Puttgarden to Rødby ferry
Puttgarden to Rødby: the short cut to Copenhagen and Sweden
Forty-five minutes of ferry that change the whole drive. Instead of looping up through Jutland and over the Danish bridges, you cross from the German island of Fehmarn straight to Lolland, and from there it is bridges and motorway to Copenhagen, the Øresund Bridge or the Helsingør ferry into Sweden. Scandlines sails it day and night, roughly every 40 minutes by day, and the ships are built for a quick turnaround: drive on, coffee on deck, drive off.
Map: Puttgarden to Rødby and Rostock to Gedser
Zoom in to see both Scandlines routes: Puttgarden to Rødby in the west and Rostock to Gedser further east.
About the Puttgarden to Rødby ferry
Think of it as a shortcut in a road journey rather than a crossing in its own right. You are not on board long enough for the ship to matter; what matters is that it saves about 87 miles of driving to Copenhagen and puts you on the island route to Zealand and Sweden. Going on to Sweden, pair it with the Øresund Bridge for Malmö and the south, or with the Helsingør to Helsingborg ferry for Gothenburg and the west coast; Scandlines sells both as a combination ticket.
The crossing in brief
- Route: Puttgarden (Germany) to Rødby (Denmark)
- Operator: Scandlines
- Crossing time: about 45 minutes
- Best for: Copenhagen, Zealand, southern Sweden and road trips further into Scandinavia
- Alternative: Rostock to Gedser, two hours, better from Berlin and the east
Puttgarden or Rostock?
From the Netherlands, Hamburg and western Germany, Puttgarden is on the way and the quicker hop. From Berlin, Poland or eastern Germany, Rostock is the natural port, and the two hours on board make a proper break. Either way, compare the whole journey, not the crossing time: the drive to the port, the ferry, the road to Copenhagen and the final crossing into Sweden.
When it makes sense
- You want the most direct route to Copenhagen.
- You are heading on to Sweden over the bridge or via Helsingør.
- You want to break a long drive; even 45 minutes out of the car resets everyone.
- You are travelling with children, a camper or a caravan. Book the correct vehicle length; the fare bands are strict.
Sailing schedule
The ferry runs day and night, roughly every 40 minutes during the day and less often at night, with a crossing of about 45 minutes. Times shift with the season and with maintenance, so check your date. Today’s and tomorrow’s sailings in both directions are in the Puttgarden Rødby ferry timetable on PuttgardenRodby.com, our site dedicated to this route.
Our own crossing from Puttgarden to Rødby
Our ferry adventure: the shortcut to Denmark and Sweden!
On board and route maps
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- Scandlines ferries in the port
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- Scandlines border shop – biggest border shop
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- boarding the scandlines ferries
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- EV charging point Scandlines – Puttgarden
Before you go
Travelling to Denmark from the UK via France, the Netherlands or Germany:
- Passport: since Brexit a driving licence or ID card is not enough.
- Download in advance: on the long North Sea crossings Wi-Fi is slow or paid and roaming at sea is expensive. For 45 minutes to Rødby it does not matter.
- Children on a night ferry: our tips for travelling with kids on the ferry.
- Drive on the right after you roll off.
- Seasickness: where to sit and what helps.
Luggage and pets
Luggage is not restricted within reason. Pets travel for a fee and stay in your car or the designated area on this short crossing; for Denmark they need the right vaccinations and a pet passport. Country rules and company policies are in a separate guide.
Useful for travellers to Scandinavia
