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
• You can book both these routes via Stena Line

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