Gotland has no bridge. Unless you fly, you arrive in Visby on one of two ferry routes, and in summer the ferry, not the island, is the bottleneck. Here is how the crossing works, what to book, and when.
When you need this
You are planning a Gotland trip and choosing between Nynäshamn, Oskarshamn and a flight. Or you are deciding whether the car comes too. Or you are travelling in late June, July or early August, when demand for the same boats peaks. Or you have a dog and want to know where it spends three hours at sea.
The two routes to Visby
Both routes are run by Destination Gotland and both land in Visby. The operator sums the crossing up as “about three hours”.
| Route | Crossing time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Nynäshamn–Visby | About 3 h 15 min | Stockholm, Arlanda, Uppsala |
| Oskarshamn–Visby | About 2 h 55 min | Southern Sweden, the Småland coast |
Three ships sail in peak season and two the rest of the year. Pick the port by where you start: Nynäshamn is south of Stockholm, with a commuter train and a coach link; Oskarshamn is for travelers coming up from the south.
Who runs the Gotland ferry
This is not an ordinary commercial ferry. The state procures it: Trafikverket, the Swedish Transport Administration, contracts an operator to keep the island connected. Destination Gotland has sailed both routes under the current agreement since 2017.
What changes in 2027: the current contract ends on 31 January 2027. From 1 February 2027 a new contract runs to 2035, with an option of two more years. It was signed with Alvina Shipping, a Danish-registered company in the same Gotlandsbolaget group, and Destination Gotland stays on as the subcontractor that sails the ships and runs the terminals, check-in and customer service. For you, nothing visible changes: same brand, same ships, same booking site. A new ship, able to run on hydrogen, is due in 2028.
How fares work: residents and visitors
The state contract sets price caps for people registered as living on Gotland (folkbokförda), their vehicles and freight. For everyone else, pricing is free. Residents unlock the Gotland price by logging in and confirming their registration against the national population register.
Visitors pay dynamic fares. The operator sets them by demand and data, so the price depends on the departure, the time of day, the vehicle, the ticket type, comfort options and the season. The operator’s own advice for a lower fare: book early, be flexible about the departure, and travel when fewer people do. This guide publishes no fares because they move with every sailing.
Choose the ticket type carefully:
| Ticket | Change or cancel? | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|
| Mini | No; paid at booking, no refund | None; the cheapest |
| Flexi | Yes, up to 1 hour before departure | 20% supplement, not refunded |
| Flexi+ | Yes, up to 1 hour before, full refund | 30% supplement |
| Car / motorhome packages (up to 5 people) | No; paid at booking, no refund | Package price |
Discounts exist for children, young people aged 13–25, students, pensioners, groups of 10 or more and Interrail/Eurail pass holders.
Booking the ferry step by step
- Choose your port: Nynäshamn from Stockholm or Arlanda, Oskarshamn from the south.
- Decide whether you need a car. Foot passengers and cyclists book far more easily in summer.
- Book on Destination Gotland’s own site and pick Mini, Flexi or Flexi+.
- Add the extras in the same booking: vehicle, bike, pet lounge or pet cabin, cabin, and a Båtbussen coach seat if you need one.
- Plan the trip to the port, commuter train or Båtbussen.
- Arrive early. Boarding opens no later than 1 hour 30 minutes before departure and closes 20 minutes before.
- At check-in, tell staff about any dog or cat. Every adult in a car must be able to show valid ID.
Car, bike or on foot?
A car is the hardest and most expensive thing to get onto a summer sailing, because vehicles and peak dates push the dynamic fare up. If you will spend most of your stay in Visby, go on foot and rent a car locally for the days you need one.
Bikes are an easy middle way. Book the bike as “bicycle/moped”; you enter through the vehicle entrance and the crew show you where to stow it. Motorhomes and caravans may need to take down their TV antennas before boarding. Once ashore, driving in Sweden covers the rules of the road.
Dogs and cats on board
You have three options, and you must declare a dog or cat at check-in whichever you choose:
- Leave it in your car. Pets may stay in your own vehicle during the crossing, and you may visit once during the voyage.
- The pet lounge. Reclining seats with partitions between them, and water for the animals.
- A pet cabin, with vinyl sofas and a linoleum floor.
Pets are not allowed in the other lounges. One visit in three hours is not much on a hot summer day, so a pet-lounge seat or pet cabin, booked with the ticket, is the kinder choice. Paperwork for bringing a dog into Sweden in the first place is in bringing your dog to Sweden.
Getting to Nynäshamn from Stockholm
The ferry is almost a city trip. Two ways to reach it:
- SL commuter train (pendeltåg) to Nynäshamn. The station is a few hundred meters from the ferry terminal, and SL takes tap-to-pay contactless cards on commuter trains. Destination Gotland advises arriving at least an hour before departure.
