Øresund Bridge: Copenhagen to Malmö
Scandlines sells the bridge together with the Puttgarden to Rødby ferry, which is the cheapest way to book both
Øresund Bridge: from Copenhagen to Malmö
The Øresund Bridge, also known as Øresundsbron or the Sontbridge, links Copenhagen in Denmark with Malmö in Sweden. It is the most direct road and rail connection between the two cities, with cars using the upper level and trains running below.
For drivers heading from Denmark into southern Sweden, the bridge is usually the quickest and simplest choice. You stay on the road, cross straight from the Copenhagen area to Malmö and continue towards southern Sweden without waiting for a ferry.
That does not mean it is always the best option. The Helsingør to Helsingborg ferry can be a better fit if you are heading further north towards Helsingborg, Gothenburg or the Swedish west coast. If you are driving up from Germany, the Puttgarden to Rødby ferry also matters, because it changes how you reach Copenhagen and the bridge in the first place.
Use the map first to compare the main options: Puttgarden to Rødby into Denmark, the Øresund Bridge towards Malmö, and Helsingør to Helsingborg further north. The right choice depends less on the crossing itself and more on where you want to end up in Sweden.
Map: the Øresund Bridge, Helsingør to Helsingborg and the routes to them
Zoom in and the blue line on the right of the map is the bridge, from the Copenhagen side to Malmö. The map also shows why most drivers from the south arrive by ferry: Puttgarden to Rødby lands you on Lolland, from where bridges run over Falster to Zealand and Copenhagen. The all-road alternative via the free Little Belt Bridge and the tolled Great Belt Bridge is a long detour.
About this crossing
The Øresund Bridge is part of the fixed link between Denmark and Sweden. The road route runs from the Copenhagen side through the Drogden Tunnel, across the artificial island of Peberholm and then over the bridge section towards Malmö. So although travellers often call the whole connection ‘the bridge’, the crossing is actually a mix of tunnel, island and bridge.
For most drivers, the appeal is simple: it is direct. If your destination is Malmö, southern Sweden or the E6/E20 route north from Malmö, the bridge keeps the journey flowing. You do not need to plan around ferry departures or boarding windows, and you can continue straight onto the Swedish motorway network.
The main alternative is the Helsingør to Helsingborg ferry, further north. That ferry is only a short crossing, but it changes where you enter Sweden. For Malmö and southern Sweden, the Øresund Bridge is usually cleaner. For Helsingborg, Gothenburg or the Swedish west coast, the ferry can make more sense.
If you are coming from Germany, compare the bridge together with your route into Denmark. Many drivers pair the Puttgarden to Rødby ferry with the Øresund Bridge for a direct route towards Copenhagen and Malmö. Others may use Puttgarden to Rødby and then continue north to Helsingør for the ferry to Helsingborg.
Travel times and distances
| Crossing | Mode | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Øresund Bridge (DK to SE) | Car/Train | 10 miles | ~10 minutes |
| Helsingør to Helsingborg Ferry | Car/Foot | 2 miles | ~20 minutes |
| Puttgarden to Rødby Ferry | Car/Foot | 11 miles | ~45 minutes |
Tolls and booking
- Car up to 6 m, one way: 420 DKK online or 470 DKK at the toll station; 182 DKK with an ØresundGO agreement (annual fee 370 DKK). Prices from Øresundsbron, valid from 14 September 2026.
- Cheaper still as part of a Scandlines combination ticket with the Puttgarden to Rødby ferry.
- Book in advance and your number plate is recognised at the toll gate, so you drive straight through.
Getting to the bridge from Britain
For most British drivers the first leg is a ferry to the Netherlands: Hull to Rotterdam, Newcastle to Amsterdam or Harwich to Hook of Holland. France works too, but for Scandinavia the Dutch ports save hours. From there you drive through Germany, and there are two ways on to Copenhagen and the bridge.
Option 1: the ferry from Germany to Denmark
- Route: Puttgarden to Rødby, then Lolland, Falster and Zealand to Copenhagen and over the bridge.
- Distance: about 465 miles from Hook of Holland.
- Why: shorter, quicker and less fuel; the 45-minute ferry is a break, not a delay.
Option 2: the Danish bridges
- Route: up through Jutland, over the Little Belt and Great Belt bridges, then the Øresund.
- Distance: about 560 miles from Hook of Holland.
- Extra cost: the Great Belt toll, 235 DKK for a car (205 DKK with a Bizz or number-plate agreement); the Little Belt is free.
The cheaper alternative: Helsingør to Helsingborg
North of Copenhagen a ferry crosses from Helsingør to Helsingborg, three miles in 20 minutes, with a departure every 20 minutes. Depending on your ticket it can undercut the bridge, and it lands you further north, which is right for Gothenburg and the west coast. Car fares are on Øresundslinjen; the bridge is 420 DKK online or 470 DKK at the gate.
On board, ferry maps and the route in pictures
In early March 2025 we drove over the Øresund Bridge in both directions. Out, we paired it with the Puttgarden to Rødby ferry, the fastest way into Sweden; back, we took the Helsingør to Helsingborg ferry to compare. The full travel report has the photos, the maps and what we would do differently.
Quick facts
- Opened: 2000.
- Length: 15.9 km (about 10 miles): the bridge (7.8 km), the artificial island of Peberholm (4.1 km) and the Drogden tunnel (4.1 km).
- Levels: road above, rail below.
- Traffic in 2021: about 4.8 million vehicles.
Either side of the water
Copenhagen needs no introduction; Malmö is smaller, greener and easy to like for a night, with the Turning Torso visible from the bridge. The view from the bridge itself is the reason to cross it in daylight at least once.
Our take
Coming from the continent and heading into Sweden, the Puttgarden to Rødby plus Øresund Bridge combination is the fastest and least fussy route, and the combination ticket is cheaper than booking the two apart. Swap the bridge for the Helsingør ferry only if Gothenburg or the north is the destination.
Tolls, traffic and combined tickets
The bridge is open around the clock and needs no booking; current tolls and traffic are on Øresundsbron. For the combination ticket with the Puttgarden to Rødby ferry, or to compare the Helsingør to Helsingborg ferry, use the booking module for crossings between Denmark and Sweden.
How the toll works
You can simply pay at the gate: card in, barrier up. Booking online in advance is smoother, because your number plate is read automatically and you drive through without stopping. Combined with the Puttgarden to Rødby crossing you buy it directly from Scandlines.
Tips for ferry travellers
