Is there a direct ferry to Oslo?
The answer is yes! There are 3 direct ferries to Oslo from mainland Europe.
Ferries depart from Germany and Denmark to Oslo.
Routes, map & ferry guide
You can find information about crossings, maps, and routes here.ย Our recommendation is ferry from Kiel, Germany. This is aย very comfortable ferry and reaches Oslo in just under 20 hours.
To Oslo, this is how to book
You can use the booking module and select as place of departure to find the crossings to Oslo. If you're coming from the continent and heading to Oslo you should either choose Denmark or Germany as departure.
All the ferry routes to Oslo
Use the interactive map to find the right crossing and ferry company. You can zoom in and out and view the routes in the ports.
There are three routes directly to Oslo. You can take the Color Line cruise ferry from Kiel to Oslo from Germany. From Denmark, there are two options. You can depart from Copenhagen or Frederikshavn. If you depart from Copenhagen, there's a stopover in Frederikshavn before continuing to Oslo.
The Denmark to Oslo ferries are operated by DFDS. In our opinion, the most comfortable journey is the ferry from Kiel to Oslo. The quickest crossing, taking 9 hours, is from Frederikshavn to Oslo.
Crossings to Oslo, Norway
Ferry Guide for Oslo
Option 1: from Kiel to Oslo
This is the direct crossing from Northern Germany to Oslo. It's aboard a cruiseferry with plenty of entertainment, and it includes an overnight stay. We've made this trip ourselves and can really recommend it. For most passengers from the European mainland this is the most logical holiday route.
Onboard the ferry to Oslo
Here's a glimpse of the scenery aboard the ferry from Kiel to Oslo.
Ferries to Oslo - Color Line or DFDS
When you want to travel by ferry to Oslo the direct ferries are operated by DFDS and Color Line. Both are very comfy rides, but also popular, so especially when you bring a car or camper it is wise to book in advance. You can also combine a trip to Copenhagen and Oslo with the ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo.
Option 2: Denmark to Oslo
When you decide to sail from Denmark, you can choose either Copenhagen or Frederikshavn as your departure point to Oslo. It's the same ferry that leaves Copenhagen, stops briefly in Frederikshavn, and then heads on to Oslo. This ferry, operated by DFDS, offers the shortest crossing from Frederikshavn.
However, if you're planning to combine a trip from Copenhagen to Oslo or are coming from Sjaelland or Southern Sweden, this might be the most convenient ferry for you. The journey from Copenhagen takes around 20 hours, while from Frederikshavn, it's about 9 hours to Oslo.
Alternative Routes
As you've seen, there are three direct ferries that take you to Oslo. However, there are more ways to reach the Norwegian capital, especially if you're travelling by car or camper. Since many tourists visit Oslo as part of a roundtrip in Norway, you might also want to consider one of the other ferries to Norway. On the following page, we've listed all the options and ferries heading to Norway.
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