Travelling from Denmark to Sweden: Take the ferry or cross the Øresund Bridge? We’ve compared the costs.

Travelling to Sweden via Zealand or Copenhagen in Denmark? You’ve got two main options for crossing into Sweden: the iconic Øresund Bridge or the ferry between Helsingør (Denmark) and Helsingborg (Sweden). But which route is best – especially if you’re driving a car, campervan or towing a caravan?

At first glance, choosing the Helsingør–Helsingborg ferry might seem odd – after all, just a short distance away lies a state-of-the-art bridge connecting the two countries. So why do many travellers still opt for the ferry?

The simple reason: cost

The Helsingør–Helsingborg ferry remains a popular choice because it’s often cheaper. The Øresund Bridge charges a significant toll, and while the bridge crossing is faster, it can cost quite a bit more.

Let’s compare:

• Ferry (standard car): 199 DKK (approx. £23)
• Bridge (standard car): 455 DKK (approx. £51)
• Time on the bridge: around 10 minutes
• Time on the ferry: 20 minutes, plus boarding time (minimum 15-minute check-in, often longer in practice)

So purely on price, the ferry looks like the better deal. But there’s more to the story – especially if your journey also includes the Puttgarden–Rødby ferry.

Taking the Puttgarden–Rødby ferry? That changes things

Many travellers heading to Helsingør opt for the Puttgarden–Rødby ferry to save time. This crossing is offered by Scandlines, which also sells combination tickets including either the Øresund Bridge or the Helsingør–Helsingborg ferry.

Here are your three main booking options with Scandlines:

1. Puttgarden–Rødby ferry only
2. Puttgarden–Rødby ferry + Øresund Bridge
3. Puttgarden–Rødby ferry + Helsingør–Helsingborg ferry

But here's where it gets a bit tricky: the pricing of these combo tickets varies, and the ferry + ferry combo is often more expensive than the ferry + bridge option.

Scandlines Pricing Examples (standard car):

• Puttgarden–Rødby ferry only: from £42.50
• Puttgarden–Rødby + Øresund Bridge combo: from £78
• Puttgarden–Rødby + Helsingør–Helsingborg ferry combo: from £80
• Booking separately (Puttgarden–Rødby via Scandlines + Helsingør–Helsingborg via ForSea): from £65

So, Scandlines offers better value on bridge combo tickets, but travellers preferring the ferry crossing at Helsingør–Helsingborg can save by booking each leg separately.

When the more expensive option might still be worth it

The combo ticket for Puttgarden–Rødby + Helsingør–Helsingborg ferry comes with added flexibility. It allows you up to seven days after your first ferry crossing to continue your journey into Sweden – ideal if you’re planning a stopover in Denmark.

Summary: best value routes

Two smart ways to cross:

1. Book Puttgarden–Rødby + Øresund Bridge together via Scandlines
   • Total from: £78
2. Book Puttgarden–Rødby via Scandlines + Helsingør–Helsingborg via ForSea
   • Total from: £65

These prices apply to standard cars. But what if you’re driving a camper or towing a caravan?

Costs for campers and caravans

For an average motorhome or a car with a caravan and 4 passengers:

• Øresund Bridge: 910 DKK (approx. £103)
• Helsingør–Helsingborg ferry: 769 DKK (approx. £86)

Again, the ferry is slightly cheaper.

Now, combining that with the Puttgarden–Rødby route:

• Book separately (Scandlines + ForSea): from £189
• Combo ticket (Scandlines – ferry + bridge): from £200

So, even for larger vehicles, ferry + ferry is cheaper if booked separately. But if you're going with the bridge, the combo deal via Scandlines is the way to go.

In short

• Travelling via the Øresund Bridge? Book a combo ticket through Scandlines for the best price.
• Taking two ferries? Book each ticket separately via Scandlines (Puttgarden–Rødby) and ForSea (Helsingør–Helsingborg).
• Camper or caravan? The same advice applies – separate bookings usually win on price.

Other ferry routes to Sweden

If you’re travelling further north in Denmark, there are additional routes to consider:

• Grenaa to Halmstad
• Frederikshavn to Gothenburg

Check out this map with all relevant routes: All ferry routes to Sweden from the UK