Hirtshals to Bergen sailing times
When the ferry leaves, when it calls at Stavanger, when it docks in Bergen, and what time you need to be at the terminal.
Checked
The ferry from Hirtshals to Bergen leaves in the evening, calls at Stavanger at 07:00 and docks in Bergen at 13:00, a crossing of about 17 hrs 30 min. The return leaves Bergen at 14:00 and is in Hirtshals at 07:30.
Below: how the day is shaped, what happens at the Stavanger call, the check-in deadlines, and how to work back from a departure time to the hour you leave home.
Departure and arrival times
Fjord Line does not publish one fixed departure time for the whole year. What is fixed is the pattern.
| Direction | Departure | Stavanger | Arrival | Scheduled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hirtshals to Bergen | 19:15 to 20:00 | 07:00 | 13:00 | approx. 17 hrs 30 min |
| Bergen to Hirtshals | 14:00 | approx. 20:00 | 07:30 | approx. 17 hrs 30 min |
| Hirtshals to Stavanger only | 19:15 to 20:00 | 07:00 | approx. 11 hrs |
Every departure on this route is an evening one. There is no daytime crossing from Hirtshals to Bergen.
What happens at Stavanger
The call at Risavika is a working stop, not a change of ferry. It matters for three reasons:
- You stay in your cabin. Cabins are yours until Bergen, so there is nothing to pack up at 07:00.
- Breakfast is served around the call. If you slept through the last hour, that is where the morning starts.
- The vehicle decks open for the Stavanger traffic. Your car is not going anywhere, and passengers continuing to Bergen have no reason to go below.
After Risavika the crossing continues north past Haugesund and Bømlo and comes into Bergen through Korsfjorden. Those six hours are in daylight for most of the year, which is the part of this crossing that no short route offers.
How often the ferry sails
Fjord Line publishes the route as daily, year round. Booking platforms show a lower frequency in the quietest months, down to a few days a week in early spring.
We have not been able to reconcile those two, so treat the daily service as the published position and check the dates you want. Where the operator and a platform disagree, the operator’s own timetable is the one that gets you on board.
Current departures for your dates
Departure times and fares for a specific date, from our booking partner.
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Working back from a departure time
Check-in closes before the ferry sails, and the last stretch into Hirtshals is where people lose time.
Start from the departure time
Take a 19:15 sailing. That is when the ferry leaves, not the latest you can arrive at the terminal.
Subtract 60 min for check-in
Fjord Line's stated minimum for all guests, with or without a vehicle. You want to be at the terminal by 18:15.
Subtract your driving time
From Aalborg that is 45 min, from Hamburg 5 hrs 15 min, from the Ruhr around 8 hrs 30 min. See getting to Hirtshals.
Add a buffer in July and August
Queues form at check-in during four countries' school holidays. Arriving closer to the 17:15 opening is the safer choice.
Check-in times
| Moment | Before departure | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in opens | 2 hrs | The earliest you can join the marshalling lanes |
| Recommended arrival | 60 min | Fjord Line’s stated minimum, foot passengers included |
| Loading closes | approx. 30 min | After that, Fjord Line’s rebooking terms apply |
Bring a passport or national photo ID for everyone travelling. Norway sits outside the EU, so this is checked rather than assumed.
Cabin keys are issued on board and not at check-in, so a cabin is no reason to arrive earlier than the times above.
In Bergen the terminal at Nøstegaten 30 opens at 11:30 for the 14:00 sailing, and Fjord Line gives priority to same-day passengers between 12:00 and 13:30.
Reaching the terminal by public transport
The connection is arranged differently at the two ends, and only one of them is published as a connection.
| To Hirtshals | Train to Hjørring, then the Hirtshalsbanen branch, approx. 22 min, roughly hourly. Get off at Lilleheden |
| From Jekteviksterminalen | The centre is a walk of about 15 min; city buses stop on Nøstegaten |
| To Jekteviksterminalen for the return | Allow the same walk plus the 60 min check-in, so leave the centre by 12:45 |
See getting to Hirtshals and Bergen port.
No time difference between Denmark and Norway
Denmark and Norway are in the same time zone, so none of the times above need converting. A 19:15 departure and a 13:00 arrival are both local.
Delays and cancellations
Weather. The North Sea leg is longer and more exposed than the short routes to Kristiansand and Larvik. Disruption is uncommon but happens more often between October and April.
Dry dock. The ships go into dock periodically and the route runs reduced or pauses. Fjord Line publishes those dates in advance, so check your booking if you reserved far ahead.
Where to read on
- Which berth to book. Cabins and Air Seats.
- What it costs. Ferry prices.
- Getting to the port on time. Getting to Hirtshals.
See the departures on your dates
Frequency varies with the season, so check which sailings exist on the dates you have in mind.
You book through our partner. We may receive a commission for this, at no extra cost to you.
Questions people ask
What time does the ferry leave Hirtshals for Bergen?
In the evening, published around 19:15. The exact time shifts with the season, so check your date rather than assuming a fixed departure all year.
What time does it arrive in Bergen?
At 13:00 the day after departure, having called at Stavanger at 07:00. That is roughly 17 hrs 30 min from leaving Hirtshals.
When does the return sail from Bergen?
At 14:00, arriving in Hirtshals at 07:30 the next morning. The terminal in Bergen opens for check-in at 11:30.
How early do I need to be at the terminal?
Fjord Line asks for 60 min before departure, in Hirtshals and in Bergen. In July and August allow 90 min, because queues form at check-in.
Does the ferry sail every day?
Fjord Line publishes it as a year-round daily service. Booking platforms show fewer departures in late winter, so check the dates you have in mind.