Cuxhaven - Brunsbuttel
Ferry to Germany
Cuxhaven - Brunsbuttel
Ferry to Germany
See ferry fares and operators from all over the world in one spot, and find the sailing that fits your trip. Booking early is usually the surest way to get a good price and plenty of choice.
Discounts are available with Direct Ferries all year round. If a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied for you automatically once the right age bracket is selected in the passenger options.
Students and recent graduates can claim a 5% saving. Register with our partner Student Beans to verify eligibility, then apply your discount code at checkout.
Resident discounts also apply to a number of Spanish and Italian routes — pick the "Residents" option during search and the fare adjusts automatically. Be ready to show proof of address, such as an ID card or residency certificate, at check-in.
Requirements for travel documents change from route to route, so check what's needed ahead of time. A valid passport is usually required for Cuxhaven to Brunsbuttel travel, plus any visa or national ID relevant to your nationality. Since the rules depend on your citizenship and destination, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is the place to check for the latest guidance and avoid delays at check-in.
To book, just add your departure port, arrival port and preferred date, and you'll see every fare and sailing on offer. You can also compare alternative routes and times to find your best match.
Look out for early-bird pricing and flexible ticket options, such as upgrades or flexi-fares that let you make changes down the line. Entering accurate details — passenger count, vehicle specs and so on — keeps the process running smoothly.
As soon as your booking is confirmed, a confirmation email will land in your inbox. What happens next with your boarding pass depends on the operator you've booked.
Some operators issue boarding passes right away, while others need you to check in at the port itself. Where it's supported, the Direct Ferries app lets you check in online in advance.
You'll usually find ticket desks close to the ferry terminal. Giving yourself a little extra time before departure means you can collect tickets and check in without any stress.
Bring your confirmation email and valid photo ID, such as a passport or identity card, to check in. Pet owners should have vaccination and insurance documents on hand, and anyone with a resident discount should carry proof of address.
There are a few reasons departures from Cuxhaven to Brunsbuttel might not show for your chosen date — a schedule change, sold-out sailings, or a seasonal lull are the most likely. Try another date or check alternative routes through our Route & Port finder.
Booking your Cuxhaven to Brunsbuttel ferry well ahead of time generally works in your favour — you'll usually find better fares and a wider choice of departures and cabins.
A few weeks ahead is usually enough notice to catch the best offers, though fares can still fluctuate with the season and remaining space.
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The coastal city of Cuxhaven is found on an angle of land in the north-east of Germany that is nestled between the North Sea and the mouth of the river Elbe. Once a part of the major city of Hamburg further west, Cuxhaven gained independence in 1937 and quickly became a popular tourist destination due to its collection of broad sandy beaches that almost double in size when the waters retreat during low-tide. Found on one of these beaches, at the corner between the river and the sea, is the prominent wooden Kugelbake beacon that dominates the city’s coat of arms. Cuxhaven port is located a short distance east of the city centre on the banks of the Elbe river. The ferry terminal here is a relatively small building on the promenade lining the Landwehrkanal inlet of the harbour. There are very few facilities here save for an indoor waiting room and a selection of vending machines selling hot and cold snacks. Those looking for a larger selection of food or drink can make use of the convenience store found further down the road. A number of transport routes lead to and from the port in Cuxhaven. The city’s train station is located just a short walk from the harbour and offers routes to nearby Bremen and Hamburg just over an hour and a half away. Local buses travel to the port too, including the number 1006 service which shuttles passengers to the picturesque Duhen beach resort on the North Sea coastline. One ferry service currently operates from the port at Cuxhaven. An Elb Link line sails east up the Elbe river to the port-town of Brunsbüttel on the opposite bank, a short trip that passes across the border separating the German regions of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.
Found at the mouth of the major River Elbe is the port town of Brunsbuttel. This small settlement surrounds the western opening of the magnificent Kiel Canal, a man-made waterway that stretches across the entire width of the northern tip of Germany and ranks as one of the busiest artificial canals in the world. Though established as an industrial powerhouse in the 1960s, Brunsbuttel has retained its status as a quiet riverside community. Green parks offer prime views across the canal and towards the miscellany of ships that pass, while the ivy-covered town hall is a prominent feature in the centre of town. The port of Brunsbuttel is large, though much of the space is dedicated to handling commercial cargo rather than serving passengers. Facilities at the ferry terminal are scarce, the area consisting of nothing more than a car park and a long pier that extends from the north bank of the river. Travelling to and from the port can prove difficult. Bus services are limited and the nearest train station is found in the town of Wilster 10-miles away. The major city of Hamburg however, home to an international airport and transport links that lead across the rest of Germany, is just an hour and a half drive east along the B5 and A23 motorways. An Elb-Link service leaves the port multiple times each day, heading the short trip west across the mouth of the River Elbe to the German port of Cuxhaven on the opposite bank.
