and then moved to weekends. Kolmården opened on 28 March and closes in winter apart from event days. Check both calendars before you fix the order of the loop.
- July (weeks 29–31) is Sweden’s own holiday peak, so book beds early.
- Midsummer Eve (a Friday between 19 and 25 June) closes most ordinary shops.
- After 11 November 2026, check whether border control has been extended.
- 1 December – 31 March, winter tyres are compulsory in winter conditions, German cars included — see winter tyres.
Practical information
| Item | Where it stands (checked 25 September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Ferry Germany–Sweden | Dynamic fares per sailing — see ferries and motorhome ferry prices |
| Øresund Bridge | Per crossing, by vehicle length — current toll on the Øresund Bridge guide |
| State bridge fees on this route | None |
| Öland Bridge | No toll |
| Congestion tax | Stockholm and Gothenburg, by camera, invoiced; Gothenburg free in July |
| Park entry | Per park and season — see the park guides |
| Loop length (measured) | About 1,650 km, about 22 h of pure driving |
FAQ
How long does it take to drive around southern Sweden in two weeks?
Our measured loop from Trelleborg via Kalmar, Vimmerby, Kolmården, Stockholm, Lake Vättern, Gothenburg and the Halland coast is about 1,650 km, roughly 22 hours of pure driving. Split over ten driving days, no leg exceeds 292 km. Add breaks: with children, the real time is noticeably longer than the route planner’s figure.
Where should I take the ferry from Germany for a family road trip?
Pick the port that matches the first stop. Kiel–Gothenburg lands on the west coast overnight, in about 14 hours with a compulsory cabin. Rostock or Travemünde to Trelleborg, or Travemünde to Malmö, land in Skåne. The loop passes all three ports, so arriving by one ferry and leaving by another works.
Can I fit Astrid Lindgren’s World and Kolmården into one trip?
Yes, and they sit close together on the loop: Vimmerby to Kolmården is 159 km, about two and a quarter hours. Both are seasonal. In 2026 Astrid Lindgren’s World opened daily from 13 May to 16 August, then at weekends; Kolmården opened on 28 March. Check both calendars before fixing the order.
Do I need a passport to drive from Germany to Sweden?
Carry a passport or national ID card for everyone in the car. Sweden runs temporary internal border control decided for 12 May to 11 November 2026, and police can check cars arriving by ferry or bridge. A driving licence is not a travel document for non-Nordic EU citizens. Check for an extension after 11 November.
Are there tolls on Swedish roads?
Not on this route. Sweden’s state bridge fees apply only at Sundsvall, Motala and Skurubron in Nacka, none of them on the loop, and the Öland Bridge is free. You do pay the Øresund Bridge if you use it, and Stockholm and Gothenburg charge congestion tax by camera, invoiced to foreign owners.
Is one week enough for a road trip from Germany to Sweden?
Yes, for one region. A south-east loop from Trelleborg to Kalmar, Öland and Astrid Lindgren’s World is about 900 km. A west-coast week can arrive in Gothenburg by the Kiel ferry and leave from Trelleborg or over the Øresund Bridge, with only about 325 km of Swedish driving. Stockholm needs the two-week loop.
Related guides
- Driving to Sweden from Germany — choose the crossing before you choose the loop
- Ferries from Germany to Sweden — Kiel, Rostock and Travemünde compared
- Sweden with kids — the family rules beyond the car
- Southern Sweden road trip — ten days in the south in more depth
- Sweden with kids: a two-week family itinerary — the same trip without your own car
Facts verified 25 September 2026. Sources: Trafikverket, Transportstyrelsen, Sveriges Riksdag, Polismyndigheten, Regeringen, Tullverket, Länsstyrelsen Skåne, the ferry operators and the parks; distances measured with OSRM — full register in this topic’s source file. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.