Świnoujście to Bornholm via Ystad
The Polish gateway to Bornholm is a Swedish port. You cross to Ystad first, then take the fast ferry to Rønne - two crossings, two tickets, one day if the times line up.
- Świnoujście - Ystad: around seven hours at sea
- Ystad - Rønne: 80 minutes by fast ferry
- Booked separately, no through ticket
The two legs
Table of Contents
Poland has no ferry of its own to Bornholm. What works is a chain of two crossings that meet in the same Swedish port: Świnoujście - Ystad, operated by POLSCA Baltic Ferries, and then Ystad - Rønne with Bornholmslinjen. This page is about how those two timetables fit together and where each ticket comes from. Which route suits your trip in the first place is a different question, and the sailing times for the Bornholm leg are on the timetable.
Leg one: Świnoujście to Ystad
The long part of the journey is the first one. Crossings take around seven hours, with sailings spread across the day and night, so the practical choice is between an overnight sailing and a daytime one. The overnight option is the one most travellers want: you board in the evening, sleep, and arrive with a full day still ahead of you.
Cabins are worth booking on the night sailing, and vehicle space is the thing that sells out first in the Polish and Swedish holiday weeks.
Leg two: Ystad to Rønne
The second crossing is the short one - 80 minutes on the fast ferry, with up to six departures a day in each direction in the high season and around four in the quieter months. It is the busiest of the three Bornholm routes for exactly that reason: it is quick, it runs often, and a missed sailing usually costs a couple of hours rather than a day.
Making the connection
Both ferries use the port of Ystad, so there is no transfer between towns. What there is, is a second check-in: Bornholmslinjen expects you to be checked in ten minutes before departure, and that deadline holds even when the ferry itself is running late.
Plan the gap deliberately. Two hours between the arrival from Świnoujście and the departure to Rønne is a relaxed buffer with a vehicle; an hour works on foot when the first ferry is on time and fails when it is not. Because the two tickets are separate contracts, a delay on the first leg does not entitle you to anything on the second - the risk sits with you, which is the strongest argument for the overnight sailing and a late-morning departure to Rønne.
With a vehicle or on foot
With a car or motorhome you pay a vehicle fare twice, and on the Świnoujście leg that is by far the larger of the two. It buys you a car on Bornholm, which is genuinely useful on an island 40 kilometres across - but it is worth pricing the alternative before you assume it.
On foot the chain is much cheaper and barely less convenient. Ystad's ferry terminal sits within walking distance of the town and its railway station, so a long gap between the two sailings is time you can spend somewhere other than a car park. Bicycles travel on both legs; confirm the details with each operator when you book, since the two companies handle them differently.
Booking
Two crossings, two tickets, two operators. Book the Świnoujście leg first, because it has fewer sailings and sells out earlier; then pick a departure to Rønne that leaves you the buffer described above. Fares on both legs are dynamic and rise as the sailing fills.
Poland to Bornholm FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about combining the Świnoujście crossing with the Bornholm ferry.
Is there a direct ferry from Poland to Bornholm?+
No. The seasonal excursion catamaran Kołobrzeg - Nexø stopped running in 2020, and the announced Kołobrzeg - Rønne service has still not started; as of July 2026 its launch is uncertain again. Plan the journey via Ystad.
Can I do both crossings on the same day?+
Usually yes, and the overnight sailing is what makes it comfortable: you leave Świnoujście in the evening, arrive in Ystad in the morning and take one of the daytime departures to Rønne. A daytime crossing from Świnoujście lands you in Ystad late and leaves fewer options for the second leg, so check both timetables before you fix the date.
How much buffer do I need in Ystad?+
Both ferries use the port of Ystad, so there is no city transfer - but you do check in a second time, and Bornholmslinjen wants you checked in ten minutes before departure. Two hours between arrival and the next departure is comfortable with a vehicle; anything under an hour is a gamble, because a delay on the first leg is not covered by the ticket for the second.
Do I need two tickets?+
Yes. The operators are different companies - POLSCA Baltic Ferries on the Świnoujście route, Bornholmslinjen to Rønne - and there is no combined fare. Book each leg for itself, and treat the second one as a fixed appointment you have to reach.
Does this work without a car?+
It does, and it is the cheaper way by a wide margin. Both operators carry foot passengers, and Ystad's ferry terminal and railway station are close enough to cover on foot. With a vehicle you pay a vehicle fare twice, which is the single biggest cost in the whole chain.
Book the two legs
Check the sailing you want on each leg, then book them separately.