Ferries to Norway: all routes, operators and guides
Start with where you need to be in Norway
Seven international ferry routes sail into Norway: one overnight cruise ferry from Kiel in Germany, one from Copenhagen, four crossings from Hirtshals at the top of Denmark, and the short hop between Strömstad in Sweden and Sandefjord. None of them starts in Britain. The last direct ferry, Newcastle to Bergen, stopped in 2008.
So the useful question is not which ferry goes to Norway? but which Norwegian port leaves you the least driving, counted from your front door? For Oslo and the east, the Kiel ferry wins: you sleep on board instead of crossing Denmark. For the south coast, the short Hirtshals crossings are quicker and far cheaper. For Stavanger, Bergen and the fjords, the Fjord Line overnight ships from Hirtshals put you straight on the west coast.
Travelling from the UK? Our main guide compares the whole journey, North Sea crossing included: ferry to Norway from the UK. Two things worth knowing right now: Stena, the owner of the Harwich ferry, has agreed to buy Color Line, the Kiel to Oslo operator (October 2026, approval pending), and there are plans for a new Newcastle to Norway ferry, with no ship or booking date yet.
Main ferry routes, by direction
These are the guides we would use first. Each one compares the crossings for that starting point, with maps, sailing times and the onward drive.
| Direction | Start here | What the guide helps you decide |
|---|---|---|
| UK to Norway | Ferry to Norway from the UK | Harwich, Hull or Newcastle for the North Sea, then Kiel or Hirtshals, with prices and driving times for the whole journey. |
| Scotland to Norway | Ferry to Norway from Scotland | Newcastle to Amsterdam as the first leg, and what happened to the Rosyth and Bergen plans. |
| Denmark to Norway | Ferry to Norway from Denmark | Hirtshals to Kristiansand, Larvik, Stavanger or Bergen, or Copenhagen to Oslo: fast daytime crossing or a night on board. |
| Germany to Norway | Ferry to Norway from Germany | The Kiel to Oslo cruise ferry, and when driving on to Hirtshals is the better plan. |
| Netherlands to Norway | Ferry to Norway from the Netherlands | No direct ferry since 2023: the realistic routes via Kiel and Hirtshals from Hook of Holland, Rotterdam and IJmuiden. |
| Sweden to Norway | Ferry to Norway from Sweden | Strömstad to Sandefjord, or driving across the border at Svinesund after the Kiel to Gothenburg ferry. |
| Oslo | Ferries to Oslo | Kiel or Copenhagen: two overnight ships into the Oslofjord compared. |
| Kristiansand | Ferries to Kristiansand | Fjord Line or Color Line from Hirtshals, and what the south coast offers once you land. |
Choose by ferry corridor
Kiel to Oslo: the cruise ferry
The least driving, and a night at sea. Color Line sails daily at 14:00 from Kiel and docks in Oslo at 10:00 the next morning, about 20 hours with the Color Fantasy or Color Magic. A cabin is compulsory. Kiel is about six hours from Hook of Holland, Rotterdam or IJmuiden, which is why most British drivers heading for Oslo and eastern Norway end up here.
- Ferry to Norway from Germany: the Kiel route in detail
- Ferries to Oslo, Kiel and Copenhagen compared
- Stena is buying Color Line: what it changes, and what it does not
Hirtshals: the short crossings to the south coast
Quick and much cheaper, after a long drive through Denmark. From Hirtshals, Fjord Line and Color Line sail to Kristiansand in 2 hours 15 to 3 hours 20, and Color Line to Larvik in about 3 hours 45. Hirtshals is roughly 850 km from Hook of Holland, so most people plan a night in Denmark on the way.
- Ferries to Kristiansand
- Ferry to Norway from Denmark: Kristiansand and Larvik compared
- Fjord Line offers, including the fill-the-car fares
Hirtshals to Stavanger and Bergen: overnight to the fjords
Wake up on the west coast. Fjord Line’s overnight ships leave Hirtshals in the evening, reach Stavanger early the next morning and Bergen around lunchtime. You land next to the Lysefjord, the Hardangerfjord and the Sognefjord instead of driving a day across southern Norway to get there.
- Fjord Line offers, up to 40% off to Bergen at the time of writing
- Ferry to Norway from Denmark
Copenhagen to Oslo: the other overnight ship
Two capitals in one trip. Go Nordic Cruiseline sails from Copenhagen in the late afternoon and arrives in Oslo at 10:00 the next morning, about 17 hours. It suits anyone who wants a few days in Denmark first, or a round trip out via Kiel and home via Copenhagen.
- Ferries to Oslo: Copenhagen and Kiel compared
- On board between Copenhagen and Oslo, our own crossing
Via Sweden: Kiel to Gothenburg, then drive
Often cheaper than the Oslo boat. Stena Line sails overnight from Kiel to Gothenburg, 17:45 to 09:15. From there it is about two hours to the Norwegian border at Svinesund and 3.5 to 4 hours to Oslo, along the Bohuslän coast if you take your time. The last stretch can be a ferry too: Color Line crosses from Strömstad to Sandefjord in about 2.5 hours.
