Shipping company
Bornholmslinjen
The shipping company behind every crossing to Bornholm - with a high-speed catamaran, a direct ferry from Rügen and an overnight ferry from Zealand
- All three ferries to Bornholm - from Ystad in 80 minutes, from Sassnitz, and overnight from Køge
- A brand of the Danish shipping company Molslinjen, on the Bornholm routes since September 2018
- Check-in varies by port - 10 minutes in Ystad, 15 in Køge, 20 in Sassnitz for cars and foot passengers
About Bornholmslinjen
Table of Contents
About Bornholmslinjen
Bornholmslinjen is the brand under which the Danish shipping company Molslinjen operates all ferry connections to the island of Bornholm. Molslinjen, based in Aarhus, won the state tender for the Bornholm routes in 2018 and took over operations from the previous operator, BornholmerFærgen, on 1 September 2018; at the same time, Molslinjen bought the shares in Danske Færger A/S and merged the company into its own group. Since then Bornholmslinjen has connected the island port of Rønne with Ystad in Sweden, Køge on Zealand and Sassnitz on Rügen. Molslinjen, in turn, has belonged to the infrastructure fund EQT since 2020 and is part of Nordic Ferry Infrastructure.
Ships and fleet
On the fast Ystad - Rønne route, Bornholmslinjen uses the catamarans Express 1 and Express 5. The Express 1 is 112.6 metres long and 30.5 metres wide, runs at up to 40 knots and was built by Incat in Tasmania; its vehicle deck is the size of half a football pitch, with a lift connecting it to the passenger deck. On the longer routes from Køge and Sassnitz, the Hammershus, a combined freight and passenger ferry, and the Povl Anker are in service. On board the catamarans you'll find Molly's Bistro with smørrebrød and French hot dogs; on the Hammershus, the Bistro Provianten serves from early morning until late at night; and everywhere there's Barista's Coffee Shop with coffee and pastries.
Routes on this page
There are three ways to travel to Bornholm. The fastest and most frequent connection is Ystad - Rønne: 80 minutes by catamaran, up to six times a day year-round, reachable from Copenhagen via the Øresund Bridge. The only direct ferry from Germany is Sassnitz - Rønne from the Mukran ferry port on Rügen, taking around 3 hours 20 minutes, though not every day and at its most frequent in summer. If you'd rather stay entirely within Denmark, take the overnight ferry Køge - Rønne from Zealand, taking around 5.5 hours. Which route suits your starting point and the season is compared on the page Ferry to Bornholm.
Check-in, vehicle and pets
The check-in deadline depends on the port: with a Standard, Flex or Lowprice ticket, you need to be checked in with a car up to 3.5t, as a foot passenger or with a bike 10 minutes before scheduled departure in Ystad, 15 minutes in Køge and 20 minutes in Sassnitz. Trucks, coaches, trailers, accessible vehicles, electric cars with a reserved charging space and foot passengers needing assistance require 30 minutes at every port, and dangerous goods 60 minutes in Køge. These deadlines also apply if the ferry is delayed. In Rønne, vehicles heading to Ystad use the Sverigesvej 1 access, vehicles heading to Køge and Sassnitz use Tysklandsvej, and foot passengers use the terminal at Dampskibskajen 5. The authorities regularly check travellers to and from Bornholm, so keep your ID card or passport ready.
Car fares apply up to a height of 1.95 metres; taller vehicles and trailers are booked in the class matching their length, with details for motorhomes in the guide Motorhome. Dogs and cats are welcome in the designated pet areas, on a lead or in a carrier, not on the seating and not in the cabins; the operator explicitly allows the animal to stay in the car during the crossing. If you travel via Ystad, you need to declare your dog or cat to Swedish customs. The entry rules are summarised in the guide Dogs and pets.
Tickets
Bornholmslinjen offers four fares: Lowprice is the cheapest, changeable only for a fee and non-refundable. Flex can be changed to another departure free of charge up to the time of departure, but is likewise non-refundable. Standard is refundable for a fee and rebookable for up to three months, while StandardPLUS is refundable free of charge, includes access to the commuter lounge and gives priority boarding and disembarking. Prices are tiered by low, mid and high season; children travel at a reduced rate or free when accompanying a paying adult, and pensioners and people with disabilities get special rates. Booking early online or in the Molslinjen app gets you the best price. Departures are shown in the timetable, with a comparison of all Denmark routes in the price overview.
FAQ Bornholmslinjen
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about Bornholmslinjen and the ferries to Bornholm
Which routes does Bornholmslinjen operate?+
Bornholmslinjen operates all three direct routes to Rønne: Ystad - Rønne in 80 minutes on the high-speed catamaran, Sassnitz - Rønne as the only direct ferry from Germany, taking around 3 hours 20 minutes, and Køge - Rønne as an overnight ferry from Zealand taking around 5.5 hours.
Who owns Bornholmslinjen?+
Bornholmslinjen is the Bornholm brand of the Danish shipping company Molslinjen, based in Aarhus. Molslinjen won the tender for the Bornholm routes in 2018 and has operated them since 1 September 2018; the previous operator was called BornholmerFærgen.
Which ships does Bornholmslinjen operate?+
On Ystad - Rønne the high-speed catamarans Express 1 and Express 5 are in service; the Express 1 is 112.6 metres long and runs at up to 40 knots. On the routes from Køge and Sassnitz, the ferries Hammershus and Povl Anker are used. On board you'll find Molly's Bistro, or the Bistro Provianten, and Barista's Coffee Shop.
When do I need to be at the port for Bornholmslinjen?+
The deadline depends on the port: with a car up to 3.5t, as a foot passenger or with a bike, you need to be checked in 10 minutes before scheduled departure in Ystad, 15 minutes in Køge and 20 minutes in Sassnitz. Trucks, coaches, electric cars with a reserved charging space and travellers needing assistance require 30 minutes everywhere. These deadlines also apply if the ferry is delayed.
Can I take a car or motorhome across to Bornholm?+
Yes, on all three routes. Car fares apply up to a height of 1.95 metres; taller vehicles and trailers are booked in the class matching their length. State your motorhome's exact dimensions when booking; more on this in the guide Motorhome.
Can my dog come on the ferry to Bornholm?+
Yes. Dogs and cats travel in the designated pet areas, on a lead or in a carrier, not on the seating and not in the cabins; alternatively the animal may stay in the car. If you travel via Ystad, you need to declare the animal to Swedish customs. The entry rules are set out in the guide Dogs and pets.
What tickets are available, and where can I find the timetable and prices?+
Bornholmslinjen offers the fares Lowprice (non-refundable), Flex (rebookable free of charge), Standard (refundable for a fee) and StandardPLUS (refundable free of charge, priority boarding). Departures on all three routes are shown in the timetable, with fares compared in the price overview.