- Båtbussen (“the boat bus”), a coach running year-round from Uppsala, Arlanda and Stockholm to Nynäshamn. It reaches the terminal about an hour before the ship leaves. You buy the seat with your ferry ticket, and that guarantees it. Only one small bag (max 40 × 30 × 20 cm) goes in the cabin; bikes and bulky items travel if there is space.
For Oskarshamn, seasonal Båtbussen routes come from Linköping, Jönköping and Växjö/Kalmar, timed to selected departures; in 2026 some ran only from 12 June to 16 August. How SL tickets work is in getting around Sweden.
Summer peak weeks: book around these dates
Prices are highest on summer weekends, and two event weeks fill the island:
| Event | 2027 dates | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Almedalsveckan (Almedalen Week) | 28 June – 2 July 2027 | Sweden’s political week in Visby, hosted by Region Gotland |
| Medeltidsveckan (Medieval Week) | 8–15 August 2027 | Eight-day medieval festival, Sunday of week 31 to Sunday of week 32 |
Older guides put Medieval Week in “week 32”; it starts on the Sunday before. In 2026 it ran 2–9 August. Book a car place for either week when you book your bed.
Flying instead
For a short Visby stay, a flight can beat the ferry and the journey to the port. Visby is about 40–45 minutes by air from Arlanda and about 35 minutes from Bromma, with flights from Gothenburg too. See domestic flights in Sweden for how flying fits with trains.
Practical information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Routes | Nynäshamn–Visby (about 3 h 15 min); Oskarshamn–Visby (about 2 h 55 min) |
| Operator | Destination Gotland, under a Trafikverket contract to 31 January 2027 |
| New contract | 1 February 2027 – 2035 (+2 option years); Destination Gotland still sails |
| Visitor fares | Dynamic per departure; none published here |
| Resident fares | Capped; only for people registered on Gotland |
| Flexi / Flexi+ supplement | 20% / 30% of the ticket value |
| Check-in | Opens no later than 1 h 30 min before; closes 20 min before |
| Pets | In your car (one visit), pet lounge or pet cabin; declare at check-in |
| Accessibility | Book assistance at least 48 hours ahead by phone; wheelchair-accessible and allergy-friendly cabins |
| Almedalsveckan 2027 | 28 June – 2 July |
| Medeltidsveckan 2027 | 8–15 August |
FAQ
How long is the ferry to Gotland?
About three hours. Destination Gotland’s crossing from Nynäshamn, south of Stockholm, takes roughly 3 hours 15 minutes, and the crossing from Oskarshamn on the Småland coast just under 3 hours. Both land in Visby. Add at least an hour before departure for getting to the port and checking in, since boarding closes 20 minutes before the ship leaves.
Do I need to book the Gotland ferry in advance?
With a car in summer, yes. Fares are dynamic and highest on summer weekends, and car places sell first — especially around Almedalsveckan (28 June – 2 July 2027) and Medieval Week (8–15 August 2027). Foot passengers have more room. Book on Destination Gotland’s own site, and choose Flexi if your dates might change.
Can visitors get the cheaper Gotland price?
No. The state contract caps fares only for people registered as living on Gotland, plus their vehicles and freight; residents confirm their registration against the national population register when they book. Everyone else pays dynamic fares. The operator’s advice for a lower fare is to book early and pick quieter departures. Discounts exist for children, students, pensioners and Interrail holders.
Can I take my dog on the Gotland ferry?
Yes. Your dog can stay in your car during the crossing, with one visit allowed on the way, or travel with you in the pet lounge or a pet cabin, which you book in advance. Pets are not allowed in the other lounges. Tell staff about your dog or cat at check-in.
How do I get from Stockholm to the Gotland ferry?
Take the SL commuter train to Nynäshamn; the station is a few hundred meters from the ferry terminal, and Destination Gotland advises arriving at least an hour before departure. Or book Båtbussen with your ferry ticket: it runs year-round from Uppsala, Arlanda and Stockholm and reaches the terminal about an hour before the ship leaves.
Should I take my car to Gotland?
Only if you will use it a lot. A car is the hardest and most expensive place to book in summer, because vehicles and peak dates push the dynamic fare up. Foot passengers and cyclists book more easily; bikes are booked as “bicycle/moped” and board through the vehicle entrance. For a short Visby stay, a flight is another option.
Related guides
- Getting around Sweden — how the ferry fits with trains, SL and the rest of the network
- Gotland and Visby travel guide — what to do once you land
- Bringing your dog to Sweden — the paperwork before the pet cabin
- Renting a car in Sweden — the alternative to shipping your own
- Domestic flights in Sweden — when flying to Visby wins
Facts verified 2026-09-24. Sources: Trafikverket, Region Gotland, Destination Gotland, Gotlandsbolaget, the Almedalsveckan and Medeltidsveckan organisers — full register in this topic’s source file. Fares change with every sailing and are never published here; always check the operator. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.