Ferry to Norway from Scotland
The trip will be in two stages: first to the continent, then on to Norway
How to get to Norway from Scotland
There was a direct ferry once, Newcastle to Stavanger and Bergen, but it stopped in 2008 and nothing has replaced it. From Scotland, Norway by sea is a two-stage trip: a North Sea ferry to the Netherlands, then a second ferry from Germany or Denmark.
Via Newcastle or Hull to the continent
Take one of the two ferries to the Netherlands, from Newcastle or Hull. On the other side you have two choices: drive to Kiel for the overnight ship to Oslo, or drive through Denmark to Hirtshals or Copenhagen.
Map: Scotland-Norway ferry routes
The map shows the crossings and the companies that sail them. There is no direct line from Scotland, so follow the route through the Netherlands to Germany or Denmark. The Netherlands to Norway ferry you may remember went with its operator’s bankruptcy; a new one has been proposed, but nothing sails yet.
About the crossings to Norway
The two routes we would consider from Scotland are Kiel to Oslo, and the Hirtshals ferries from the top of Denmark, which reach Bergen, Kristiansand, Stavanger and Larvik.
First, though, the North Sea. From Scotland that means Newcastle to Amsterdam or Hull to Rotterdam. We have sailed both and written them up: on board the Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry and our Hull to Rotterdam crossing.
Scotland to Norway in three steps
- Drive to Newcastle or Hull.
- Take the overnight ferry to Amsterdam (IJmuiden) or Rotterdam (Europoort).
- Drive to Kiel in Germany, our first choice, or to Hirtshals in Denmark.
- From Kiel, Color Line sails direct to Oslo every evening.
- From Copenhagen there is an Oslo ship too, if you want both capitals in one trip.
- Hirtshals serves Bergen, Stavanger, Larvik and Kristiansand.
Step 1: the ferry to the Netherlands
Hull or Newcastle makes little difference to the onward drive. Newcastle lands you slightly further north, but Kiel and Hirtshals are about the same distance from either port, so choose on price and on which English port is nearer to you.
Tickets
Driving time after the first crossing
- Rotterdam or Amsterdam to Kiel: about six hours.
- Rotterdam or Amsterdam to Copenhagen: about nine hours.
- Rotterdam or Amsterdam to Hirtshals: about ten hours.
- To the Swedish-Norwegian border via Puttgarden to Rødby and the Öresund Bridge: around 15 hours.
The further you drive, the shorter and cheaper the second ferry becomes. Kiel is the trade-off most people land on.
Step 2: the ferry from Germany to Norway, or to Sweden
Kiel to Oslo is a 20-hour overnight crossing on one of Color Line’s two big cruise ferries. After a night on the North Sea and six hours of autobahn, a cabin and a proper dinner before arriving up the Oslofjord in the morning is the right way to end the journey, which is why it is our first choice from Scotland. The drive to Kiel takes six to nine hours depending on which Dutch port you landed in.
The other Kiel ship goes to Gothenburg in Sweden; from there it is about three and a half hours by road to the Norwegian border, and the fare is usually lower than the Oslo boat.
Alternatively: the ferries from Denmark to Norway
Hirtshals is a long way north, but if the trip is a Scandinavian road trip rather than a dash to Oslo, the Danish crossings earn their place. From Hirtshals you choose your Norwegian landing, Larvik, Kristiansand, Stavanger or Bergen, and the sea leg is short: 2 hours 15 minutes to Kristiansand on the fast ferry, up to around 19 hours overnight to Bergen.
Ferry and drive via Germany, Denmark and Copenhagen
The third way is the one we use for Sweden: the 45-minute Puttgarden to Rødby crossing, which we have driven several times, puts you two hours from Copenhagen. From there cross the Öresund Bridge to Malmö and drive north to Norway, or take the Copenhagen to Oslo ship.
On board and maps
-
- Docking of the Color Fantasy © FerryGoGo
-
- Playground for the little ones on the Color Fantasy © FerryGoGo
Prices and availability
You book the two ferries separately: first the North Sea crossing, then the ship from Germany or Denmark to Norway.
Before you go
- Passport: since Brexit a driving licence or ID card is not enough.
- Download in advance: on the long night crossings Wi-Fi is slow or paid, and roaming at sea is expensive.
- Foot passengers: not every sailing takes them, so check before booking.
- Children on a night ferry: our tips for travelling with kids on the ferry come from doing it.
- Drive on the right after you roll off. The first roundabout is the hard one.
- Seasickness: where to sit and what helps.
Luggage and pets
Luggage is not restricted within reason on car ferries. Pets travel for a fee and stay in the on-board kennels or your car, depending on the ship, and Norway requires a pet passport and specific vaccinations. Country rules and company policies for dogs on ferries are in a separate guide.
Useful for travellers to Norway
Ser fram emot bilfärja