Denmark to Norway ferries compared
Six services to four ports, with the crossing time and the drive after landing set side by side.
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Six services run from Hirtshals to four Norwegian ports, from 2 hrs 25 min to about 17 hrs 30 min at sea. The shortest is Fjord Line’s catamaran to Kristiansand; the longest is the through sailing to Bergen.
Which one suits you depends on the time at sea and on how far you still have to drive after landing. This page sets both out.
Every crossing from Hirtshals, on a map
Five sea crossings from Denmark to Norway, plus the E39 drive that staying on board replaces. Click a route for the details.
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Routes on this map
- 1Hirtshals → Larvik3:45More information: hirtshals-larvik.info
- 2Hirtshals → Kristiansand2:25More information: hirtshals-kristiansand.com
- 3Hirtshals → Stavanger11:00More information: hirtshals-stavanger.com
- 4Hirtshals → Bergen17:30
- 5Frederikshavn → Oslo8:30
- Departure port
- Arrival port
- Onward city
- This route
- Ferry crossing
- By road
Every crossing from Hirtshals to Norway
| Route | Operator | At sea | Runs | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hirtshals to Bergen | Fjord Line | approx. 17 hrs 30 min | Through sailing, daily | The western fjords, without the drive |
| Hirtshals to Stavanger | Fjord Line | approx. 11 hrs | Overnight, year round | Rogaland, the south west fjords |
| Hirtshals to Kristiansand | Fjord Line, Fjord FSTR | approx. 2 hrs 25 min | Seasonal catamaran | The shortest time at sea, in summer |
| Hirtshals to Kristiansand | Color Line, SuperSpeed 1 | approx. 3 hrs 25 min | Year round | Southern Norway, fastest year-round option |
| Hirtshals to Kristiansand | Fjord Line, Stavangerfjord and Bergensfjord | approx. 3 hrs 55 min | Year round | The same port, more ship, slower |
| Hirtshals to Larvik | Color Line | 3 hrs 45 min | Year round, 1 to 3 daily | Oslo, Vestfold, eastern Norway |
Checked against the operators’ timetables in August 2026.
Time at sea plus time on the road
The number that matters is the total from Hirtshals to your destination, not the crossing alone.
| If you are going to | You land at | Then you drive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen, the western fjords | Bergen | None | You walk off into the city |
| Hardanger, Sogn og Fjordane | Bergen | 80 to 165 km | The fjords start within an hour |
| Stavanger, Rogaland | Stavanger, Risavika | 12 km | Get off at the earlier call |
| Southern Norway, the coast | Kristiansand | Minutes | Shortest crossing, and you are there |
| Oslo, eastern Norway | Larvik | approx. 135 km | From Bergen it is around 460 km |
| Trondheim, the far north | Any port | Several hundred km | The drive dominates whichever port you take |
What separates the ports after docking
The crossing does not end at the quay. What comes next differs more between ports than the time at sea does.
| Port | Where it sits | Without your own car | First driving leg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen, Jektevik | Southern edge of the centre | Bryggen 15 min on foot, station 20 min | E16 towards Voss, approx. 100 km |
| Stavanger, Risavika | 12 km south-west of the city | Kolumbus bus 2, approx. 40 min | E39 north, 210 km and two ferries |
| Kristiansand | In the city centre | Station and bus station within walking distance | E39 west or E18 east |
| Larvik | In the city centre | Train to Oslo, around 1 hr 45 min | E18 towards Oslo, approx. 135 km |
For the fjords that is the whole difference. Bergen leaves you nothing to drive; Stavanger leaves 210 km on the E39, and that road crosses two fjords by ferry.
When the long crossing wins
Works well if
- Bergen, Hardanger or Sogn og Fjordane is the destination
- You would have paid for a hotel night anyway
- You are travelling without a car, since Jektevik is a walk from the centre
- You are in a motorhome and would rather not add driving days
- You want the first Norwegian day to start rested rather than after five hours at the wheel
Look elsewhere if
- Oslo or eastern Norway is the destination, where Larvik lands you 135 km away
- You want the shortest possible time at sea
- You are travelling on a tight budget and need no hotel night
- Rogaland is the destination, in which case you get off six hours earlier
Bergen or Stavanger, hours and nights side by side
Stay on board, or land at Stavanger and drive
Both start on the same ship at the same quay. The difference is what the morning costs you.
| Hirtshals to Bergen | Hirtshals to Stavanger, then drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Time at sea | approx. 17 hrs 30 min | approx. 11 hrs |
| Driving after landing | None | approx. 210 km |
| Fjord ferries on the wayMortavika and Sandvikvåg, roughly NOK 340 together | 0 | 2 |
| Hours awake and travelling | approx. 4 | approx. 9 |
| Arrival in Bergen | 13:00 | Early afternoon, after five hours at the wheel |
Distances are approximate, for the shortest road route, checked in August 2026. Fares are not included because they move with the date.
Which ferry route should you choose?
- Bergen, Hardanger or the western fjords: Hirtshals to Bergen, about 17 hrs 30 min with nothing to drive at the end.
- Stavanger, Rogaland or Preikestolen: the same sailing, but off at Risavika after about 11 hrs.
- Southern Norway or the shortest crossing: Hirtshals to Kristiansand, from 2 hrs 25 min by catamaran in summer.
- Oslo, Vestfold or eastern Norway: Hirtshals to Larvik, 3 hrs 45 min with 135 km to Oslo.
Next: the timetable, the cabins and prices.
Compare the routes on your dates
Crossing times are fixed, fares are not. Putting Bergen and Kristiansand next to each other on the same date shows what each one costs.
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Questions people ask
Which is the shortest ferry from Denmark to Norway?
Hirtshals to Kristiansand by Fjord Line's catamaran, about 2 hrs 25 min in the summer season. Color Line's SuperSpeed runs it year round in 3 hrs 25 min.
Which crossing is best for the fjords?
Hirtshals to Bergen. It is the only sailing that lands you in the fjord region itself, and Jekteviksterminalen is a 15 min walk from Bryggen.
Which crossing is best for Oslo?
Hirtshals to Larvik, which leaves 135 km to Oslo. From Bergen it is around 460 km on slower roads.
Is the long crossing worth it?
It depends on where you are going. For the western fjords it removes 210 km and two fjord ferries; for southern Norway it adds hours you do not need.