Sail between Grisslehamn in Roslagen and Eckerö in Åland on the shortest ferry route across the Åland Sea, with daily departures, vehicle carriage, restaurants, entertainment and tax-free shopping.
Compare daily Grisslehamn–Eckerö departures for passengers, cars, motorcycles, bicycles and touring vehicles.
Schedules, fares and vehicle availability can change. Sweden and Åland use different local times, so always check the departure and arrival times shown on your booking.
Eckerö Linjen is part of the Eckerö Group and operates the passenger and vehicle ferry M/S Eckerö between Grisslehamn in Roslagen on Sweden’s east coast and Berghamn in Eckerö, Åland. The company describes this as the shortest route across the Åland Sea.
The crossing takes about two hours in actual travel time. The published timetable currently provides three daily departures in each direction, making the route useful both for one-way travel to Åland and for day cruises from Sweden. Because Åland is one hour ahead of Sweden, the timetable can look longer or shorter if you compare local clock times without allowing for the time difference.
M/S Eckerö combines practical vehicle transport with a leisure-ferry experience. Restaurants, cafés, live entertainment, a children’s playroom, outdoor deck space and the Magasin Märket tax-free shop make the crossing part of the trip rather than simply a transport connection.
Do not confuse the sister brands: Eckerö Linjen operates Grisslehamn–Eckerö between Sweden and Åland. Eckerö Line operates Helsinki–Tallinn and Vuosaari–Muuga services across the Gulf of Finland.
There is one physical route across the Åland Sea, shown below in each direction because the daily departure times and local-time arrivals differ.
M/S Eckerö sails daily from Grisslehamn to Berghamn in Eckerö. The journey takes about two hours, while the published arrival time appears three hours later on the clock because Åland is one hour ahead of Sweden.
Return services leave Eckerö three times daily. Because Swedish local time is one hour behind Åland, a two-hour crossing appears as only one hour on the timetable clock.
The short Grisslehamn–Eckerö crossing is also sold as a day-cruise experience, using the same scheduled ferry service.
This schematic summarises the three representative current route groups described above. It is not a complete network map or timetable; the live operator booking result is definitive.
For planning with Eckerö Linjen, use the map to compare the representative route groups above, including Grisslehamn–Eckerö, Eckerö–Grisslehamn, Grisslehamn–Eckerö and back. It is most useful for judging which departure or arrival point best fits the rest of the journey rather than as a substitute for the live timetable.
After choosing the most practical route, compare the live Eckerö Linjen sailing for departure time, calling pattern, passenger requirements and the facilities or accommodation shown for that service. The complete itinerary and arrival location can matter more than a small difference in the headline fare.
When planning onward travel, allow for the one-hour time difference between Sweden and Åland and check bus or road connections at both ends.
The ferry links a quiet Swedish coastal port with western Åland, while connecting buses and local transport extend the practical catchment well beyond the two terminals.
Arriving at Berghamn puts you on the western side of Åland. Continue by road or public transport towards Mariehamn, beaches, cottages and the wider archipelago.
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Eckerö Linjen operates connecting buses from Stockholm, Norrtälje, Uppsala and many other Swedish locations to Grisslehamn, making the ferry accessible without driving all the way to the terminal.
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Grisslehamn is a small coastal community in Roslagen north of Stockholm. The ferry terminal has parking and vehicle check-in, while local public transport can also be used to reach the port.
Explore ferry destinationsUse this page for Grisslehamn–Eckerö travel. For Helsinki–Tallinn or Vuosaari–Muuga crossings, use the separate Eckerö Line operator page.
Eckerö Linjen is primarily a short daytime ferry rather than an overnight-cabin product. Most passengers use public seating, restaurants and bar areas; a small number of cabins are sometimes sold onboard outside the June–August peak period.
The short crossing is designed around open passenger areas, cafés and restaurants rather than mandatory cabin reservations.
Best considered forMost daytime and one-way passengersBuffet, à la carte, bistro and café choices provide several places to sit and eat while crossing the Åland Sea.
Best considered forPassengers planning a meal onboardThe onboard bar hosts cruise entertainment, quizzes and live music on many departures, giving day-cruise passengers a more social space.
Best considered forEntertainment and drinksOpen deck areas provide sea air and archipelago views when weather and operating conditions allow.
Best considered forScenery and fresh airA small number of cabins may sometimes be sold onboard at the information centre, but there are no cabins for sale during June–August and availability is never guaranteed.
Best considered forOccasional off-season availability onlyPublic areas have generally low thresholds and a lift between the car deck and deck 7, though some deck 8 spaces are reached only by stairs.
Best considered forPassengers who state assistance needs in advanceDo not plan around a cabin. On this two-hour route, public seating and restaurants are the normal passenger product; cabins are occasional onboard sales outside summer and cannot be guaranteed.
