Ferry to Norway from the UK
No direct ferry to Norway: see your best options below
Getting to Norway by ferry from the UK
There is no direct ferry from the UK to Norway any more, but the journey by sea still works well. Take a ferry to the continent first, via the Netherlands or France, drive to northern Germany or Denmark, and sail into Norway from there. The simplest version is a ferry to Holland and the overnight Kiel to Oslo ship.
On this page, we’ll walk you through the best routes and alternatives for travelling to Norway by ferry today. As the Netherlands to Norway connection has also been discontinued, we’ve laid out a few options, so you can pick the route that fits your plans best (fastest, easiest, or most scenic).
Map with routes from the UK to Norway
The blue route in this map (a 9 to 10-hour car drive included) is the route we recommend. We will explain later why this is a good choice if you’re travelling by ferry from the UK to Norway.
The ferries you need
Crossing 1: from the UK to the continent.
Crossing 2: from Germany or Denmark into Norway.
Step 1: cross to the continent
Which crossing makes sense depends mostly on where you live. Our rule of thumb: the further north you start, the further north you sail.
- Scotland and the North-East: Newcastle to Amsterdam (IJmuiden), overnight.
- Yorkshire, the North-West and the Midlands: Hull to Rotterdam, overnight.
- London, the South-East and East Anglia: Harwich to Hook of Holland, by day or overnight.
- Shortest sea crossing: Dover to Calais or Dunkirk, but then you drive about 9.5 hours to Kiel or 14 hours to Hirtshals.
- South-West: the Portsmouth and Plymouth ferries to France are great for France, but for Norway the overnight Harwich ferry usually wins. Compare them on our UK to France page.
| Crossing | Best from | Crossing time | Sailings | Price, one way* | Then drive to Kiel / Hirtshals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle to Amsterdam (DFDS) | Scotland, North-East | overnight, about 16 hours | daily | from £74 · with a car about £600 to £700 | about 6h / 9h30 |
| Hull to Rotterdam (P&O) | Yorkshire, North-West, Midlands | overnight, about 11 to 12 hours | daily | from £85 · with a car about £450 to £550 | about 6h45 / 10h15 |
| Harwich to Hook of Holland (Stena Line) | London, South-East, East Anglia | 6h30 by day, or overnight | twice a day | from £49 · with a car about £300 to £350 | about 6h30 / 10h |
| Dover to Calais (P&O, DFDS, Irish Ferries) | Anyone who wants the shortest crossing | about 1h30 | up to 30 a day | car from £45 · typically about £100 to £150 | about 9h30 / 14h |
*Indicative one-way prices in October 2026, excluding booking fees. “From” is the lowest fare we saw, often for a foot passenger or off-peak; “with a car” is a typical fare for a car with passengers, usually including a cabin on overnight sailings. Summer and school holidays cost more.
Step 2: to Kiel or Denmark (drive)
After disembarking in the Netherlands or France, your next stop is 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. See the alternatives further down.
Step 3: the actual crossing to Norway, from Kiel or Hirtshals?
It’s time to choose: Should you depart by ferry from northern Germany or northern Denmark? In short: Kiel to Oslo for comfort and the least driving, Hirtshals for shorter, cheaper ferries and more choice of destination.
The Kiel to Oslo crossing
This is a long overnight trip, 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.
Hirtshals: shorter, cheaper and more destinations
- Hirtshals to Kristiansand: Southern Norway
- Hirtshals to Larvik: South-eastern Norway, located between Kristiansand and Oslo
- Hirtshals to Bergen: Western Norway, north of Stavanger
- Hirtshals to Stavanger: South-western Norway, south of Bergen
Your most logical alternative is to drive to Hirtshals, where several ferries depart to Norway daily. This is where you’ll find the fastest and shortest crossings. The crossings to Kristiansand and Larvik take only a few hours and are much cheaper than Kiel to Oslo; Stavanger and Bergen are overnight sailings. 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.
The ferries into Norway compared
| Crossing | Operator | Crossing time | Sailings | Price, one way* | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiel to Oslo | Color Line | overnight, about 20 hours | daily | from about £230, cabin included | Oslo and the east, least driving |
| Hirtshals to Kristiansand | Fjord Line, Color Line | 2h25 to 3h20 | several a day | from £14 · with a car about £200 to £250 | The south coast |
| Hirtshals to Larvik | Color Line | 3h40 to 4 hours | about twice a day | from £13 · with a car about £250 to £300 | Oslo (1h45 from Larvik) at a lower price |
| Hirtshals to Stavanger | Fjord Line | overnight, 11 to 12 hours | daily | from £64 · with a car about £450 to £500 | Stavanger and the Lysefjord |
| Hirtshals to Bergen | Fjord Line | 17 to 18 hours via Stavanger | daily | from £68 · with a car about £500 to £550 | Bergen and the fjords |
| Copenhagen to Oslo | Go Nordic Cruiseline | overnight, about 17 hours | daily | from about 293 DKK per person | Combining Norway with Copenhagen |
*Indicative one-way prices in October 2026, excluding booking fees. “From” is the lowest fare we saw, often for a foot passenger or off-peak; “with a car” is a typical fare for a car with passengers, usually including a cabin on overnight sailings. Summer and school holidays cost more.
