By ferry and car to Copenhagen
One direct ferry, from Oslo, and two short cuts from Germany
How to get to Copenhagen by ferry
Copenhagen sits on Zealand (Sjælland), an island, so from the continent you either cross a bridge or take a ferry. Only one ferry sails to the city itself: the overnight ship from Oslo. Everyone else arrives by one of two Scandlines short cuts from Germany, Puttgarden to Rødby or Rostock to Gedser, followed by a drive of about two hours. From Sweden it is the Øresund Bridge from Malmö or the 20-minute Helsingborg to Helsingør ferry.
Map: ferries and crossings to Copenhagen
The map shows all the ways in: the Oslo ship, the two German crossings, the Swedish links and the Danish bridges. Pick by where you start, then read on for the detail.
About the routes to Copenhagen
The direct ferry: Oslo to Copenhagen
The only ship that docks in Copenhagen is the overnight ferry from Oslo, now run by Go Nordic Cruiseline. It leaves in the late afternoon and arrives the next morning, about 17 hours, and it is the one to take if you want both capitals in one trip. We have sailed it ourselves, on the Crown and Pearl ships; our report dates from the DFDS years but the ships are the same.
From Sweden
From Malmö and the south, the Øresund Bridge is the quick way in. From Helsingborg and anywhere further north, the Helsingør ferry is shorter and often cheaper.
From Germany and the rest of Europe
Driving from the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK or France, you reach Copenhagen through Germany, and two Scandlines ferries cut the corner onto the Danish islands:
- Puttgarden to Rødby: 45 minutes, departures every half hour, and the one we would use from western Europe. Rødby to Copenhagen is about two hours by motorway.
- Rostock to Gedser: two hours at sea, better if you are coming from Berlin or eastern Germany.
You can also drive the whole way over the Danish bridges via Kolding and the tolled Great Belt Bridge; it is longer and rarely cheaper. We have driven both Scandlines crossings several times; the ferry is a break in the day as much as a short cut.
From Norway via Denmark
The Oslo ship is the comfortable option, but if you are already on Norway’s south or west coast, a ferry to Hirtshals from Kristiansand, Larvik, Stavanger or Bergen and a drive down through Jutland can be quicker. From Hirtshals, the Aarhus to Odden fast ferry saves the long way round via Funen, or you can cross the Øresund Bridge into Sweden if that is where you are heading.
From Sweden
From Malmö it is the Øresund Bridge. From Helsingborg and the west coast, the Helsingør ferry. From Gothenburg and further north, the Frederikshavn ferry and a drive down Jutland is the alternative if you want less time on the water and more on the road.
Prices and availability
Enter your crossing and dates below for live fares and sailing times; select Denmark as the destination to see the German crossings and the Oslo ship together.
Useful for travellers to Scandinavia