M/S Eckerö is marketed as both transport and a short leisure cruise, with four food outlets, live entertainment, a children’s playroom and a substantial tax-free shop.
The main buffet combines hot and cold dishes with sea views and is a popular choice for day cruises. Pre-booking can be worthwhile on busy departures.
Rospiggen offers a more traditional sit-down meal with seasonal dishes and a curated wine list.
The café serves home cooking, sandwiches, pastries and coffee, while Bistro Byholma offers burgers, coffee and cold drinks.
Cruise hosts, quizzes and live music create a social onboard atmosphere, with livelier entertainment on many weekend sailings.
The onboard shop sells fragrances, accessories, sweets, beverages and other tax-free products, subject to applicable customs rules.
Eckerö Linjen emphasises ingredients from small-scale producers in Roslagen and Åland and says much of the food is prepared from scratch onboard.
Images in this section are from FerryEU’s general ferry-travel library and illustrate facility types; they are not presented as photographs of M/S Eckerö. Confirm current opening times and services for your departure.
Eckerö Linjen carries cars, motorcycles and bicycles as well as foot passengers. Pet and reduced-mobility arrangements are well defined, but the short route still requires correct check-in and documentation.
Vehicles are carried on M/S Eckerö and should be checked in within the required time. Priority-boarding customers have a specific 45-minute arrival requirement.
Bicycles use the vehicle check-in area. Roadworthy electric and hybrid vehicles can travel, while damaged or leaking battery vehicles cannot be accepted as ordinary road vehicles.
Pets are welcome in designated areas including the Jungman dog room, selected café seating, entrance-deck sofas and outdoor deck space. Owners remain responsible for their animals.
State mobility or medical needs when booking. Assistance can be arranged between the terminal meeting point and the ship, while accessible facilities are concentrated on the main passenger decks.
The route is short, but check-in rules tighten in summer and Sweden–Åland time-zone differences can cause confusion. Keep your booking reference and valid photo identification ready.
Book the correct passenger count, vehicle or bicycle space, pet arrangements and any assistance needs.
Sweden is one hour behind Åland. The timetable is shown in local time at each port.
All passengers and vehicles should be checked in at least 30 minutes before departure outside the summer peak.
During June–August, passengers and vehicles should be checked in at least 45 minutes before departure. Fast Lane priority vehicles also need to be checked in by this time.
Check-in closes 10 minutes before departure. Late arrival can mean losing the booked sailing.
For a straightforward one-way trip, the main decisions are which of the three daily departures fits, whether you need a vehicle space, and how you will continue from Berghamn towards the rest of Åland.
For a day cruise from Sweden, the onboard restaurants, entertainment and tax-free shopping become a larger part of the experience. Eckerö Linjen also operates a broad connecting-bus network to Grisslehamn, which can make a car unnecessary for a cruise day.
For a road trip through Åland, book the correct vehicle category and allow time for check-in. On the Åland side, local bus services connect the ferry harbour with Mariehamn around ferry arrivals and departures, but the island is easiest to explore flexibly with your own vehicle.
Eckerö Linjen operates one passenger and vehicle ferry route between Grisslehamn in Roslagen, Sweden, and Berghamn in Eckerö, Åland.
The crossing takes about two hours in actual travel time. Because Åland is one hour ahead of Sweden, the published local arrival time looks three hours later from Sweden and one hour later in the reverse direction.
The current timetable shows three daily departures in each direction: 10:00, 15:00 and 20:00 from Grisslehamn, and 08:00, 13:30 and 18:30 from Eckerö, subject to change.
All passengers and vehicles should normally be checked in at least 30 minutes before departure. During June–August the requirement is 45 minutes. Check-in closes 10 minutes before sailing.
Yes. M/S Eckerö carries cars and other road vehicles. Book the correct vehicle category and dimensions and arrive within the published check-in window.
Yes. Bicycle space can be booked and cyclists use the vehicle check-in area. Bicycles cannot be taken on Eckerö Linjen’s connecting buses.
Only occasionally. A small number of cabins may sometimes be sold onboard outside the June–August period, but they cannot be pre-booked and availability is not guaranteed.
Yes. Pets are permitted in designated areas including the Jungman dog room, selected café seating, entrance-deck sofas and outside deck areas. International pet documentation rules still apply.
The ship has a lift between the car deck and deck 7 and accessible facilities on the main passenger decks. Some deck 8 spaces are stairs-only. State special assistance needs when booking.
Eckerö Linjen operates Grisslehamn–Eckerö between Sweden and Åland. Sister brand Eckerö Line operates Helsinki–Tallinn and Vuosaari–Muuga services between Finland and Estonia.
Check current Grisslehamn–Eckerö departures, vehicle space and passenger options for your travel date.
Grisslehamn & Eckerö
2-hour crossing
Sweden & Åland
