Ferries to Öland - Car Ferry and Cycle Ferry

The Öland Bridge (Ölandsbron) is the main way onto the island, six kilometres long, open year-round and toll-free for cars. Even so, two ferries still matter, one as an appealing summer alternative for drivers, the other as the only way across the Kalmarsund for anyone travelling by bicycle or on foot, since bikes and pedestrians are not allowed on the bridge itself.

Car ferry Oskarshamn - Byxelkrok

The car ferry links Oskarshamn on the Swedish mainland with Byxelkrok at the northern tip of Öland. It is run by the shipping line Ölandslinjen (Ölandsfärjan); information, timetable and booking go through olandslinjen.se. The crossing takes about one hour and 55 minutes, so this is not a quick hop but a short sea voyage across the open Baltic.

The practical appeal lies in the routing, arriving via Byxelkrok lets you drive the length of the island from north to south and then cross back to the mainland over the bridge, without retracing any stretch of road. For a round trip through Småland and Öland, that makes a neat loop.

Season, timetable and booking for the car ferry

The car ferry runs only in high summer, in 2026 from 12 June to 30 August. Outside that window, the bridge is the only option.

• Main season (12 June-23 August), two departures a day in each direction: from Oskarshamn at 09:00 and 15:00, from Byxelkrok at 12:00 and 17:30.
• Final week (24-30 August), down to one departure each way: from Oskarshamn at 09:00, from Byxelkrok at 12:00.

Booking via olandslinjen.se is possible but not mandatory, there is a stand-by lane with no reservation. The website does not charge different prices for main and shoulder season. Cancellation is free up to seven days before departure; last-minute changes require the Flex option (SEK 20). Anyone travelling should be at the pier 30 minutes before departure. Contact is via [email protected], SMS to 070-60 555 60, or by phone on 072-177 77 32 (Swedish numbers).

One point belongs in honest planning, the crossing is weather-dependent. The operator explicitly warns that sailings can be cancelled at short notice in strong wind and heavy seas. If a crossing is cancelled, the fare is refunded in full, but you are left without a crossing. Anyone with a fixed onward connection should build that risk into their plans.

What the car ferry costs

Prices below are for a single crossing in 2026 and depend on vehicle and passengers.

• Car with up to 5 people - SEK 625 (SEK 680 for vehicles over 5 m long)
• Motorhome up to 8 m, from SEK 1,000
• Car and caravan up to 8 m - SEK 1,600
• Motorcycle - SEK 320
• Adult (no vehicle) - SEK 150, adult with bicycle - SEK 175
• Child 7-16 years - SEK 100
• Adult day ticket - SEK 250

Worth knowing for context, the Öland Bridge is free for cars. So the ferry does not save money; the ticket price buys the more scenic approach and an unbroken north-south route instead. It is a comfort and experience choice, not a way to cut costs.

Cycle ferry Kalmar - Färjestaden

For cyclists and pedestrians there is a second, quite different connection, the cycle ferry across the Kalmarsund between Kalmar and Färjestaden. It exists because bicycles and pedestrians have been banned from the bridge since 2009, anyone arriving without a car simply has no other way across the sound.

The service is run with the M/S Dessi, operated by Ressel Rederi. In 2026 it runs daily from 15 June to 16 August, the crossing takes about 30 minutes, and the boat has room for up to 118 passengers and 50 bicycles. The berths are central - Tullhamnen in Kalmar and Södra hamnplan in Färjestaden. Bicycles travel free (at the owner's own risk); adults pay SEK 80 for a single crossing, SEK 134 return, a 10-trip card costs SEK 540, young people and seniors pay SEK 60, and children under 13 travel free when accompanied by an adult.

Exact 2026 departure times should be checked directly before travelling, the operator's timetable at ressel.se/kalmarsundstrafiken is the authoritative source.

A note on the cycle ferry's future

The 2026 season is secured. After Trafikverket stopped funding the service from summer 2026, the municipalities stepped in, the City of Kalmar awarded the contract again to Ressel Rederi and the M/S Dessi in January 2026. What happens from 2027 onwards is still open, the route carries around 40,000 passengers and 13,000 bicycles per season. Anyone planning a trip for a later year should check the current status shortly before travelling.

Which ferry is worth it?

A clear summary to finish:

• By car, the bridge is faster, free and open all year, making it the obvious choice for most visits. The Oskarshamn-Byxelkrok car ferry is worth it if the longer sea crossing is part of the appeal, or if you are planning a round trip without doubling back and want to arrive in the north, but only within the summer window, and with the weather caveat in mind.
• By bicycle or on foot, here there is no choice. The bridge is not an option, and the Kalmar-Färjestaden cycle ferry is the way onto the island. For more on exploring by bike, see the guide Cycling on Öland.

For the full picture on getting to Öland, from the bridge to the train to arriving from abroad, see the overview Getting to Öland.