Ferries to Denmark
Ferries to, from and within Denmark
Denmark is the crossroads of Scandinavia. Almost everyone driving from the continent to Sweden or Norway passes through it, and with more than 400 islands it has plenty of ferries of its own. On the main road corridor through Jutland, Funen and Zealand you can drive entirely by bridge, but the ferry is often quicker, cheaper or simply a nicer break from the motorway. Bornholm and many smaller islands can only be reached by ferry.
Heading for the capital? Read our guide to getting to Copenhagen by ferry.
No ferry from the UK any more
The last direct ferry between the UK and Denmark, DFDS Harwich to Esbjerg, stopped in September 2014. Today the quickest way is a ferry to the Netherlands: Harwich to Hook of Holland, Hull to Rotterdam or Newcastle to IJmuiden. From Hook of Holland to Copenhagen it is roughly 830 km by road via Hamburg and Puttgarden to Rødby: about 9 to 10 hours of driving, plus the 45-minute crossing, check-in time and breaks. See ferry to Denmark from the UK for all the options.
What changed recently
- Grenaa to Halmstad (Stena Line) closed at the end of April 2026. For Sweden, use Frederikshavn to Gothenburg or Helsingør to Helsingborg.
- Copenhagen to Oslo is now sailed by Go Nordic Cruiseline (Gotlandsbolaget), no longer by DFDS.
- Frederikshavn to Oslo no longer runs; from northern Jutland, sail from Hirtshals.
- The Fehmarnbelt tunnel between Puttgarden and Rødby will not open in 2029 as planned: current estimates put road traffic around 2031 to 2032 at the earliest, and that date may still change, so the ferry stays the way across for years to come.
Ferry Guides for Denmark
Everything you need to know before booking your ferry trip
Ferry or bridge?
Driving through Denmark you can usually choose between a ferry and a toll bridge. A quick comparison for a car up to 6 metres, one way:
| Crossing | Time | Price, car one way | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puttgarden to Rødby (Scandlines ferry) | 45 min | Low Price ticket from €48 (online, limited departures) | The direct line from Hamburg to Copenhagen; a welcome break from driving |
| Great Belt Bridge (Funen to Zealand) | about 10 min | 235 DKK, or 205 DKK with Bizz / number-plate payment | On the route via Flensburg and Jutland |
| Øresund Bridge (Copenhagen to Malmö) | about 10 min | 470 DKK at the toll station, 420 DKK online | Fastest way into Sweden from Copenhagen |
| Helsingør to Helsingborg (Øresundslinjen ferry) | 20 min | check the operator | Ferries every 20 minutes, around the clock |
Prices as published in October 2026. Scandlines also sells combination tickets: Puttgarden to Rødby with Helsingør to Helsingborg from €99.75, or with the Øresund Bridge from €101.25.
Ferries from Denmark
Travel from Denmark to Germany, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden
From Denmark to Norway, the Faroes and Iceland
- Hirtshals to Kristiansand: Fjord Line (fast catamaran FSTR, 2h25, in summer) and Color Line (3h15).
- Hirtshals to Larvik: Color Line, about 3h45 to 4 hours, the closest landing to Oslo.
- Hirtshals to Stavanger and Bergen: Fjord Line, overnight.
- Copenhagen to Oslo: Go Nordic Cruiseline, overnight, from 293 DKK per person one way.
- Hirtshals to Faroe Islands to Iceland: Smyril Line’s Norröna sails weekly to Tórshavn and, from spring to autumn, on to Seyðisfjörður in Iceland.
More detail: ferry to Norway from Denmark.
