Getting to Hirtshals for the Bergen ferry
Distances, driving times and the options by rail and air, all worked back from an evening sailing.
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Hirtshals sits on the northern tip of Jutland. The E45 runs the length of the peninsula to Aalborg, where the E39 takes over for the last 58 km to the port. Fjord Line sails from Nordsøterminalen, Containerkajen 4, signposted separately from the Color Line terminal in the same harbour.
An evening departure changes the arithmetic. On the short crossings to Larvik and Kristiansand you are often chasing a morning sailing; here you have the day to get there.
Distances and driving times
| From | Distance | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Aalborg | 58 km | approx. 45 min |
| Aarhus | 185 km | approx. 1 hr 45 min |
| Flensburg, German border | 380 km | approx. 3 hrs 30 min |
| Hamburg | 518 km | approx. 5 hrs 15 min |
| Amsterdam | 967 km | approx. 9 hrs |
| Berlin | 791 km | approx. 8 hrs |
| Dortmund | 850 km | approx. 8 hrs 30 min |
Distances are approximate, for the shortest road route, checked in August 2026.
By car
The route is straightforward: A7 to Flensburg, then the E45 the length of Jutland to Aalborg, then the E39 to Hirtshals. Dual carriageway throughout, moderate traffic outside the summer peak, and no tolls on the Danish motorway network.
The only toll on this trip is the Storebælt bridge, and you only meet it if you approach via Zealand and Copenhagen rather than up through Jutland. Current rates are published by Sund og Bælt.
Where to break the drive
Beyond about 6 hrs, a night splits the journey, although the evening departure makes that less necessary than a morning sailing would.
- Hamburg, roughly halfway from the Low Countries. Plenty of choice, and 518 km the next day.
- Aalborg, 58 km from the port. A city with a wide choice of hotels and restaurants, and 45 min of driving north.
- Hirtshals itself. Walking distance to the terminal, but limited rooms in summer.
See Hirtshals port for what to do with the hours before boarding.
By air
Aalborg Airport is the nearest, 58 km and about 45 min from the port, with connections to several European hubs. Hire cars are available at the terminal.
Copenhagen has more connections but sits around 480 km away, roughly 5 hrs by car or a long rail journey on top of the flight.
Without a car it is two legs from Aalborg: the shuttle or bus into the city, then the train north through Hjørring to Lilleheden. Allow a good two hours rather than the three quarters of an hour a car takes, and put the last connection of the day next to an evening sailing.
Check before travelling whether a hire agreement allows you to take the car out of Denmark; Norway sits outside the EU.
By train
Train to Hjørring on the main Jutland line, then the Hirtshalsbanen branch for the last 13 km.
| Hjørring to Hirtshals | approx. 22 min |
| Frequency | Roughly hourly, around eight direct services a day |
| Get off at | Lilleheden, the stop before Hirtshals and the closest to Nordsøterminalen |
| Fare | From around DKK 14 for the branch line leg |
| Timetables | rejseplanen.dk covers both the train and the Aalborg buses |
That works as a foot passenger, and on this route arriving without a car is more practical than on most: you walk off in central Bergen, about 15 min from Bryggen. See Bergen port.
Your journey, end to end
From the airport to the fjords
By roadBy sea
Aalborg Airport
Direct flights from several European hubs
Hire car or bus northHirtshals
Ferry port, North Jutland
Fjord Line, via StavangerJekteviksterminalen
Arrival terminal, central Bergen
On foot into the centreBergen
Or on to the western fjords
Arriving on time
Work back from the departure time rather than forward from home:
- Be at the terminal 60 min before departure, Fjord Line’s stated minimum
- In July and August allow 90 min, because queues form at check-in
- Allow extra for the last 58 km on the E39; traffic towards Hirtshals builds in the summer peak
Check the sailing on your date
Departure times shift with the season, so check the sailing before you plan the drive.
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Questions people ask
How far is Hirtshals from Hamburg?
About 518 km and roughly 5 hrs 15 min. The A7 to Flensburg, then the E45 the length of Jutland to Aalborg and the E39 for the last 58 km.
Do I pay tolls on the way?
Not in Germany for cars, and not on the Danish motorway network. The exception is the Storebælt bridge, which you only meet if you drive via Zealand.
What is the nearest airport?
Aalborg Airport, 58 km and about 45 min from the port, with connections to several European hubs. Hire cars are available at the terminal.
Can I get to Hirtshals by train?
Yes. Train to Hjørring on the main Jutland line, then the Hirtshalsbanen branch, which ends close to the port at Lilleheden.
What time should I arrive?
For a 19:15 sailing, be at the terminal by 18:15. Check-in opens at 17:15 and loading closes about 30 min before departure.