- Kiel to Gothenburg: ship, times and our tips
- Ferry to Norway from Sweden
First, the North Sea: Harwich, Hull or Newcastle
Choose the crossing nearest to home, not the port nearest to Norway. Newcastle to Amsterdam (DFDS, overnight) is about six hours’ drive from Kiel. Hull to Rotterdam (P&O, overnight) and Harwich to Hook of Holland (Stena Line, day or night) are about six and a half. Dover to Calais adds roughly three more hours on the road.
- Harwich to Hook of Holland, Hull to Rotterdam, Newcastle to Amsterdam
- Stena Line offers and DFDS offers for the North Sea leg
First-hand ferry reviews
A route map tells you where a ship goes. It does not tell you how early the alarm goes off on the Harwich night boat, or whether the Copenhagen ship is worth the extra hours. These are the crossings on the way to Norway that we have travelled ourselves:
| Crossing | What we tested | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen to Oslo | Overnight on the Crown and Pearl ships: cabins, decks, arrival in the Oslofjord. | Our crossing |
| Harwich to Hook of Holland | Stena Britannica night sailing with a car: check-in, cabins, what is open on board. | Our experience |
| Newcastle to Amsterdam | DFDS overnight crossing: what the ship and the arrival in IJmuiden are actually like. | Our experience |
| London to Holland by Rail and Sail | Train to Harwich and the overnight ferry, without a car. | Our trip |
Practical planning for Norway
Once you have chosen the route, these guides cover the questions that usually come next.
| Planning topic | Use this guide | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Passports and borders | UK to Europe ferry border checklist | Norway is in Schengen but not in the EU. You register for EES at your first Schengen port, usually in the Netherlands, not in Norway. |
| EES and ETIAS | EES and ETIAS explained | What the new EU entry system means when your trip crosses three or four borders by ferry and road. |
| Travelling with a dog | Dog on ferries | Norway requires a tapeworm treatment before entry on top of the usual passport and microchip. Pet cabins and kennels differ by ship. |
| What it costs | Ferry fares in summer 2026 | Two ferries plus fuel add up. The Kiel ferry includes a compulsory cabin; the Hirtshals crossings are a fraction of the price. |
| Cheaper tickets | Fjord Line offers and Stena Line offers | Fill-the-car fares to Kristiansand, up to 40% off to Bergen, and early-booking discounts on Harwich to Hook of Holland. |
| Motorhomes and caravans | Stena Line motorhome offer | Length-based fares on the North Sea leg, and camping in Norway is the easy part once you are there. |
| Cabins and tickets | Cabins and upgrades on the Harwich ferries | On a night crossing the cabin choice matters more than a small difference in price. |
Full Norway ferry route directory
The curated links above are where we would start. If you already know the ports you want, browse every international route into Norway below.
Norway ferries: frequently asked questions
Is there a direct ferry from the UK to Norway?
No. The last one, Newcastle to Bergen, stopped in 2008. You cross to the Netherlands from Harwich, Hull or Newcastle and continue by road to Kiel in Germany or Hirtshals in Denmark for the ferry to Norway. A Newcastle to Norway revival is being discussed, but there is no operator, ship or booking date.
What is the quickest way to Norway with a car?
For Oslo: North Sea ferry, drive about six hours to Kiel, overnight Color Line ferry to Oslo. For the south coast: drive on to Hirtshals and cross to Kristiansand in about two to three hours. For Stavanger and Bergen: Fjord Line overnight from Hirtshals.
Kiel to Oslo or Hirtshals: which is cheaper?
Hirtshals, by a wide margin. The short crossings to Kristiansand or Larvik typically cost a few hundred pounds with a car, while Kiel to Oslo includes a compulsory cabin on a 20-hour crossing. Kiel saves you about 3.5 hours of driving each way and a hotel night in Denmark.
Can I do Harwich to Hook of Holland and Kiel to Oslo in one day?
Not comfortably. The night boat docks around 08:00 and the Oslo ferry leaves Kiel at 14:00, which leaves no margin for a six-hour drive and check-in. Plan a night in northern Germany, or take the day sailing to Hook of Holland and drive to Kiel the next morning.
Do I need a passport for Norway?
Yes. Norway is in the Schengen area but not in the EU. UK travellers covered by the EU Entry/Exit System register at their first Schengen border, normally on arrival in the Netherlands.
Ferry Talk
Questions or experiences? We'd love for you to share them.
Is it true that you can’t go on Norwegian ferries if you have an electric car? Want to ferry with my Tesla to Denmark.
Which ferry would you advice if I want to travel to Oslo from Copenhagen? Please help me as there are to many possible routes and I simply want to know the best one.
@Fin, the rules on this case are a bit different per company. Check out this blogpost regarding the issue of electric cars on ferries:
https://ferrygogo.com/havila-bans-electric-hybrid-cars-on-ferries/
@Stockton, we would go for this route:
https://ferrygogo.co.uk/norway/ferries-to-oslo/
Travel by ferry 5 people and car from Bergen, Norway to Fjelberg, Norway
I thought there was a ferry from Stromstad in Sweden to Sandefjord in Norway.
Hi Greg,
There is indeed a ferry between Stromstad and Sandefjord. To be honest, we thought it was listed on this page as well. We will double check and update accordingly later this week!
Thanks for your input!