Ferry to Bornholm
Ystad - Rønne
The shortest and busiest crossing to Bornholm, from the Swedish south coast
- 80 minutes with Bornholmslinjen on the fast ferries Express 1 and Express 5
- Four to five sailings a day each way on weekdays, up to eight in the June to September high season
- Check-in in Ystad closes just 10 minutes before departure for cars under 2.95 m, foot passengers and bikes
Table of Contents
Getting to the terminal in Ystad
Ystad is on the Swedish south coast about 60 km east of Malmö. By car from Denmark you cross the Øresund Bridge and follow the motorway past Malmö; the vehicle check-in is at Bornholmsgatan 1B, 271 39 Ystad, while foot passengers use the terminal at Hamntorget 2. Both lie directly at the harbour, a few minutes on foot from the old town, which makes a wait pleasant. Long-stay car parks with a fee are at Spanienfararegatan, at the ferry terminal and at the Hamntorget service centre, with short-stay parking at Hamntorget. Without a car, trains from Copenhagen run via Malmö to Ystad station, close to the harbour.
Check-in and departure
Check-in closes earlier here than on any other Bornholm route: just 10 minutes before the scheduled departure for cars up to 2.95 m in height, foot passengers and bicycles. Thirty minutes apply to vehicles above 2.95 m, lorries, trailers and coaches, to vehicles for disabled passengers, to foot passengers who need boarding assistance and to electric cars that have booked charging on board. The times count from the scheduled departure and remain binding when the ferry is delayed. On weekdays the first sailing leaves at 06:30; the authorities regularly check travellers to and from Bornholm, so carry a passport or identity card.
On board Express 1 and Express 5
Express 1 belongs to the largest and fastest catamaran ferries in the world: 112.6 m long, 30.5 m wide, built by Incat in Tasmania, with a top speed of 40 knots and 36 knots fully loaded. The car deck is about the size of half a football pitch, with 4.60 m headroom on the lower deck and 2.10 m on the upper, and a lift takes you to the passenger deck. Molly's Bistro serves Danish smørrebrød, hot food and snacks, and Barista's Coffee Shop the coffee. Eighty minutes need no cabin; find a seat with a view and the crossing is over before the coffee is cold.
Vehicles, bicycles and pets
Cars, motorhomes, caravans, lorries, coaches and bicycles all cross. Book the right vehicle height, because anything above 2.95 m falls under the 30-minute check-in rule, and reserve early for summer weekends, when Bornholm's holiday homes change hands and the car decks fill. Dogs and cats are welcome in the marked dog areas of the passenger decks, on a lead or in a suitable carrier and never on the furniture; on a busy ship it may be kinder to leave the animal in the car for the 80 minutes. Anyone travelling via Sweden with a dog or cat must declare it to Swedish customs, Tullverket, and the Danish food and veterinary authority lists the dog breeds that may not be brought to Denmark.
Arrival in Rønne and onward travel
The ferry docks at Rønne on Bornholm's west coast, the island's main town and harbour. Cars to and from Ystad use the Sverigesvej 1 access, foot passengers the terminal at Dampskibskajen 5. From Rønne the main roads fan out across the island, so Gudhjem, Svaneke and the south-coast beaches are all within about half an hour by car. Hourly and long-stay parking, including guarded parking, is available at Bådehavnsvej near the tourist office; the two-hour zone at Dampskibskajen is for short stops only.
Tickets and fares
Bornholmslinjen sells Standard, Flex and Lowprice tickets, and the fare rises with demand, so the operator's own advice is to book as soon as the dates are fixed, especially with a vehicle and for the Swedish and Danish summer holidays. Tickets can be changed online under Change ticket; the conditions depend on the ticket type. The booking window on this page shows the current fare for your date, and the timetable the departures.
Ystad - Rønne
The fast ferry to Bornholm
Ystad - Rønne is the backbone of Bornholm's ferry traffic: the shortest sea crossing, the highest frequency and the only route sailed several times a day all year. Bornholmslinjen's catamarans Express 1 and Express 5 cross the Baltic in 80 minutes, with four to five departures a day each way on weekdays and up to eight when the second fast ferry joins in the June to September high season. Both carry cars, motorhomes, coaches and bicycles as well as foot passengers.
The price of that convenience is the land leg to the Swedish south coast: Ystad lies about 60 km east of Malmö and is reached from Denmark over the Øresund Bridge or by train via Malmö. For anyone driving from Copenhagen, Sweden or the north, and for travellers from Germany who prefer frequency over the direct sailing from Sassnitz, this is the route to book.
- Crossing time
- 80 min
- Operator
- Bornholmslinjen
- Frequency
- 4-8 sailings a day each way
- From price
- DKK 99
Next departures
FAQ Ystad - Rønne
FAQ
Frequent questions about the Ystad - Rønne crossing.
How long does the ferry from Ystad to Rønne take?+
80 minutes on the fast ferries Express 1 and Express 5. That compares with 3 hours 20 minutes from Sassnitz and 5 hours 30 minutes from Køge, so if the sea leg should be short, Ystad is the port. Departure times for your date are in the timetable.
How often does it sail?+
All year, several times a day: on weekdays from 06:30 with four to five departures each way, and up to eight each way in the June to September high season, when Bornholmslinjen adds a second fast ferry. Summer weekends and holiday periods have extra sailings too. Even missing a ferry usually costs hours, not the day.
When do I have to be checked in at Ystad?+
Only 10 minutes before the scheduled departure for cars up to 2.95 m high, foot passengers and bicycles. Motorhomes above 2.95 m, trailers, coaches, vehicles for disabled passengers, passengers needing boarding assistance and electric cars with charging booked on board must be checked in 30 minutes before. The deadlines also apply when the ferry is running late.
Where exactly are the terminals?+
In Ystad cars check in at Bornholmsgatan 1B and foot passengers use Hamntorget 2, both right at the harbour and a short walk from the old town. In Rønne cars to and from Ystad use Sverigesvej 1, foot passengers Dampskibskajen 5.
Can I take my car or motorhome?+
Yes. Cars, motorhomes, caravans, coaches and bicycles all sail; the Express 1 alone has a car deck the size of half a football pitch with 4.60 m headroom on the lower deck. Book the correct vehicle height, because vehicles over 2.95 m have a 30-minute check-in deadline, and reserve early for summer weekends.
Can I bring my dog?+
Yes. Dogs and cats travel in the marked dog areas of the passenger decks, on a lead or in a carrier and not on the seats; Bornholmslinjen suggests leaving the animal in the car if the crowded ship would stress it. Because you enter Sweden on the way, the pet must be declared to Swedish customs (Tullverket), and the Danish rules on banned dog breeds apply on Bornholm.