Cruise to Gotland
Stockholm - Visby
An evening cruise from Stockholm through the archipelago, with an overnight stay on board direct to Visby
- Cruise on the M/S Birka Gotland from Stadsgårdskajen
- Evening departure - arrive in Visby the next morning
- On board: restaurants, spa, tax-free & entertainment
What to know about this trip
Table of Contents
Getting there & terminal
The Birka Gotland departs from Stadsgårdskajen, the cruise quay below Södermalm - unlike the Gotland ferries, which leave from Nynäshamn, 60 kilometres further south. From Stockholm Central it's around 15 minutes by bus or taxi, and from Slussen it's a 15-minute walk along the waterfront.
Travelling by car makes little sense here: the ship takes no vehicles, and you'd need to park your car in Stockholm for the duration of the trip.
Cruise or ferry - what you're actually booking
The most important point on this page. The connection is set up as a mini-cruise, not a transfer:
- It sails via Mariehamn on Åland, not directly. Hence the 16.5 hours for a route the Gotland ferry covers in just over three.
- It only runs in summer, with around two dozen departures between early June and late August, plus occasional special sailings.
- It has no vehicle deck. Cars, campervans and motorbikes stay at home.
- Pets are not allowed - Viking Line expressly excludes animals from Birka Gotland sailings.
Most travellers book the three-day round trip with around eight hours ashore in Visby; a one-way ticket to Visby is also possible.
If you simply want to get to Gotland - with a car, with a dog, or outside summer - the high-speed ferry from Nynäshamn is the right choice. It runs year-round, several times a day, in just over three hours.
On board
The M/S Birka Gotland is a cruise ship with around 1,800 places and over 700 cabins. On board you'll find several restaurants, bars with panoramic views, a spa area with sauna and whirlpools, duty-free shopping, and live music and evening entertainment.
Families will find a children's area; children travel free or at a discount depending on age. A cabin is included with every ticket - and makes sense given the overnight sailing departing at 17:00.
Arrival & time ashore in Visby
The ship reaches Visby in the morning and departs again in the evening, leaving a full day in town in between. A shuttle bus runs between the harbour and the town centre during the day, and bicycles can be hired locally.
Visby is a UNESCO World Heritage site: the fully preserved town wall, the church ruins and the lanes of the Hanseatic old town can be explored comfortably on foot in a day. For Gotland's wider landscape - rock formations (raukar), beaches, Fårö - a single day ashore isn't enough; that calls for an overnight stay on the island, and so for the ferry from Nynäshamn or Oskarshamn.
Tickets & fares
Booking is done through the booking window above. The price is calculated dynamically and always includes the cabin, which is booked in full - so if you're travelling alone, you pay for the whole cabin. A fuel and EU climate surcharge per person is added on top.
Because the season is short and the number of departures limited, the popular midsummer dates sell out early. Check available dates in the timetable.
Stockholm - Visby
Mini-cruise, not a ferry - what that means for you
This connection isn't a ferry in the usual sense but a mini-cruise: Viking Line's M/S Birka Gotland departs Stockholm in the evening, sails overnight through the archipelago and via Mariehamn on Åland, and reaches Visby the following morning.
Two things set it apart from the regular Gotland ferries: the ship has no vehicle deck, and it only sails in summer. If you want to bring your car or travel outside the season, take the high-speed ferry from Nynäshamn instead - reachable from Stockholm Central in an hour by commuter train (pendeltåg).
- Crossing
- approx. 16.5 h
- Operator
- Viking Line
- Season
- June to August
- Vehicles
- not possible
Next departures
Mini-cruise to Visby
Stockholm-Visby mini-cruise
Medieval atmosphere, the Stockholm archipelago and a day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Visby - Viking Line's seasonal mini-cruise from Stockholm lasts 3 days and travels via the Åland Islands to Gotland's capital, Visby. Cabins, meals and extras are priced individually through the online booking system.
17:00 Uhr
Day 1: Departure from Stockholm
Your mini-cruise begins at Stadsgården harbour in Stockholm. In the afternoon you depart at 17:00 and enjoy sailing out through the Stockholm archipelago. On board you'll find restaurants, bars, live entertainment and duty-free shopping. After dinner on board, round off the evening at the nightclubs or with live music.
09:30 Uhr
Day 2: Visby - time ashore & return sailing
After breakfast on board, you arrive at Visby harbour on Gotland around 9:30. The whole day is yours to explore: wander the cobbled streets, church ruins and rose-covered houses of this UNESCO World Heritage town. A shuttle bus runs between the harbour and the town centre (9:45-16:45). Bicycles can be hired locally at a discount. The ship departs again for Stockholm at 18:00.
14:30 Uhr
Day 3: Arrival in Stockholm
The morning is all about relaxing on board. Enjoy a leisurely brunch as the ship glides back through the archipelago towards Stockholm. You'll arrive back at Stadsgården harbour around 14:30 - relaxed and full of impressions of Gotland.
FAQ Stockholm - Visby
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about the Stockholm-Visby ferry connection
Who operates the ferry from Stockholm to Visby?+
The route is operated by Viking Line, through the joint venture Gotland Alandia Cruises (together with Gotlandsbolaget). The cruise ship used is the M/S Birka Gotland, with space for 1,800 passengers and 734 cabins.
How long does the crossing take and when does the ferry depart?+
The ferry leaves Stockholm at 17:00 and reaches Visby the following morning at 9:30 - the crossing is an overnight sailing of around 16.5 hours. The route runs via Mariehamn (Åland).
The return sailing from Visby departs at 18:00, arriving in Stockholm two days later at 14:30 (also via Mariehamn).
When and how often does the ferry run?+
The connection is seasonal. In summer 2026 there are 24 departures between 2 June and 23 August. Viking Line also offers occasional special cruises, such as an Advent cruise to Visby in December.
You can book either a 3-day cruise (Stockholm-Mariehamn-Visby-Mariehamn-Stockholm) or a one-way ticket Stockholm-Visby.
Can I bring my car or campervan?+
No. The M/S Birka Gotland is a cruise ship with no vehicle deck. Cars, campervans and motorbikes cannot be brought on this route.
If you want to bring your vehicle to Gotland, use the high-speed ferry from Nynäshamn to Visby (operated by Destination Gotland, around 3 hours, several times daily, year-round). Nynäshamn is reachable from Stockholm by commuter train in around an hour.
How much does the ferry from Stockholm to Visby cost?+
The price is calculated dynamically and depends on travel date, departure and demand; what applies to your dates is shown in the booking window above. One thing sets this booking apart from a regular ferry crossing: the cabin is always included and booked as a whole, not per berth. So if you're travelling alone, you pay for the entire cabin. Higher categories cost extra, plus a fuel and EU climate surcharge per person.
What facilities and entertainment are available on board?+
On board you'll find an extensive cruise-ship offering: several restaurants (seafood buffet, French bistro, grill, à la carte), various bars (including a panoramic sea-view bar), an Archipelago Spa with jacuzzis and saunas, duty-free shopping, live music and entertainment programmes.
Families will find a children's play area and family-friendly shows. Children up to 5 travel free, and children aged 6-11 get a 50% discount.
Can I bring my dog or cat?+
No. Pets are not allowed on the M/S Birka Gotland. While Viking Line permits animals on its regular Baltic Sea routes, it expressly excludes cruises and Birka Gotland sailings.
If you want to travel to Gotland with a pet, check the rules for the high-speed ferry from Nynäshamn (Destination Gotland) - pets are allowed there.