How to get to Hirtshals ferry port
Distances and driving times to the port, the nearest airport, the rail connection, and where to stop for the night on a long drive.
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Hirtshals is at the northern tip of Jutland. The E45 runs the length of the peninsula as far as Aalborg, where the E39 continues north to Hirtshals. It is 518 km from Hamburg (about 5 hrs 15 min), 380 km from the German border at Flensburg, and 60 km from Aalborg Airport (about 45 min). Danish motorways are toll free.
By air, Aalborg is the nearest airport with a 45 min drive to the port. By rail, take a train to Hjørring and change to the local Hirtshalsbanen line, which terminates near the harbour.
For most travellers the drive to Hirtshals takes longer than the crossing itself, so it is worth planning first.
The shape of the journey
By roadBy sea
Aalborg Airport
Direct flights from several European hubs
Hire car or bus northHirtshals
Ferry port, North Jutland
Color Line SuperSpeed 2Larvik
Vestfold, southern Norway
E18 along the coastOslo
Or turn west for the fjords
Flying in, then driving
Aalborg Airport is the nearest, 60 km and about 45 min from the port by road, with connections to several European hubs. Hire cars are available at the airport.
Copenhagen has more connections but is about 400 km from Hirtshals, roughly 4 hrs 30 min by road or a long rail journey on top of the flight.
Driving up through Jutland
The E45 runs the length of Jutland to Aalborg, where the E39 takes over for the final 60 km to Hirtshals. Dual carriageway throughout, moderate traffic outside the summer peak, and no tolls on the Danish motorway network.
| From | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Flensburg, at the German border | approx. 380 km | approx. 3 hrs 30 min |
| Hamburg | approx. 518 km | approx. 5 hrs 15 min |
| Amsterdam | approx. 967 km | approx. 9 hrs |
| Aarhus | approx. 185 km | approx. 1 hr 45 min |
| Aalborg | approx. 58 km | approx. 45 min |
Approximate figures for the shortest road route, checked August 2026.
The one toll on this journey is the Storebælt bridge, which applies only when approaching from Zealand and Copenhagen rather than through Jutland. Current rates are published by Sund & Bælt. The E45 route through Jutland avoids it.
By train
Take a train up the main Jutland line to Hjørring, then change onto the local Hirtshalsbanen service, which runs the last stretch and terminates near the port. It works, and it is slower than the map suggests.
This is a reasonable way to reach a foot passenger crossing and a poor way to reach a port built around vehicles. If you are travelling without a car, also look at what happens at the other end, because Larvik is considerably better connected to Norwegian rail than Hirtshals is to Danish.
Where to break the drive
On journeys over about 6 hrs, an overnight stop splits the drive. Two options:
- Aalborg, 58 km from the port. A city with a wide choice of hotels and restaurants, and a 45 min drive north in the morning.
- Hirtshals itself, if you want zero morning driving and are catching an early sailing. Small, limited rooms, books up in summer.
Breaking the journey near the port
Aalborg is the practical stop for anyone driving up from Germany or further south, with the port less than an hour away in the morning.
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Timing your arrival
Work backwards from the check-in deadline, not forwards from your departure. Check-in closes 15 min before departure, Color Line asks you to arrive 60 min before, and check-in opens 2 hrs before. In practice:
- Aim to be at the terminal at least 60 min before departure.
- In July and August, allow 90 min, since queues build at check-in.
- Allow extra time for the last 60 km on the E39. Traffic into Hirtshals can build in the summer peak.
The detail of what happens once you arrive is on the Hirtshals port page, and if you are still deciding whether Hirtshals is even the right port for your trip, that is the route comparison.
Match the sailing to your realistic arrival
Once you know your arrival time in Hirtshals, compare the departures available on your date rather than booking the earliest one.
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Questions people ask
How far is Hirtshals from the German border?
About 380 km from Flensburg, or roughly 3 hrs 30 min: the E45 north to Aalborg, then the E39 to Hirtshals. From Hamburg it is around 518 km and 5 hrs 15 min. Danish motorways are toll free.
What is the nearest airport to Hirtshals?
Aalborg, about 60 km south and 45 min by road. It has connections to several European hubs. Copenhagen is the bigger airport but it is a further 400 km away, which is a serious drive or a long train journey on top.
Can I get to Hirtshals by train?
Yes, with a change. Take a train to Hjørring on the main Jutland line, then the local Hirtshalsbanen line to Hirtshals, which terminates near the port. It works, but it is a slow way to reach a port designed around cars.
Is there a toll on the way to Hirtshals?
Not on the Danish motorway network, which is toll free. Approaching from Zealand instead of through Jutland means paying the Storebælt bridge toll, so drivers from the south usually take the E45 through Jutland.
Should I drive up the day before?
If you are coming from Germany or further, yes. An overnight stop in Aalborg turns a brutal day into a reasonable one, and it removes the risk of missing a check-in that closes 15 min before departure.