Ferries from Denmark to Norway compared
Six ferry services to four Norwegian ports, with crossing times, frequency and the driving distance from each port on arrival.
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Six ferry services sail from Hirtshals to four Norwegian ports, ranging from 2 hrs 25 min to about 17 hrs at sea. The fastest is the Fjord Line catamaran to Kristiansand; the longest is Fjord Line’s overnight crossing to Bergen. Hirtshals to Larvik sits in between at 3 hrs 45 min and is the only one that lands you within 135 km of Oslo.
Which crossing suits you depends on the time at sea and on how far you have to drive after landing. This page compares both for all six services.
Every crossing from Hirtshals, on a map
Five sea crossings from Denmark to Norway, plus the drive on from Larvik. Click a route for the details.
The interactive map needs JavaScript. Every route is also listed in the table below.
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 → Bergen17:00More information: hirtshals-bergen.com
- 5Frederikshavn → Oslo8:30
- Departure port
- Arrival port
- Onward city
- Ferry crossing
- By road
Every current crossing from Hirtshals to Norway
| Route | Operator | At sea | Runs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hirtshals to Larvik | Color Line | 3 hrs 45 min | Year round, 1 to 3 daily | Oslo, Vestfold, eastern Norway |
| 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 | Same port, more ship, slower |
| Hirtshals to Stavanger | Fjord Line | approx. 11 hrs | 7 weekly | South west coast, overnight |
| Hirtshals to Bergen | Fjord Line | approx. 17 hrs, via Stavanger | Continues from Stavanger | The western fjords, without the drive |
Checked against operator timetables in August 2026.
Time at sea plus time on the road
The figure that matters is the total time from Hirtshals to your destination, not the crossing alone. Adding the drive on the Norwegian side changes the order considerably.
| If you are heading for | Land at | Then drive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oslo | Larvik | approx. 135 km, 1 hr 40 min | Nothing else gets you this close to Oslo from Hirtshals |
| Vestfold, Telemark | Larvik | Under 1 hr | Larvik is inside the region |
| Kristiansand, the south coast | Kristiansand | Minutes | Shortest crossing, and you are there |
| Bergen, the western fjords | Bergen or Stavanger | Little to none | Longer at sea, but no long drive west on arrival |
| Stavanger | Stavanger | None | Slower crossing, but it ends at the destination |
| Trondheim, the far north | Larvik or Oslo | Several hundred km either way | The drive dominates the journey whichever port you use |
Driving distances are approximate, for the shortest road route.
When Larvik is the better choice
Works well if
- Oslo is your destination, or anywhere in Vestfold and eastern Norway
- You want to be driving on Norwegian roads the same afternoon
- You are travelling with a car full of people, where a per-person fare on a short crossing works out well
- You want two or three sailings a day to absorb a late start
- You would rather cross in daylight than sleep on a ship
Look elsewhere if
- You are heading for Bergen, Stavanger or the western fjords
- You want the shortest possible time at sea, where Kristiansand wins
- You want to sleep through the crossing, since SuperSpeed 2 has no cabins
- You are starting from Sweden, where Gothenburg routes make more sense
- You want a cabin because of long drives on both sides of the crossing
The Frederikshavn alternative
Stena Line sails Frederikshavn to Oslo once a day in about 8 hrs 30 min, as an overnight crossing with cabins. It does not appear on Hirtshals comparison pages because it departs from Frederikshavn, but it is worth considering for Oslo.
The two crossings suit different trips. Hirtshals to Larvik is short and leaves 135 km of driving to Oslo. Frederikshavn to Oslo runs overnight and arrives in central Oslo, with no onward drive. Frederikshavn is also about 60 km closer than Hirtshals when approaching on the E45.
Which ferry route should you choose?
- Oslo, Vestfold or eastern Norway: Hirtshals to Larvik, at 3 hrs 45 min with 135 km to Oslo.
- Southern Norway, or the shortest crossing: Hirtshals to Kristiansand, from 2 hrs 25 min by catamaran in summer or 3 hrs 25 min year round.
- Bergen, Stavanger or the western fjords: the Fjord Line crossings to Stavanger or Bergen. They take longer at sea but avoid a long drive west.
Next: the timetable, ferry prices and getting to Hirtshals.
Compare the routes on your own dates
Crossing times are fixed but fares are not. Comparing Larvik and Kristiansand on the same date shows what each costs.
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Questions people ask
What is the fastest ferry from Denmark to Norway?
The Fjord Line catamaran Fjord FSTR, from Hirtshals to Kristiansand in about 2 hrs 25 min. It runs seasonally rather than year round. The fastest year-round option is Color Line's SuperSpeed 1 to Kristiansand at roughly 3 hrs 25 min.
Is Larvik or Kristiansand better for Oslo?
Larvik, clearly. Larvik is about 135 km from Oslo, Kristiansand is roughly 320 km. The Kristiansand crossing is shorter at sea but you pay it back with interest on the E18.
Does Fjord Line still sail to Langesund?
No. Fjord Line moved that port of call to Kristiansand in May and June 2026, when MS Stavangerfjord and MS Bergensfjord returned from refurbishment. Many guides still list Langesund as an option. It is not one.
What is the best ferry for the western fjords?
Hirtshals to Stavanger or Bergen with Fjord Line, at roughly 11 and 17 hrs. They are long crossings, but they are overnight and they land you where you are going. Taking Larvik and driving west adds a full day.
Is there a direct ferry to Oslo?
From Frederikshavn, not Hirtshals. Stena Line sails Frederikshavn to Oslo once a day in about 8 hrs 30 min, as an overnight crossing. It suits people who want to sleep through the journey rather than drive after it.