Trip duration · 1 to 6 days
Short sailing trips: sailing weekend and day trip with skipper
A short sailing trip lasts from one day to almost a week. It is ideal for a first taste of sailing, a sailing weekend with friends or the start of the season. Many short sailing trips start on the Baltic Sea and North Sea and are easy to reach by train or car.
Updated: 2 November 2026 · Redaktion toernfinder.de
from 35 providers compared
The essentials at a glance
Season
March to January, most dates in May and August
Duration
One day, a weekend or 4 to 6 days
Most common departure ports
Kiel, Travemünde, Stralsund, Workum and Rostock
Requirements
No sailing licence required
Weekend per person
mostly 390–520 €
Current short sailing trips
Here you can see a changing selection of current trips lasting from one to six days. Your enquiry goes directly to the provider.
Day trip, weekend or a few days?
On a day trip, you're back on shore by the evening. From two days, you sleep on board and head for a different harbour.
There are also trips of four to six days, for example from Kiel to the Danish South Sea Islands, or over a long weekend with a bridge day. Prices for all durations are in the table below.
Day trip
1 day · back in the evening
A day on the water, often on a traditional sailing ship or at a harbour festival. Great for trying it out.
mostly 65–100 €
View day trips →
POPULARSailing weekend
2–3 days · one or two nights on board
Off on Friday, back on Sunday: a harbour nearby, an evening on board and plenty of time under sail.
mostly 390–520 €
View weekend trips →
Who is a short trip suited to?
A short trip is the easiest way to try sailing without having to plan a whole week's holiday. Experienced sailors use it too, to get out on the water now and then.
- Beginners: You quickly find out whether you enjoy life on board and how you cope with wind and waves.
- Friends and colleagues: A sailing weekend is a shared experience, even as a group on a private yacht charter with skipper.
- Sailors with a licence: A skipper training weekend brushes up your harbour manoeuvres before the season. More at Skipper training.
- Building nautical miles: Short trips also count towards the nautical miles you need for the SKS, for example.
Around 38 % of the Short sailing trips published here take place on a traditional ship or tall ship, where guests lend a hand. If you want to experience a large ship, you'll find more at Traditional sailing ships and tall ships.
Törnfinder data
Short trips in numbers
Analysed: all short trips published on Törnfinder. As of: 12.11.2026.
Most common departure ports
- 1Kiel35 trips
- 2Travemünde33 trips
- 3Stralsund27 trips
- 4Workum25 trips
- 5Rostock20 trips
73 %are round trips, start and finish in the same port
38 %take place on a traditional ship or tall ship
54different departure ports
17countries on offer, led by Germany and Denmark
6trips start within the next 30 days
As of 12.11.2026: Törnfinder lists around 280 Short sailing trips from 35 providers. 73 % are round trips with the same start and end port and 38 % take place on a traditional ship or tall ship. Most trips start in Kiel, Travemünde and Stralsund, and most departures are in May and August.
How these figures are calculated
The analysis covers all trips published on Törnfinder with a duration of one to six days and a start date from today onwards; the figures are recalculated twice a day. Prices are the figures given by providers per person; private yacht charter with skipper offers, which are priced per boat, are not included in the prices. “Typically” refers to the middle half of offers; the cheapest and most expensive quarters are left out. The departure port is the port of departure named in the listing, and a round trip is a trip with the same departure and destination port. The texts on this page are written and checked by the editorial team at toernfinder.de.
When short trips take place
Short trips are available mainly from spring to autumn. In spring, many sailors start the season with a weekend away.
When the trips start
Most Short sailing trips start in May and August. Trips are available from March to January.
4
Jan0
Feb12
Mar48
Apr50
May33
Jun21
Jul60
Aug21
Sep14
Oct6
Nov2
DecAll short trips published on Törnfinder for the next twelve months. As of: 12.11.2026.
How much does a short trip cost?
A sailing weekend typically costs 390–520 € per person, a day trip typically 65–100 €.
| Trip duration | Price per person (usually) | per day | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day trip | 65–100 € | around 80 € | 26 |
| 2–3 days | 390–520 € | around 170 € | 79 |
| 4–6 days | 560–900 € | around 140 € | 174 |
"Usually" means: the middle half of all offers falls within this range; the cheapest and most expensive quarters are not included. Click on the duration to see the corresponding trips.
On top of the trip price come travel costs and usually the ship's kitty for food, harbour fees and diesel. The box shows what typically belongs in it.
What's included in the price and what goes into the crew kitty
Included in the trip price
- Your bunk on board
- The vessel
- The skipper
Usually via the crew kitty
- Food
- Hafengeld
- Diesel
Usually around 150–300 € per person per week, depending on what the group agrees, for example whether restaurant visits are included. On some boats, meals are already included in the price.
It is best to clarify in advance with the provider exactly what is included.
Countries with the most trips
With the usual weekly price and the next departure. Each card shows the matching trips there.
Germany
184 trips
next departure 24.03.2027
from 60 € per person
Show trips →Denmark
66 trips
next departure 24.03.2027
from 250 € per person
Show trips →the Netherlands
38 trips
next departure 25.03.2027
from 420 € per person
Show trips →Popular trip types
Besides classic crew trips, these trip types are offered most often here.
Skipper training
67 trips
Be the skipper yourself, with an experienced trainer on board.
next departure 19.11.2026
from 390 € per person
Show trips →Event sailing
33 trips
By ship to Hanse Sail, Kiel Week and other harbour festivals.
next departure 24.03.2027
from 60 € per person
Show trips →Sail training
20 trips
Learn to sail on board, from the basics to the exam trip.
next departure 19.11.2026
from 490 € per person
Show trips →Frequently asked questions about short trips
Quick answers to the questions that come up most often before a day trip or a sailing weekend.
What is a short sailing trip?
A short sailing trip lasts from one day to almost a week. This includes day trips, sailing weekends and trips of four to six days.
How much does a sailing weekend cost?
A sailing weekend of two to three days usually costs 390–520 € per person, a day trip typically 65–100 €. On multi-day sailing trips, the onboard kitty is often added on top. The onboard kitty is usually around 150–300 € per person per week.
Do I need sailing experience for a short sailing trip?
No. A skipper takes charge of the boat, and the crew learns on board what they need to know. A short sailing trip is therefore a good way to get started.
Where can I find sailing weekends?
Most short sailing trips start on the German Baltic Sea and North Sea coasts, for example in Travemünde, Kiel, Flensburg or Hooksiel. From there they often head to Denmark or the islands.
Do you sleep on board during a weekend trip?
Yes. From two days onwards you will usually spend the night on board, in harbour or at anchor. On a day trip you are back on land in the evening.
Do short sailing trips count towards the nautical miles for the SKS?
Yes, if you book a cabin charter on a yacht and the skipper confirms the distance. Ask beforehand whether the provider issues a nautical mile confirmation.
Find your short trip
Use the filter to search by sailing area, date and duration, and send your enquiry directly to the provider.