Ferry to Norway from Scotland
How to get to Norway from Scotland
Norway used to be easily accessible by direct routes, like the Newcastle-Bergen-Stavanger ferry. Unfortunately, there are no longer any direct ferries from Scotland or England to Norway, so you’ll need to travel to the continent first.
Via Newcastle or Hull to the Continent
To reach Norway from Scotland, you can first take one of the two ferries to the Netherlands (from Hull or Newcastle). From there, you have two main options: drive up to Kiel for a direct ferry to Oslo, or travel through Denmark via ferries from Hirtshals, Copenhagen, or Frederikshavn.
Map: Scotland-Norway ferry routes
About the crossings to Norway
The two best options for travelling from Scotland to Norway via the continent are the ferries from Kiel to Oslo or the ferries from Hirtshals in northern Denmark. From Hirtshals, you can catch ferries to four Norwegian cities: Bergen, Kristiansand, Stavanger, and Larvik.
So to get from Scotland to Norway, First, you’ll need to reach the continent, and if you're travelling from Scotland, we recommend the ferries from Newcastle to Amsterdam or Hull to Rotterdam. You can find more info on these routes on their specific route pages: Newcastle to Amsterdam and Hull to Rotterdam, or find our own experiences with these ferries here (Amsterdam) and here (Rotterdam).
From there, you can choose to take the next ferry from Denmark, Germany, or the Netherlands. We’ll cover these options further down the page, but first, let’s look at how to get to mainland Europe.
Travelling to Norway from Scotland in 3 Steps:
- Drive to Newcastle (A) or Hull (B).
- Take the ferry to Amsterdam (A) or Rotterdam (B).
- Drive from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to either Kiel in Germany (#1. best option) or Hirtshals (#2. alternative).
- From Kiel, you can take a ferry directly to Oslo.
- From Frederikshavn, there is also a ferry route to Oslo.
- Although the Eemshaven/Emden route to Kristiansand has stopped, Hirtshals still offers connections to both Bergen and Kristiansand.
Step 1: The Ferries to the Netherlands
Whether you take the ferry from Hull or Newcastle to the Netherlands makes little difference. It’s best to choose based on price and distance to the departure port from Scotland. Although the Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry arrives slightly further north, it doesn’t significantly impact travel time to the ports of Kiel or Hirtshals.
Tickets
Travel Time by Car After the First Crossing
- From Rotterdam or Amsterdam to Kiel: approximately six hours
- From Rotterdam or Amsterdam to Frederikshavn: approximately ten hours
- From Rotterdam or Amsterdam to Hirtshals: approximately ten hours
- Or around 15 hours to the Swedish/Norwegian border via the Oresund toll bridge
The further you’re willing to drive, the shorter and more affordable your next crossing to Norway will be.
Step 2: Ferry from Germany to Norway (or Sweden)
Consider these interesting routes: the 20-hour ferry from Kiel to Oslo and the crossings from Hirtshals to Norway. The Kiel to Oslo route is a night crossing on a beautiful ship operated by Color Line, making it an excellent option to get some rest after the long drive from the UK.
We recommend the Kiel to Oslo ferry due to the driving distance from the UK, allowing for a comfortable break en route. Depending on your chosen crossing from the UK to the continent, the drive to Kiel takes between 6 and 9 hours.
You may also want to consider the ferry to Gothenburg in Sweden; from there, it’s only a 3.5-hour drive to Norway.
Alternatively: The Ferry from Denmark to Norway
The departure ports in northern Denmark are not exactly nearby, but if you’re planning a road trip to Scandinavia, one of these crossings is certainly worthwhile.
Depending on where your trip will take you, you can choose from several Norwegian destinations, such as Larvik, Kristiansand, Oslo, Langesund, and Bergen.
The main advantage of travelling from Denmark to Norway is the shorter sailing time, which ranges from just 2 hours and 15 minutes to around 19 hours, depending on the route.
Option 4: Ferry & Drive via Germany, Denmark, and Copenhagen
Take the route from Puttgarden in Germany to Rodby in Denmark for the shortest ferry crossing. This 45-minute ferry ride brings you near Copenhagen, from where you can drive across the Oresund Bridge to Malmö and continue north to Norway.
On board & maps
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- Docking of the Color Fantasy © FerryGoGo
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- Playground for the little ones on the Color Fantasy © FerryGoGo
Prices and availability for thess crossing
Additional Information
When travelling on crossings from the Scotland and or the UK to the continent and ultimately to Norway, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
- Bring your passport: Since Brexit, a driver's licence or ID card is no longer sufficient for travel.
- Download entertainment in advance: On longer night crossings, it’s a good idea to download series or movies beforehand, as Wi-Fi on board can be expensive, and roaming in international waters is costly.
- Foot passengers: Not all ferries accept foot passengers, so check ahead.
- Travelling with young kids on a night ferry? We’ve got some helpful tips for travelling with kids here.
- Remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road after disembarking. It can be confusing for the first 10 minutes, but you'll adjust quickly.
- Worried about getting seasick? In this article, you’ll find some tips to help prevent it.
Luggage & Pets
There are no restrictions on the amount of luggage you can reasonably bring on most ferries. Pets are allowed, but additional fees apply, and they must stay in designated kennels on board. In Norway, pets must meet specific requirements, such as certain vaccinations and a pet passport. You can find country-specific regulations and company policies in this post.
