Getting to Norway by ferry from the UK
Unfortunately, there is no longer a direct ferry crossing between the UK and Norway, and the crossing between the Netherlands and Norway has also been discontinued.
On this page, we discuss the best routes and alternatives still available for travelling to Norway. We outline and explain several options to help you find the most convenient route from the UK to Norway.
Map with routes from the UK to Norway
About the crossings to Norway
When planning a trip from the UK to Norway, there are several options to consider, and the best route depends largely on where your journey begins. First, you’ll need to make a crossing from the UK to either the Netherlands or France, from where you can continue your journey towards Norway. This is step 1: from the UK to the continent, which will vary for many travellers.
There are several logical routes for this initial crossing. If you live in the north of England or Scotland, the best option is the Newcastle to Amsterdam route.
If you're based in central or southern England, you can choose between Hull to Rotterdam, Harwich to Hoek van Holland, or one of the crossings from Dover to Calais or Dunkirk.
Crossings from Plymouth, Poole, or Portsmouth to France are also worth considering for those in the southwest of England.
Step 1: to the continent
To reach mainland Europe from the UK, we've outlined the five most logical routes (excluding the southern UK to France routes). From there, four follow-up connections will take you to Norway from Western Europe.
The distance to Kiel, in the last column of the table above is important, as this is where the second stage of your journey could begin. You can either choose the crossing from (A) Kiel to Oslo or (B) from northern Denmark to Norway.
A ferry connection from Eemshaven/Emden to Norway was once a convenient second step, but this service ended in September 2023.
Step 2: to Kiel or Denmark (drive)
After disembarking in either the Netherlands or France, your next stop is either Denmark or Germany. From the German port of Kiel, there is a direct ferry to Oslo, Norway’s capital. This overnight cruise ferry allows you to skip many hours behind the wheel.
The other option is to drive through to Denmark. The shortest and most frequent ferry crossings to Norway depart from Hirtshals in northern Denmark. From Hirtshals, ferries go to Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand, and Larvik. Of these destinations, Larvik is the closest to Oslo, while Stavanger and Bergen are on the west coast, and Kristiansand is located at the southern tip of Norway.
Indication of the time you'll need to travel from one port to another:
- From Rotterdam / Amsterdam to Kiel (Germany): ± 6 hours 30 minutes
- From Calais to Kiel (Germany): ± 9 hours 30 minutes
- From Calais to Hirtshals (Denmark): ± 14 hours 15 minutes
- From Calais to Copenhagen (Denmark): ± 13 hours (inc. ferry)
Alternatively you can also sail from Copenhagen to Oslo or from Kiel to Gothenburg (Sweden), or drive via Sweden. We'll discuss these options later.
Step 3: the actual crossing to Norway, from Kiel or Hirtshals?
Time to choose: Should you depart by ferry from northern Germany or northern Denmark? Here, we explain the pros and cons.
The Kiel to Oslo crossing:
This is a long, overnight journey, and after many hours of driving, it can be a relief to board this ferry. Not only do you get a break from driving, but by sailing overnight, you cover a significant distance while saving the cost of a hotel stay. It's a highly rated ferry, known for its comfort. The downside: naturally, this ferry is more expensive than the shorter crossings from northern Denmark, and if you prefer to keep driving, you can continue all the way to Hirtshals.
Ferries from Hirtshals:
Your most logical alternative is to drive to Hirtshals, from where several ferries depart to Norway each day. This is where you'll find the fastest and shortest crossings. These routes are also more affordable since there’s no overnight stay and fewer miles to cover. So, if speed and cost are your priorities, this is a great option. Remember that you’ll likely need to factor in a hotel stay along the way—unless you're travelling with a camper.
Some of the best options you have for the crossing to Norway
Alternative options to Norway – via Sweden and/or Sontbridge
Another option is to drive the whole way or combine a long drive with a shorter ferry crossing. For example, you could take the Danish Bridges Route, which leads you across the Little Belt Bridge, the Great Belt Bridge, and the Öresund Bridge into Malmö. Alternatively, you can travel via Puttgarden to Rødby, then through Copenhagen to Malmö, and continue your journey to Norway.
These routes are great if you're planning a road trip through Scandinavia or want to explore Copenhagen and/or Gothenburg along the way.
If you're planning a trip to Norway but also considering including Sweden in your itinerary, you might want to consider travelling via either the outbound or return route through Kiel to Gothenburg.
For instance, if you choose to go outbound via Kiel to Gothenburg and continue from there to Norway, you could return via Oslo to Kiel or Kristiansand to Hirtshals, or vice versa, of course. If you want to exclude Gothenburg but do want to see Copenhagen – you could sail from Copenhagen to Oslo directly as well.
Alternative crossings in your route to Norway from England:
On board impression
-
- Map with routes to Norway from the UK
-
- The village of Ålesund in Norway
-
- The luxurious cruise ships from Color Line on the Kiel Oslo route
-
- Playground for the little ones on the Color Fantasy © FerryGoGo
-
- Bar at Color Fantasy © FerryGoGo
-
- Lobby 2 of the Color Fantasy © FerryGoGo
-
- Restaurant
-
- Restaurant on Color Fantasy © FerryGoGo
Prices and availability for this crossing
You can use the booking module to get an idea of the possible crossings and the pricing of the ferries.
Additional Information
When travelling on crossings from 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
On most ferries, there are no restrictions on the amount of luggage you can reasonably bring. Pets are allowed, but additional fees apply, and they must stay in designated kennels on board. For some destinations, like 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.
I am disappointed there is no direct Ferry. I am Norwegian but live in the UK. I have been waiting for this for years! Hopefully they will soon realise the demand.
Hi Fredrik,
Quite late but thanks for your comment – there have been crossings in the past: https://ferrygogo.co.uk/historic-ferry-crossings-from-the-uk-to-scandinavia/ and there are plans for a direct crossing in the near future again. We really hope a ferry from the UK to Norway will return too, especially since the ferry from the Netherlands to Norway ceased to exist as well.
Helpful start for me to plan a norwegian fishing holiday thank you.
Hi Neil,
Glad we could be of help with our guides! Have fun on your fishing holiday. Happy travels
Hi,
good article, small error in the numbers.
Newcastle-Amsterdam Approx. 15-16 hours £200 – £300 About 335 miles (835 km)
335 miles is a lot less than 835 km.
Also, nothing about the channel tunnel train possibility??
Cheers,
Charan
Hi Charan,
There was a small error—the distance in miles was a bit off as well. While the Channel Tunnel train is an option, it’s not ideal for this route. First, you would need to travel from London to Amsterdam, then from Amsterdam to Kiel (with three stopovers—another 8 hours by train) or Hirtshals (with five stopovers, taking 20 hours). From there, you’d still need to reach the ferry ports.
Most people looking for a ferry to Norway are travelling by car or camper and want the easiest route possible. We’ll include the Channel Tunnel as an option but wanted to explain why it’s generally not the most convenient choice.
The European train networks aren’t yet well-connected enough to make this an easy trip.