Rostock - Trelleborg and on to Bornholm
Six hours across the Baltic straight into Sweden, then 55 kilometres to Ystad and the fastest crossing to Rønne. No Danish transit, no bridge toll.
- Rostock - Trelleborg: about 6 hours, year-round
- Trelleborg - Ystad: 55 km, about 45 minutes
- Ystad - Rønne: 80 minutes by fast ferry
The legs of the journey
Table of Contents
This is the corridor that leaves Denmark out. Instead of crossing the Fehmarn Belt and driving the length of Zealand, you sail from Rostock straight to Trelleborg in southern Sweden and finish with a short drive east to Ystad, where the fastest ferry to Bornholm leaves. Two ferries, one short road leg, no bridge tolls. Departure times for the Bornholm crossing are on the timetable.
Leg one: Rostock to Trelleborg
The route is shared by TT-Line and Stena Line, which means two schedules and two fares for the same crossing - always worth comparing. Sailings take around six hours, with up to six departures a day in the high season and roughly three in the quiet months. Unlike most of the feeders here, it runs all year.
Six hours is long enough that the crossing is part of the holiday rather than an interruption to it. On the night sailings a cabin turns the leg into the night's accommodation.
Leg two: Trelleborg to Ystad by road
Trelleborg to Ystad is about 55 kilometres on the E6 and E65 - roughly 45 minutes. It is the shortest road leg of any Bornholm corridor, and the reason this route is worth considering at all: everything else that reaches Ystad by land arrives after a much longer drive.
Leg three: Ystad to Rønne
80 minutes on the fast ferry, up to six departures a day in each direction in the high season and around four in the quieter months. Ystad's ferry terminal is on the eastern edge of town, signposted from the E65.
Making the connection
The buffer belongs between the Trelleborg arrival and the Ystad departure, and 45 minutes of driving is not it. A six-hour crossing can arrive late, disembarking a full ship takes time, and Bornholmslinjen wants you checked in ten minutes before departure in Ystad regardless. Three hours between scheduled arrival and scheduled departure is comfortable; ninety minutes is tight enough to be unpleasant.
Two tickets
The Trelleborg crossing and the Bornholm crossing are separate bookings with separate operators, and neither covers a delay on the other. Book the Bornholm leg first if your dates are fixed, then choose a Trelleborg sailing that lands with room to spare.
Trelleborg to Bornholm FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about combining the Trelleborg crossing with the Bornholm ferry.
Who operates Rostock - Trelleborg?+
Two companies share the route: TT-Line and Stena Line. They sell separately and their sailing times differ, so it is worth looking at both when you pick a departure. Crossing times are around six hours, a little longer on some TT-Line sailings.
How far is Ystad from Trelleborg?+
About 55 kilometres along the E6 and E65 - roughly 45 minutes without traffic. It is the shortest road leg of any corridor to Bornholm, which is the main argument for this route.
Does the route run in winter?+
Yes. Rostock - Trelleborg sails year-round, with up to six departures a day in the high season and around three in the quiet months. That makes it one of the more dependable feeders when the seasonal routes have thinned out.
Is this cheaper than driving through Denmark?+
It depends on the vehicle. You avoid the Storebælt and Øresund tolls and several hundred kilometres of driving, but you pay a vehicle fare for six hours at sea rather than for a short hop. For a motorhome the sea route often wins; for a small car with cheap fuel it frequently does not. Both fares are dynamic, so compare them for your actual dates.
Can I sleep on board?+
On the overnight sailings, yes - cabins are bookable. A daytime crossing is six hours of daylight you spend on a ship, which is the trade-off this corridor asks you to accept in exchange for a short drive at the other end.
Book the two legs
The Trelleborg crossing and the Bornholm ferry are separate tickets.