How long does the Hirtshals to Stavanger ferry take?

About 11 hrs. Fjord Line sails in the evening, usually around 20:00, and arrives in Risavika at 07:00 the next morning. The return leg is around 11 hrs 30 min.

Do I have to book a cabin?

You book somewhere to spend the night: either an Airseat, a reclining seat in a quiet lounge, or a cabin. Fares start at €106 per person for an Airseat and €183 for a cabin.

Where does the ferry arrive in Stavanger?

At Risavika in Tananger, not in Stavanger itself. It is about 12 km from the centre, roughly 20 min by car on the E39, and bus route 2 stops outside the terminal.

Which ships sail this route?

MS Stavangerfjord, built in 2013, and MS Bergensfjord from 2014. Both run on liquefied natural gas and were converted to dual-fuel engines in 2023.

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 rather than assuming one a day.

The Preikestolen plateau above the Lysefjord, with the fjord running into the distance

Ferry from Hirtshals to Stavanger

About 11 hrs across the North Sea with Fjord Line, from €106 per person. An evening departure, a night on board, and Norway at breakfast.

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Denmark to western Norway by ferry

Crossing: approx. 11 hrs; North Sea, overnight
Operator: Fjord Line; Sole operator on this route
Arrival: Risavika; 12 km from Stavanger
One way from: €106; Per person, Airseat

The crossing in short

The ferry from Hirtshals in Denmark to Stavanger in Norway takes about 11 hrs and sails overnight. Fjord Line is the only operator, using MS Stavangerfjord and MS Bergensfjord. Departure is in the evening, usually around 20:00, and arrival is at 07:00 the next morning. Fares start at €106 per person for an Airseat and €183 for a cabin.

You arrive at Risavika in Tananger, about 12 km southwest of Stavanger, not at a quay in the city.

Three things decide how this trip works out: which berth you book for the night, whether Risavika suits where you are going, and how the total compares with a short crossing plus a driving day. Each has its own page below.

Hirtshals harbour seen from the water, with the breakwater and fishing fleet in the foreground — Hirtshals from the water. Fjord Line sails from the same port as the shorter crossings.

Time at sea is the wrong measure

The comparison people make first is time at sea, and on that measure this crossing loses to everything else from Hirtshals. Kristiansand is 2 hrs 25 min by catamaran. Larvik is 3 hrs 45 min.

The comparison that decides the trip is different. A short crossing lands you in southern Norway with the driving still ahead: Kristiansand to Stavanger is roughly 240 km on the E39, and Larvik to Bergen is a full day. This crossing lands you in western Norway having slept.

That is the whole argument, and it is worth checking against your own dates rather than taking our word for it.

What the eleven hours look like

Departure and arrival times shift with the season. The shape of the night does not.

Hirtshals to Stavanger

18:00Check-in opensTwo hours before departure
19:00Latest arrival at the terminalFjord Line asks for 60 min
20:00DepartureCabin keys issued on board
21:00DinnerBuffet, à la carte or the cafeteria
AsleepThe hours you do not spend travelling
06:00BreakfastServed before arrival
07:00RisavikaOff the ramp and onto the E39

A short crossing, then the drive

Kristiansand in the afternoon, then 240 km west on the E39.

08:00Departure from Hirtshals
11:30KristiansandThen 240 km west
Four hours drivingAfter the crossing, in the afternoon
16:00StavangerPlus a hotel night, either before or after

The differenceBoth get you to Stavanger. One costs you a driving day and a hotel night; the other costs you a night you were going to sleep through anyway.

Is Risavika the right arrival port for you?

Risavika suits Stavanger, Rogaland, Haugesund and the fjords of the southwest. It is the only crossing from Hirtshals that lands you in that region without a long drive.

Six ferry services sail from Hirtshals to four Norwegian ports: Stavanger, Bergen, Kristiansand and Larvik. For Oslo and eastern Norway, Larvik is the sensible arrival port and this crossing is the wrong one: from Risavika to Oslo is around 550 km. For Bergen, the same ship carries on and arrives at 13:00, which saves you the drive north.

The route comparison sets out crossing times, frequency and the onward drive for all six.

The Rogaland coast around Risavika, with water, farmland and the town beyond — Rogaland around Risavika. The ferry docks on this coast, 12 km from Stavanger.

What the crossing costs

	One way from	What you get
Air Seat	€106 per person	A reclining seat in a quiet lounge, blanket for a fee
Inside cabin	€183	8 m², private bathroom, two to four berths
Car package	approx. €206	Two people, car and cabin, on selected dates
Vehicle	On top	Charged on length and height, separately from the per-person fare

Starting fares published by Fjord Line, checked in August 2026. What you pay depends on the date, how full the sailing is and the berth you book, not on how far ahead you book alone. In full on ferry prices.

What this crossing is not

Worth saying plainly, because the pages that sell tickets rarely do.

It is not a day crossing. Every departure is in the evening. If you want to be in Norway the same afternoon you left Denmark, take Kristiansand or Larvik.
It is not the cheapest way across. The headline fare is higher than the short routes because a berth is part of it. Whether the total is higher depends on whether you would have paid for a hotel anyway.
It is not the route for Oslo. Risavika to Oslo is around 550 km. Larvik lands you 135 km away.
You do not sleep in the motorhome. The vehicle decks are sealed at sea, so everyone books an Air Seat or a cabin.

More information

Cabins and Airseats. What each berth costs, which one suits which traveller, and what is included. See cabins.
Departure times. Evening sailings, seasonal frequency and check-in deadlines. See the ferry timetable.
Fares. Advertised prices, what affects the fare and which dates are cheapest. See ferry prices.
Vehicles. Height and length limits for cars, motorhomes, caravans and bikes. See taking a vehicle.
Arriving at Risavika. The terminal, the bus into Stavanger and the drive out. See Stavanger port.

Compare dates and berths

Fares vary by departure date and by the berth you book, so comparing several dates side by side can help you find a lower fare.

Compare tickets and dates

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