Ferries from Denmark to Norway compared
Six services to four ports, with the crossing time and the drive on arrival side by side.
Checked
Six ferry services sail from Hirtshals to four Norwegian ports, ranging from 2 hrs 25 min to about 17 hrs 30 min at sea. The shortest is the Fjord Line catamaran to Kristiansand; the longest is the through sailing to Bergen.
Which crossing suits you depends on the time at sea and on how far you have to drive after landing. This page compares both.
Every crossing from Hirtshals, on a map
Five sea crossings from Denmark to Norway, plus the drive on from Risavika. Click a route for the details.
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Routes on this map
- 1Hirtshals → Larvik3:45More information: hirtshals-larvik.info
- 2Hirtshals → Kristiansand2:25More information: hirtshals-kristiansand.com
- 3Hirtshals → Stavanger11:00
- 4Hirtshals → Bergen17:00More information: hirtshals-bergen.com
- 5Frederikshavn → Oslo8:30
- Departure port
- Arrival port
- Onward city
- This route
- Ferry crossing
- By road
Every crossing from Hirtshals to Norway
| Route | Operator | At sea | Runs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hirtshals to Stavanger | Fjord Line | approx. 11 hrs | Overnight, year round | Rogaland, the southwest fjords |
| Hirtshals to Bergen | Fjord Line | approx. 17 hrs 30 min, via Stavanger | Continues the same sailing | The western fjords, without the drive |
| 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 Larvik | Color Line | 3 hrs 45 min | Year round, 1 to 3 daily | Oslo, Vestfold, eastern Norway |
Checked against operator timetables in August 2026.
Time at sea plus time on the road
The figure that matters is the total from Hirtshals to your destination, not the crossing alone.
| If you are heading for | Land at | Then drive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stavanger, Rogaland | Stavanger, Risavika | 12 km | Nothing else lands you in the region |
| Preikestolen, the Lysefjord | Stavanger, Risavika | approx. 45 km | Reachable the morning you arrive |
| Bergen, the western fjords | Bergen | None | The same sailing continues |
| Southern Norway, the coast | Kristiansand | Minutes | Shortest crossing, and you are there |
| Oslo, eastern Norway | Larvik | approx. 135 km | From Risavika it is around 550 km |
| Trondheim, the far north | Any | Several hundred km | The drive dominates whichever port you use |
Driving distance from each arrival port
The crossing time tells you when you land. This tells you how far you still are from where you are going. Distances are approximate, for the shortest road route, checked in August 2026.
| From the port | Stavanger | Bergen | Oslo | Kristiansand | Trondheim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risavika (Stavanger) | 12 km | approx. 210 km | approx. 550 km | approx. 240 km | approx. 830 km |
| Bergen | approx. 210 km | In the city | approx. 460 km | approx. 450 km | approx. 660 km |
| Kristiansand | approx. 240 km | approx. 450 km | approx. 320 km | In the city | approx. 800 km |
| Larvik | approx. 430 km | approx. 460 km | 135 km | approx. 230 km | approx. 620 km |
Read the row for the port, not the column for the city. A crossing that is three hours shorter and lands you 200 km further away is not shorter.
Two rows are worth pausing on. Risavika to Oslo is around 550 km, which is why this site says plainly that Larvik is the crossing for eastern Norway. And Larvik to Bergen is around 460 km on roads that average well below motorway speed, which is why the through sailing to Bergen exists.
What separates the ports after docking
The crossing does not end at the quay. What comes next differs more between ports than the time at sea does.
| Port | Where it sits | Without your own car | First driving leg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risavika, Stavanger | 12 km south-west of the city, at Tananger | Kolumbus bus 2, approx. 40 min, every 15 min on weekdays | The Ryfylke tunnel towards Preikestolen, approx. 45 km |
| Bergen | On the edge of the city, same through sailing | City buses and the Bybanen light rail | None, you have arrived |
| Kristiansand | In the city centre, a few minutes on foot | Station and bus station within walking distance | E39 west or E18 east |
| Larvik | In the city centre | Train to Oslo, around 1 hr 45 min | E18 towards Oslo, approx. 135 km |
For Rogaland that is the whole difference: Risavika leaves 12 km, Kristiansand around 240 km on the E39, and that road is winding and limited to 80 km/h in places, so it drives slower than the distance suggests.
When the long crossing wins
Works well if
- Rogaland, Haugesund or the southwest fjords are the destination
- You would otherwise pay for a hotel night anyway
- You want to start the first Norwegian day rested rather than after four hours at the wheel
- You are travelling with a motorhome and would rather not add driving days
- Bergen is the destination and the through sailing lands you there
Look elsewhere if
- Oslo or eastern Norway is the destination, where Larvik is 135 km away
- You want the shortest possible time at sea
- You are travelling on a tight budget without needing a hotel night
- You would rather cross in daylight than sleep on board
Stavanger or Kristiansand, hours and nights side by side
Stavanger by sea, or Kristiansand and drive
Both start at Hirtshals. What differs is how the hours are spent and how many nights you pay for.
| Hirtshals to Stavanger | Hirtshals to Kristiansand, then drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Time at sea | approx. 11 hrs | 2 hrs 25 min to 3 hrs 55 min |
| Driving after landingTo central Stavanger in both cases | 12 km | approx. 240 km |
| Hours awake and travelling | approx. 3 | approx. 8 |
| Nights paid forUnless you drive into the evening | 1, on board | 1, in a hotel |
| Arrival time in Stavanger | 07:00 | Late afternoon |
Distances are approximate, for the shortest road route, checked in August 2026. Fares are not included because they move with the date.
Which ferry route should you choose?
- Stavanger, Rogaland or the southwest fjords: Hirtshals to Stavanger, about 11 hrs overnight with 12 km to the city.
- Bergen and the western fjords: the through sailing to Bergen, arriving around 13:00.
- Southern Norway, or the shortest crossing: Hirtshals to Kristiansand, from 2 hrs 25 min by catamaran in summer.
- Oslo, Vestfold or eastern Norway: Hirtshals to Larvik, 3 hrs 45 min with 135 km to Oslo.
Next: the timetable, cabins and ferry prices.
Compare the routes on your dates
Crossing times are fixed but fares are not. Comparing Stavanger and Kristiansand on the same date shows what each costs.
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Questions people ask
Which is the fastest ferry from Hirtshals to Norway?
The Fjord Line catamaran Fjord FSTR to Kristiansand, at about 2 hrs 25 min. It sails seasonally. The fastest year-round option is Color Line's SuperSpeed 1, also to Kristiansand.
Which ferry is best for the western fjords?
Hirtshals to Stavanger or Bergen with Fjord Line. Both are overnight crossings and both land you in the region rather than leaving a long drive west.
Which ferry is best for Oslo?
Hirtshals to Larvik with Color Line, which lands 135 km from Oslo. Stena Line also sails Frederikshavn to Oslo overnight, arriving in the city itself.
Is the long crossing worth it?
It depends on the destination. For Rogaland and the fjords it removes a driving day and a hotel night. For Oslo it adds around 550 km of driving.
Can I compare fares across operators?
Yes, through a booking comparison site. Each route has a single operator, so the comparison is between routes rather than between companies on the same route.