Ferry Åland - Gotland
Mariehamn - Visby
The summer route from Åland to Gotland - an overnight crossing on Viking Line's Birka Gotland, cabin included, just over ten hours to Visby
- Overnight on the Birka Gotland: departs shortly after midnight, arrives in Visby mid-morning
- 24 sailings between early June and early September, summer only
- No vehicle deck, no pets; check-in in Mariehamn closes 20 minutes before departure
What to know about this crossing
Table of Contents
Getting there & the terminal
The Birka Gotland departs Mariehamn from Västerhamn on Hamngatan, the same terminal Viking Line uses for its Stockholm sailings. It's a few minutes' walk from the town centre, and a taxi rank sits right outside the terminal. Drivers can use the free, unattended car park in front of the terminal - the car itself has to stay on Åland, since it cannot travel on this route.
The terminal has lockers in two sizes (card payment only), toilets and a baby-changing room. Since departure is shortly after midnight, the terminal opens late in the evening, with Viking Line staff on hand for check-in.
Check-in & departure
Check-in in Mariehamn opens 60 minutes before departure and, as at every Viking Line port, closes 20 minutes before; without a vehicle you should be checked in at least 30 minutes before departure. At the counter you show your booking number or confirmation and a valid ID - ID checks before boarding are mandatory, and digital copies are not accepted. Checking in at a staffed counter carries a service fee in Mariehamn too; kiosks and online check-in are free.
Mind the calendar: the departure shortly after midnight counts as the travel day printed on your ticket, not the evening before.
On board
The Birka Gotland has sailed for the Viking Line/Gotlandsbolaget joint venture since 2024. Every cabin has a shower and toilet, ranging from a share in an inside cabin at the base fare up to outside cabins (Seaside), premium cabins and suites. Breakfast is not included on the one-way Visby-Mariehamn sailing, but can be added.
On board there are buffet and à la carte restaurants, the Archipelago Spa with an outdoor whirlpool and steam sauna, a tax-free shop, bars, and live music and dancing in the evening. Card payment is recommended; cash is accepted on the Birka Gotland, though some bars and the lounge are card-only.
Vehicles, bikes & pets
The Birka Gotland is a cruise ship: cars, motorhomes, motorcycles and bicycles cannot travel, as Viking Line explicitly excludes vehicles from these sailings. Pets are likewise not allowed on the Birka Gotland - unlike the operator's other regular routes. The exception is guide and assistance dogs, which must be registered by phone in advance.
Travellers wanting to bring a vehicle or a dog to Gotland should take the Destination Gotland car ferry from Nynäshamn or Oskarshamn instead.
Arrival & onward travel
The Birka Gotland docks at the Visby harbour terminal, right below the old town. Viking Line runs transfer buses from the berth to Österport, the town wall's east gate; taxis wait outside the terminal, and there's a luggage locker in the waiting hall. Security checks apply when boarding in Visby, and outside food and drinks are not allowed on board.
For the return leg: the ship departs Visby in the early evening and reaches Mariehamn the next morning. On the round-trip cruise from Visby, disembarking in Mariehamn is compulsory, but you keep your cabin for the return crossing.
Tickets & fares
Booking runs through the booking window above, as a one-way crossing Mariehamn-Visby or in the other direction. The price depends on the travel date and cabin category; a cabin is always included, with the base fare covering a share in a two-berth inside cabin, fuel and emission surcharges included. Travel insurance can be added, and Viking Line Club members pay the club rate. With only 24 sailings a summer, availability is limited - dates during Swedish school holidays fill up early. Check the timetable for available dates, and the fares overview for how the Gotland fare types are structured.
Mariehamn - Visby
Overnight from Åland to Gotland
The Mariehamn-Visby connection is the Åland leg of Viking Line's summer sailings to Gotland: the Birka Gotland arrives from Stockholm in the evening, departs Mariehamn shortly after midnight and reaches Visby mid-morning. Åland is on Finnish time, one hour ahead of Sweden, so the crossing takes just over ten hours even though the clock only shows a little over nine.
The ship is a cruise vessel, not a car ferry: vehicles cannot travel, nor can pets, and a cabin is always included in the ticket. Travellers wanting to bring a car from Åland to Gotland go via Stockholm and take the ferry from Nynäshamn instead. Sailings run in summer only, with 24 departures between early June and early September.
- Crossing
- approx. 10 hr 20 min
- Operator
- Viking Line
- Season
- June to September
Next departures
FAQ Mariehamn - Visby
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about the Mariehamn-Visby ferry route
How long is the ferry from Mariehamn to Visby?+
About 10 hours and 20 minutes. The Birka Gotland departs Mariehamn shortly after midnight and arrives in Visby mid-morning; because Åland is one hour ahead of Sweden, the clock shows less time than the crossing actually takes. It's an overnight sailing, and a cabin is always included.
When and how often does the ferry run?+
Summer only. Viking Line runs the Birka Gotland between early June and early September on 24 sailings from Mariehamn to Visby, on average two days a week. Exact dates and departure times are in the timetable.
What does the ferry from Mariehamn to Visby cost?+
The price depends on the travel date and cabin category; the booking window above shows what applies to your date. Unlike a regular ferry crossing, the cabin is always included, with the base fare covering a share in a two-berth inside cabin. Fuel and emission surcharges are included in the price. See the fares overview for how the Gotland fare types compare.
Can I bring my car or motorhome?+
No. The Birka Gotland is a cruise ship with no vehicle deck; Viking Line explicitly excludes vehicles from Birka Gotland sailings. To reach Gotland with a car or motorhome, travel via the Swedish mainland on the ferry from Nynäshamn, which runs year-round with several sailings a day.
Can my dog travel on the ferry?+
No. Viking Line carries pets on all its regular sailings, except the Birka Gotland. Only guide and assistance dogs are allowed on board and must be registered by phone in advance. To travel to Gotland with a dog, take the Destination Gotland car ferry from Nynäshamn or Oskarshamn instead.
How early do I need to be at the terminal in Mariehamn?+
Check-in at the Västerhamn terminal opens 60 minutes before departure and closes 20 minutes before; without a vehicle you should be checked in at least 30 minutes before departure. A valid ID is checked before boarding - digital copies of ID documents are not accepted.