Hirtshals to Stavanger ferry timetable
When the ferry sails, how the frequency changes through the year, and when you need to leave home.
Checked
The ferry from Hirtshals to Stavanger sails in the evening and arrives at 07:00 the next morning, a crossing of about 11 hrs. The return sailing leaves Risavika around 20:30 and reaches Hirtshals at 08:00.
Below: how the frequency changes through the year, the check-in deadlines, and how to work back from a departure time to the time you need to leave home.
Departure and arrival times
Fjord Line does not publish one fixed departure time for the whole year. What stays stable is the pattern.
| Leg | Departure | Arrival | Timetabled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hirtshals to Stavanger | 19:15 to 20:00 | 07:00 | approx. 11 hrs |
| Stavanger to Hirtshals | approx. 20:30 | 08:00 | 11 hrs 30 min |
| Stavanger onward to Bergen | approx. 08:00 | 13:00 | continues the same sailing |
Every departure on this route is an evening one. There is no daytime crossing to Stavanger from Hirtshals.
How often the ferry sails
Fjord Line publishes the route as daily, year round. Booking platforms list a lower frequency in the quietest months, with as few as two days a week in early spring and around five in August.
We have not been able to reconcile those two, so treat the daily service as the published position and check the specific dates you want. Where the operator and a platform disagree, the operator’s own timetable is the one that gets you on board.
Live departures for your dates
Departure times and fares for a specific date, from our booking partner.
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Working back from a departure time
Check-in closes before the ferry sails, and the last stretch into Hirtshals is where people lose time.
Start from the departure time
Take a 20:00 sailing. That is when the ferry leaves, not the latest you can arrive at the terminal.
Subtract 60 min for check-in
Fjord Line's stated minimum for all guests, with or without a vehicle. You want to be at the terminal by 19:00.
Subtract your driving time
From Hamburg that is about 5 hrs 15 min, from Aalborg 45 min, from Aarhus 1 hr 45 min. See getting to Hirtshals.
Add slack in July and August
Queues build at check-in in the school holidays of four countries. Arriving closer to the 18:00 opening is advisable.
Check-in times
| Moment | Before departure | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in opens | 2 hrs | The earliest you can join the lanes |
| Recommended arrival | 60 min | Fjord Line’s stated minimum, foot passengers included |
| Boarding closes | approx. 30 min | Fjord Line’s own wording is to board at least 30 min before |
| Ticket desk | Limited hours | Built around the sailing, roughly late morning and late afternoon |
Bring a passport or national photo ID for everyone travelling. Norway is outside the EU, so this is checked rather than assumed.
Cabin keys are handed out on board, not at check-in, so a berth is no reason to arrive earlier than the times above.
Reaching the terminal by public transport
The connection at each end is timed differently, and only one of them is published as a connection.
| To Hirtshals | Train to Hjørring, then the Hirtshalsbanen branch, approx. 22 min, roughly hourly. Get off at Lilleheden |
| From Risavika | Kolumbus bus 2 to Jernbaneveien C, approx. 40 min, every 15 min on weekdays |
| To Risavika for the return | Fjord Line names the 17:17 from Jernbaneveien, and 17:02 at weekends |
Neither operator guarantees the connection, so treat the ferry check-in deadline as the fixed point and work back from it. See getting to Hirtshals and Stavanger port.
No time difference between Denmark and Norway
Denmark and Norway are in the same time zone, so the times above need no conversion. A 20:00 departure and an 07:00 arrival are both local.
Delays and cancellations
Weather. The North Sea crossing is longer and more exposed than the short routes to Kristiansand and Larvik. Disruption is uncommon but occurs more often between October and April.
Scheduled maintenance. The ferries go into dock periodically and the route then runs reduced or pauses. Fjord Line publishes these dates in advance, so check your booking if you reserved a long way ahead.
Where to read on
- Which berth to book. Cabins and Airseats.
- What it costs. Ferry prices.
- Reaching the port in time. Getting to Hirtshals.
Check the sailings on your dates
Frequency varies by season, so confirm the departures available on the dates you have in mind.
You book through our partner. We may receive a commission for this, at no extra cost to you.
Questions people ask
What time does the ferry leave Hirtshals?
In the evening. Fjord Line has published departures at 19:15 and at 20:00 depending on the season, arriving at Risavika at 07:00 the next morning.
What time does the return sailing leave Stavanger?
Around 20:30 from Risavika, arriving in Hirtshals at 08:00. The return leg is timetabled at 11 hrs 30 min, slightly longer than the outbound.
How late can I check in?
Check-in opens about 2 hrs before departure and Fjord Line asks all guests to arrive at least 60 min before. Boarding usually closes around 30 min before departure.
Does the ferry run every day of the year?
Fjord Line publishes it as a daily year-round service. Booking platforms show fewer departures in late winter, so check your own dates rather than assuming one sailing a day.
Do I need a passport?
Bring a passport or national photo ID. This is a crossing between Denmark and Norway, and Norway is outside the EU, so identification is checked.