Kiel to Oslo costs more because a cabin is compulsory on the 20-hour crossing, but it saves you about 3.5 hours of driving each way and a hotel night. Color Line, the operator, is being taken over by Stena, which also runs Harwich to Hook of Holland; the deal, announced in October 2026, changes nothing for sailings or bookings yet.
Check Kiel to Oslo · Check Hirtshals to Kristiansand · Check Hirtshals to Larvik · Check Hirtshals to Stavanger · Check Hirtshals to Bergen
A direct passenger ferry between the Netherlands and Norway no longer operates, but there are now two separate projects trying to restore this link. A new IJmuiden to Kristiansand service is being proposed from 2027, while the Eemshaven to Arendal project is currently targeting 2028. Neither route is bookable yet, so for trips today you still need to continue via Germany or Denmark.
Alternative options to Norway: via Sweden or the Øresund Bridge
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 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. 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: Kiel to Oslo and the Hirtshals ferries
-
- The luxurious cruise ships from Color Line on the Kiel Oslo route
-
- The village of Ålesund in Norway
Prices and availability for the crossings to Norway
You can use the booking module to get an idea of the possible crossings and the pricing of the ferries.
In this module, the final destination of Norway is already pre-filled. Therefore, you will need to book your ticket to the continent separately, which you can do earlier on this page, or if you are travelling via the Netherlands to Norway, on this page.
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 on most of these ferries, but the rules differ by operator and ship: some offer pet-friendly cabins, others kennels, and fees apply. Check your operator’s pet policy before booking. 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.
FAQ: ferry to Norway from the UK
Is there a direct ferry from the UK to Norway?
No. The last direct ferry, Newcastle to Bergen, stopped in 2008. Plans to restart a Newcastle to Bergen/Stavanger route are being discussed, but there is no confirmed operator or booking date. For now you cross to the Netherlands or France and continue via Germany or Denmark.
What is the best way to get to Norway from the UK by ferry?
For Oslo, most travellers combine an overnight ferry to the Netherlands (Harwich, Hull or Newcastle) with the overnight Kiel to Oslo ferry: two nights on board and about 6 to 7 hours of driving in between. For southern and western Norway, drive on to Hirtshals in Denmark and take the ferry to Kristiansand, Stavanger or Bergen.
How long does it take to get to Norway by ferry and car?
Via Harwich to Hook of Holland and Kiel to Oslo it does not work in one go: the overnight ferry reaches Hook of Holland at about 08:00, and with a drive of about 6.5 hours you would arrive in Kiel after the 14:00 Color Line departure. Plan a night near Kiel and sail to Oslo the next afternoon, arriving the following morning, or take a day crossing to the Netherlands the day before. Via Hirtshals the ferries are shorter, but you drive about 10 hours from Holland to Hirtshals, so most people plan a hotel stop on the way.
Is Kiel to Oslo or Hirtshals cheaper?
The short crossings from Hirtshals to Kristiansand or Larvik are usually much cheaper: one-way fares with a car are typically about £200 to £300. Kiel to Oslo costs more because a cabin is compulsory on the 20-hour crossing, but it saves you about 3.5 hours of driving each way and a hotel night.
Do I need a passport to travel to Norway by ferry?
Yes. UK travellers need a valid passport. Norway is not in the EU but it is in the Schengen area. If you are a non-EU short-stay traveller covered by the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), you register at your first Schengen border, for example on arrival in the Netherlands or at French border control in Dover: a photo, plus fingerprints from age 12. The registration then stays valid for three years. See the official EES guidance for who is exempt.
Useful for travellers to Norway
Tips for ferry travellers
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
Editorial update (October 2026): to add to the reply above, the Channel Tunnel also has a car shuttle. LeShuttle takes cars from Folkestone to Calais in about 35 minutes, so it is a valid driving route towards Kiel or Hirtshals; it is not the same as the Eurostar passenger train via London.
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.
I am investigating an electric bicycle tour on the Norwegian coast perhaps taking advantage of the Hurtigruten or similar . The problem I have is getting my bicycle to Norway . I wil possibly have to hire a bike but wonder if you know of any way I could bring my own bike .
I stay in Scotland .
Thank you.
Hi Don,
Good point – most ferries will take bikes, it’s the getting there that’s the tricky bit. From the Netherlands you’d still need to reach Kiel in northern Germany. Train-wise it’s doable, but cycling all the way might be a stretch.
If you want to bring your own bike, I’d go for the Kiel–Oslo route – far less hassle with trains.
Did you end up finding another option?