Arriving at Risavika, the ferry terminal for Stavanger
Where the ferry lands, how to reach the city with or without a car, and the road tolls that start at the terminal gate.
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The ferry from Hirtshals does not dock in Stavanger. It docks at Risavika in Tananger, about 12 km southwest of the city, roughly 20 min by car on the E39.
That is the single most useful thing to know before you arrive, and the detail most comparison pages leave out.
The terminal
Risavika havn, Utenriksterminalen, Kontinentalveien 31, 4056 Tananger. The terminal sits on the Risavika industrial harbour, west of the E39 and close to Sola airport.
| Distance to Stavanger centre | 12 km, approx. 20 min by car |
| Distance to Sola airport | 8 km, approx. 12 min |
| Public transport | Kolumbus bus 2, stop outside the terminal |
| Road access | E39 towards Sandnes, then the 509 signposted Tananger and Sola |
| Onward toll points | The first is within minutes of the terminal road |
Risavika is a working harbour with several quays. The international terminal is signposted separately from the commercial ones, so follow the Fjord Line signs rather than the harbour name.
Driving off and leaving the port
Stay in the cabin until your deck is called
Vehicles are unloaded deck by deck, so going down to the car early gains nothing.
Twenty to thirty minutes from docking to the gate
On a full summer sailing. Considerably less on a quiet crossing.
The E39 is signposted from the terminal road
North for Stavanger and the city, south for Sandnes and the E39 towards Kristiansand.
Tolls start immediately and without barriers
Cameras read the number plate and the charge follows by post. See the section below.
Into Stavanger without a car
Kolumbus bus route 2 stops at Risavika Utenriksterminalen, directly outside the Fjord Line terminal, and runs to Jernbaneveien C in Stavanger city centre. That makes this one of the few Norway crossings that works without a car.
| Route | Kolumbus 2, Risavika Utenriksterminalen to Jernbaneveien C |
| Journey time | approx. 40 min |
| Frequency | Every 15 min on weekdays; hourly on weekend mornings and twice an hour later in the day |
| Fare | Kolumbus single ticket, NOK 49 for one zone and NOK 87 for two, valid 60 min plus 30 min per extra zone |
| Tickets | Kolumbus app, ticket machine or on board. Fjord Line does not sell them |
Going the other way, Fjord Line names the 17:17 departure from Jernbaneveien as the one that connects to the evening sailing to Hirtshals, and 17:02 at weekends. Check it against your own sailing time before relying on it.
There is no separate Fjord Line shuttle. The bus is the connection.
Norwegian road tolls
Norway charges road tolls automatically by number plate, with no barriers to stop at. You will pass toll points within minutes of leaving the terminal.
There are three ways to handle it, and they differ substantially in cost:
| Option | How it works | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Do nothing | An invoice follows by post to the registered keeper | A number-plate lookup fee is added per charge, and the default rate is applied |
| Register with Epass24 | Link the plate and a payment card in advance, free to do | No lookup fee, and the correct rate for your vehicle’s emissions class |
| AutoPASS visitor chip | Ordered ahead and fitted to the windscreen | Around 20 percent off each passage for ordinary cars, on top of the Epass24 benefits |
Two rules apply whichever route you take. The hourly rule means you are charged once per toll ring in any 60 minute window, however many points you pass. The monthly cap limits what a single vehicle pays in one toll ring per calendar month.
Rates, discount levels and the exact terms are set by the Norwegian authorities and change. Check the current position before travelling. Onward from Stavanger covers the driving and the fuel.
Somewhere to stay near the terminal
An 07:00 arrival is early, and a 20:30 departure on the return leg means an evening near the port. Both are easier with a bed nearby.
Places to stay near Risavika
Accommodation around the terminal in Tananger, useful for an early departure or a late arrival.
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The first hour after landing
You dock at 07:00, which is early enough that most things are shut. What is open, and what to do with it:
- Fuel. Fill up before you board in Hirtshals rather than here; the price difference between Denmark and Norway is the reason. See onward from Stavanger.
- Breakfast. Served on board before arrival, which is worth taking rather than looking for something in Tananger at seven in the morning.
- Preikestolen. The car park is about 45 km away, roughly an hour including the Ryfylke tunnel. Arriving on this sailing puts you at the trailhead ahead of the day visitors from Stavanger.
- Bergen. If that is the destination, staying on board is usually faster than driving. The same sailing reaches Bergen at around 13:00.
Stavanger itself
The city is 12 km away, about 20 min by car or 40 min on bus 2. Three things sit within walking distance of the bus stop at Jernbaneveien:
- Gamle Stavanger, around 170 preserved white wooden houses on the west side of the harbour, most of them early nineteenth century. Free to walk through, roughly 30 min.
- The harbour front, still in commercial use rather than turned into a promenade, with the fish market at the head of the basin.
- The Norwegian Petroleum Museum, on the harbour, which explains what the region became after 1969. Allow 1 hr to 2 hrs.
If you are heading back to the terminal for an evening sailing, bus 2 leaves Jernbaneveien C every 15 min on weekdays, and Fjord Line names the 17:17 departure as the one timed to the crossing.
Places to stay in Stavanger
Accommodation in the city itself, if you are stopping before driving on.
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Where to read on
- The drive on. Onward from Stavanger covers Rogaland, the fjords and the fuel.
- The other end. Hirtshals port covers check-in and the evening before.
Book the return from Risavika
The return sailing leaves Risavika in the evening and reaches Hirtshals at 08:00. Check the dates that suit your trip.
You book through our partner. We may receive a commission for this, at no extra cost to you.
Questions people ask
Does the ferry arrive in Stavanger city centre?
No. It docks at Risavika in Tananger, about 12 km southwest of Stavanger. By car it is roughly 20 min on the E39, and bus route 2 stops outside the terminal.
What is the address of the Risavika terminal?
Risavika havn, Utenriksterminalen, Kontinentalveien 31, 4056 Tananger, Norway. From Stavanger follow the E39 towards Sandnes, then the 509 towards Tananger and Sola airport.
How do I get from Risavika to Stavanger without a car?
Kolumbus bus route 2 stops at Risavika Utenriksterminalen, directly outside the Fjord Line terminal, and runs into Stavanger city centre.
How long does it take to get off the ferry?
Twenty to thirty minutes from docking to the gate on a full sailing, less on a quiet one. Vehicles are unloaded deck by deck.
Is Sola airport near the terminal?
Yes. Stavanger Sola airport is close to Tananger, which makes Risavika a practical arrival point if part of your party is flying in.