About Germany

Being the largest country in Central Europe, Germany offers even a casual visitor a wealth of sights and sounds from hyper modern and fashionable cities to the sublime southern regions that border the Alps. Beautiful, vibrant cities display some of the very best of what the country has to offer, while in the quieter corners of the country, the landscape is filled with significant UNESCO World Heritage sites and unspoiled treasures. With its prime position in the Baltic Sea, Germany is the perfect gateway to mainland Europe with ferries arriving from Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Russia. The ports of Kiel, Rostock and Travemunde are the more popular destinations and can be reached from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Norway. The port of Sassnitz is another option for those coming from Sweden and also provides a link from the island of Bornholm while Lubeck is destination for ferries departing on the long trip from Russia. The shortest and most frequently operated route to Germany is the 12 mile ferry link between Rødby (Lolland,Denmark) and Puttgarden, a village on the island of Fehmarn. The trip takes around 45 minutes and there are up to 2 sailings an hour. Poland is also a good alternative entry point for those travelling to Germany. Though some of the of the departure ports are the same as those used for the crossings to Germany, the schedule and duration at sea may be a better fit for your plans. If you're travelling from the UK to Germany, as the direct link from Harwich to Cuxhaven ceased many years ago, you'll need to travel via France, Belgium or Holland and drive across. Whether the country is your final destination or you’re just passing through, all of Germany's major towns and cities are well connected by major infrastructure, and offer many options for onward travel. The German motorway network covers some 7,500 miles ranking it among the most dense and longest highway systems in the world. For those that aren't travelling by vehicle, the German railway network is modern, comprehensive and very efficient, not just domestically but also for onward travel to countries all over Europe.

About Gotland

Gotland is Sweden’s largest island, found in the middle of the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and the mainland’s east coast. The island has much to flaunt: over a hundred middle-ages churches, photogenic towns and villages, top-of-the-range restaurants and the nation’s sunniest climate beating down on sandy beaches. The largest and most visited settlement, Visby is one of Europe’s medieval maestros. Buildings steeped in history, fascinating ruins, idyllic cobbled streets and fairy-tale-style cottages have launched this small port town onto the UNESCO World Heritage list. And quite rightly, too. Given the ease of ferry travel from the mainland and the huge range of attractions on offer, it’s easy to see why Gotland is consistently ranked as one of Sweden’s most popular tourist destinations. You can reach Gotland from either Nynashamn or Oskarshamn, with regular crossings every day to the port of Visby.