The Stockholm-Helsinki ferry connects the Swedish and Finnish capitals with year-round overnight passenger and vehicle services. Tallink Silja Line and Viking Line both operate the corridor, with sailings through the Åland Islands.
Current status: Active year-round overnight passenger and vehicle route operated by Tallink Silja Line and Viking Line. Tallink currently operates daily with Silja Serenade and Silja Symphony, while Viking Line operates with Gabriella and Viking Cinderella.
Last checked: 7 September 2026.
Current Stockholm-Helsinki ferry service
Stockholm-Helsinki is one of the principal overnight passenger ferry routes in the Baltic Sea.
Tallink Silja Line and Viking Line both provide direct passenger, vehicle and freight services between Sweden and Finland.
The ferries travel through the Stockholm and Finnish archipelagos and include an Åland call as part of the route pattern.
Stockholm-Helsinki ferry operators
| Operator | Current vessels | Stockholm terminal | Helsinki terminal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tallink Silja Line | Silja Serenade and Silja Symphony | Värtahamnen | Olympia Terminal |
| Viking Line | Gabriella and Viking Cinderella | Stadsgården | Katajanokka Terminal |
How long is the Stockholm-Helsinki ferry?
The direct overnight voyage takes approximately 16 to 17 hours depending on the operator, direction and timetable.
Tallink Silja Line currently describes its Stockholm-Helsinki crossing as approximately 17 hours.
Departures generally take place in the late afternoon, with arrival the following morning.
Tallink Silja Line
Tallink Silja Line operates Stockholm-Helsinki daily throughout the year.
The route is currently served by Silja Serenade and Silja Symphony.
Stockholm departures use Värtahamnen, while Helsinki departures use Olympia Terminal in South Harbour.
The service accepts passengers travelling one way or return, with or without a vehicle.
Viking Line
Viking Line also operates the Stockholm-Mariehamn-Helsinki corridor.
Current vessels are Gabriella and Viking Cinderella.
In Stockholm, Viking Line uses Stadsgården. In Helsinki, its ferries use Katajanokka Terminal.
The service carries passengers, vehicles and commercial freight.
Stockholm ferry terminals
The Stockholm departure terminal depends on the ferry operator.
- Tallink Silja Line: Värtahamnen
- Viking Line: Stadsgården
Passengers should not travel simply to “Stockholm port” without checking the operator because the two ferry terminals are separate.
See the Stockholm ferry port guide for more information.
Helsinki ferry terminals
The Helsinki arrival and departure terminal also depends on the operator.
- Tallink Silja Line: Olympia Terminal
- Viking Line: Katajanokka Terminal
Both terminals are different from West Terminal 2, which is used for many Helsinki-Tallinn ferries.
See the Helsinki ferry port guide.
Åland calls
The Stockholm-Helsinki ferries include Åland as part of their route pattern.
Mariehamn is used as an intermediate port on the overnight corridor.
This allows the service to function both as a Sweden-Finland connection and as part of the wider Åland ferry network.
Passengers and vehicles
Both Tallink Silja Line and Viking Line accept foot passengers and private vehicles on the route.
Cars, motorcycles and other permitted vehicles can be booked subject to operator conditions.
Commercial freight also travels on the corridor.
Cabins and overnight travel
Stockholm-Helsinki is an overnight route rather than a short shuttle ferry.
The vessels have cabins and extensive passenger facilities designed for the overnight crossing.
The route is also marketed for short cruises, but ordinary one-way passenger and vehicle travel remains available.
FerryLines treats these as scheduled ferry services rather than cruise-only operations.
Seasonality and frequency
The Stockholm-Helsinki corridor operates throughout the year.
Tallink Silja Line currently operates daily overnight departures.
Viking Line also maintains regular year-round service, although individual sailing patterns can change during maintenance periods and special cruise programmes.
Alternative Sweden-Finland ferry routes
Stockholm is also connected with Turku by Tallink Silja Line and Viking Line.
Farther north, Finnlines connects Kapellskär with Naantali via Långnäs.
Travellers heading to Finland should therefore choose between Helsinki, Turku or Naantali according to their final destination and preferred route.
See Sweden ferries and Finland ferries for the wider network.
How Stockholm-Helsinki fits into the Baltic network
Stockholm-Helsinki forms one of the core overnight passenger ferry corridors of the Baltic Sea.
It connects two national capitals and links the Swedish and Finnish passenger ferry networks through Åland.
At Helsinki, passengers can connect with ferries towards Tallinn and Germany, while Stockholm provides onward ferry links towards Turku and Tallinn.
See the Baltic Sea ferry network for wider regional context.
Explore related ferry information
- Stockholm ferry port
- Helsinki ferry port
- Turku ferry port
- Sweden ferries
- Finland ferries
- Baltic Sea ferries
- Helsinki-Tallinn ferry
- Browse ferry routes
- Browse ferry operators
Sources and verification
Current Tallink Silja Line route status, vessels, terminals and approximate journey time were checked against official Stockholm-Helsinki route information.
Viking Line’s current Stockholm-Mariehamn-Helsinki service and vessels were checked against current Viking Line route information. Stockholm terminal use was also checked against Ports of Stockholm.
Schedules, Åland calls, terminals and vessel deployment can change. Current operator information should be checked for individual travel dates.