Ferries in Denmark
Island ferries and bridges
Ferries within Denmark
Danish island ferries are quick, frequent and good value. These are the ones you are most likely to use:
| Route | Region | Crossing | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aarhus to Odden (Molslinjen) | Jutland to Zealand | 1h20 to 1h30 | Up to 24 departures a day; the shortcut between Aarhus and Copenhagen |
| Køge to Rønne (Bornholmslinjen) | Zealand to Bornholm | about 5h30, overnight | Or take the fast ferry Ystad to Rønne (1h20) via Sweden |
| Bøjden to Fynshav (Alslinjen) | Funen to Als | 45 min | Electric ferry; car from 139 DKK on low-price departures |
| Spodsbjerg to Tårs (Langelandslinjen) | Langeland to Lolland | 45 min | Car fare 312 DKK including up to 9 people |
| Svendborg / Faaborg to Ærø (Ærøfærgerne) | Funen to Ærø | 60 to 75 min | Book ahead in summer; the South Funen Archipelago at its best |
| Esbjerg to Fanø (Fanølinjen) | Jutland to Fanø | about 12 min | Two or three crossings an hour |
| Kalundborg to Ballen / Hou to Sælvig (Samsø) | Zealand / Jutland to Samsø | 1h20 / 1 hour | Two ways onto Samsø, from either side of the Kattegat |
| Hundested to Rørvig | North Zealand | 25 min | Handy shortcut across the Isefjord |
Combining Denmark with Sweden? See Øresund Bridge or ferry, Helsingør to Helsingborg and Puttgarden to Rødby.
All Crossings to Denmark
These are all the ferries to Denmark
FAQ: ferries to and from Denmark
Is there a ferry from the UK to Denmark?
No. The last direct ferry, Harwich to Esbjerg, stopped in 2014. Sail to the Netherlands instead (Harwich to Hook of Holland, Hull to Rotterdam or Newcastle to IJmuiden) and drive about 9 to 10 hours to Copenhagen.
What is the quickest ferry from Germany to Denmark?
Puttgarden to Rødby with Scandlines, which takes about 45 minutes and sails up to every half hour. Rostock to Gedser takes about 2 hours.
Is the ferry or the bridge cheaper between Denmark and Sweden?
It depends on how you book. The Øresund Bridge costs 420 DKK online or 470 DKK at the toll station for a car one way. The Helsingør to Helsingborg ferry takes 20 minutes and sails every 20 minutes; Scandlines also sells combination tickets with Puttgarden to Rødby from €99.75.
When will the Fehmarnbelt tunnel open?
Not in 2029 as first planned. Road traffic is now expected around 2031 to 2032 at the earliest, so the Puttgarden to Rødby ferry remains the main link for years.
Does the Grenaa to Halmstad ferry still run?
No. Stena Line closed Grenaa to Halmstad at the end of April 2026. For Sweden, use Frederikshavn to Gothenburg or Helsingør to Helsingborg.
How do you get to Bornholm by ferry?
From Køge near Copenhagen on an overnight ferry of about 5.5 hours, or via Sweden on the fast ferry from Ystad, which takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.
{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Is there a ferry from the UK to Denmark?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”No. The last direct ferry, Harwich to Esbjerg, stopped in 2014. Sail to the Netherlands instead (Harwich to Hook of Holland, Hull to Rotterdam or Newcastle to IJmuiden) and drive about 9 to 10 hours to Copenhagen.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is the quickest ferry from Germany to Denmark?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Puttgarden to Rødby with Scandlines, which takes about 45 minutes and sails up to every half hour. Rostock to Gedser takes about 2 hours.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Is the ferry or the bridge cheaper between Denmark and Sweden?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”It depends on how you book. The Øresund Bridge costs 420 DKK online or 470 DKK at the toll station for a car one way. The Helsingør to Helsingborg ferry takes 20 minutes and sails every 20 minutes; Scandlines also sells combination tickets with Puttgarden to Rødby from €99.75.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”When will the Fehmarnbelt tunnel open?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Not in 2029 as first planned. Road traffic is now expected around 2031 to 2032 at the earliest, so the Puttgarden to Rødby ferry remains the main link for years.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Does the Grenaa to Halmstad ferry still run?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”No. Stena Line closed Grenaa to Halmstad at the end of April 2026. For Sweden, use Frederikshavn to Gothenburg or Helsingør to Helsingborg.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How do you get to Bornholm by ferry?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”From Køge near Copenhagen on an overnight ferry of about 5.5 hours, or via Sweden on the fast ferry from Ystad, which takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.”}}]}Ferry Talk
Questions or experiences? We'd love for you to share them.
I’m missing a lot of inland ferries here, are those still coming? Ps. Love your guides! Keep up the good work.
We would like to travel from Jutland to Aero and Aero to Langeland with car. Is this possible?
Hi Karen!
It looks like this is possible with the https://www.aeroe-ferry.dk/en aroe ferry. You can travel from Fynshavn to Aero and from Aero to Langeland by ferry and a car.
Hope this works