Frequently Asked Questions

There are two main ways to reach Norway by ferry: the direct overnight crossing from Germany, and the shorter routes from Denmark. From Germany, the overnight ferry Kiel - Oslo runs with Color Line. From Denmark, most routes are bundled through the port of Hirtshals: Hirtshals - Kristiansand (Color Line and Fjord Line), Hirtshals - Larvik (Color Line) and Hirtshals - Bergen, calling at Stavanger (Fjord Line).

There is also the overnight ferry Copenhagen - Oslo with Go Nordic Cruiseline, plus the Strömstad - Sandefjord route from Sweden. You'll find a full overview with a map on the homepage.

Three main operators run the Norway routes:

• Color Line, Norway's largest ferry operator, on Kiel - Oslo, Hirtshals - Kristiansand and Hirtshals - Larvik
• Fjord Line, from Hirtshals to Kristiansand, Stavanger and Bergen
• Go Nordic Cruiseline, on the overnight Copenhagen - Oslo crossing

If you're routing via Sweden, Stena Line's Kiel - Gothenburg crossing is another option, with Oslo about a three-hour drive from Gothenburg.

The quickest crossing is via Denmark: Fjord Line's catamaran covers Hirtshals - Kristiansand in around 2 hours 15 minutes. The daytime Hirtshals - Larvik crossing on Color Line's SuperSpeed 2 is also short, at 3 hours 45 minutes.

The direct Kiel - Oslo ferry takes around 20 hours, but saves you the long drive through Denmark. Which route works best depends on whether you'd rather spend the time on board or on the road.

Crossing times range from just over two hours to almost a full day:

• Hirtshals - Kristiansand: from around 2 hours 15 minutes with the Fjord Line catamaran
• Hirtshals - Larvik: 3 hours 45 minutes with Color Line
• Hirtshals - Bergen: around 16 to 18 hours overnight with Fjord Line
• Copenhagen - Oslo: 17 to 19 hours overnight with Go Nordic Cruiseline
• Kiel - Oslo: around 20 hours with Color Line

Yes. Kiel - Oslo is the only direct ferry route from Germany to Norway. Color Line departs daily at 14:00 from the Norwegian quay in Kiel and arrives in Oslo the next morning at around 10:00. The crossing runs overnight, so a cabin is always included in the booking.

Every other route starts in Denmark or Sweden. If you're coming from northern Germany, the detour via Hirtshals is often still worthwhile, since crossings there tend to be shorter and cheaper.

Current departure times for all routes are listed in the timetable and on each route page. Color Line runs Kiel - Oslo daily year-round, and Go Nordic runs Copenhagen - Oslo daily as well. Frequency from Hirtshals depends on the route and season.

Some winter departures are reduced, while extra sailings are added in peak season. The booking on each route page shows the confirmed timetable for your travel date.

After booking and paying online, you'll usually get a booking confirmation by email within a few minutes. This also serves as your e-ticket, which you show at check-in either printed out or on your smartphone.

If nothing arrives after booking, check your spam folder and contact the operator's customer service. Make sure the barcode is clearly visible on your screen.

This depends on the route and operator. On Kiel - Oslo, check-in opens at 9:00 and closes at 13:30; if you're travelling with a vehicle you should arrive at least 2 hours before departure, or 1 hour before if you're on foot. On the daytime Hirtshals - Larvik crossing, check-in opens 60 minutes before departure and closes 15 minutes before.

Build in extra time during peak season. Arriving after check-in closes risks losing your booking, so double-check the exact times on your booking confirmation.

You need a valid passport or national ID card, and children also need their own identity document. Norway is part of the Schengen area, but ferries from Denmark still carry out border checks. Color Line recommends bringing a passport, as some authorities in Norway accept only that.

For your vehicle, bring the registration document. If you're travelling with a pet, you'll need further paperwork, covered in our guide Travelling to Norway with a dog. Without valid documents, carriage can be refused.

This depends on the fare you booked, not the route. Cheaper saver fares are usually non-changeable or only changeable with restrictions, while flexible fares can be amended right up until shortly before departure. The earlier you change or cancel, the lower any fees will be.

If you're booking a return trip, it's worth booking both legs together: on Kiel - Oslo, Color Line gives at least a 10 percent discount on the vehicle fare for doing so. Check your booking documents for the exact terms.

Yes, all Norway routes are served by car ferries. Cars, motorhomes, caravans, motorbikes and bicycles can all travel with you. The vehicle fare is based on length, and for campervans also on height. Measure your vehicle precisely before booking, including bike racks and tow bars, since even a few extra centimetres can push you into the next price bracket.

For more detail, see our guide Travelling to Norway by motorhome. Vehicle capacity varies by ship: the Color Line ferries to Oslo can carry up to 750 vehicles.

Yes, you can travel on every route without a vehicle. Foot passengers check in at the passenger terminal, often at different times from vehicles. On the overnight Kiel - Oslo ferry, a cabin is included in the booking either way.

It's worth checking onward transport at your destination in advance: in Oslo, the Color Line terminal is at Hjortnes, a short walk from Aker Brygge, with a shuttle bus and tram line 13 connecting it to the city centre.

There's no fixed baggage allowance like on a flight. If you're travelling with a vehicle, you can bring whatever fits in the car, and your luggage stays in the locked vehicle on the car deck during the crossing. As a foot passenger, you carry what you can manage yourself.

Important: car decks are closed off during the crossing. Take anything you'll need on board out of the car beforehand - medication, valuables, travel documents, and for overnight crossings, toiletries and a change of clothes.

This varies a lot by route. The Color Line ships Color Fantasy and Color Magic on Kiel - Oslo operate at cruise-ship standard, with twelve restaurants and bars, a shopping promenade, swimming pool, spa, casino and live shows. The Go Nordic ships on Copenhagen - Oslo also offer restaurants, tax-free shopping and evening entertainment.

The daytime Hirtshals - Larvik ferry, by contrast, has no cabins, just various seating categories from standard to business class. Check the relevant route page for what's on offer on your ship.

On the overnight routes, yes: Kiel - Oslo, Copenhagen - Oslo and Hirtshals - Bergen all sail overnight, so a cabin is included in the booking. Cabin numbers are limited and sell out early in peak season.

On the short daytime crossings Hirtshals - Kristiansand and Hirtshals - Larvik, you don't need a cabin - just reserve a seat if you'd like one.

Yes. A mini cruise means booking the outbound and return crossing as one package, sleeping on board, with time ashore at the destination in between. Color Line offers a mini cruise on Kiel - Oslo with around four hours in Oslo, and Go Nordic Cruiseline offers one from Copenhagen - Oslo with about six and a half hours ashore. Fjord Line sails from Hirtshals to Stavanger and Bergen.

You'll find every option, with schedules and ships, in our guide Mini cruise to Norway.

Price depends on route, season, how far ahead you book, vehicle length and number of passengers. As a rule of thumb: the short crossings from Hirtshals are the cheapest, while the overnight direct ferries with a cabin cost more. Daytime crossings without a cabin are almost always the most budget-friendly option.

Booking early, booking both legs of a return trip together, and travelling in the off-season all bring the price down noticeably. The booking on each route page shows the confirmed price for your date and vehicle.

Yes, dogs and other pets are allowed on the Norway ferries. On short crossings like Hirtshals - Larvik, your pet stays in the car on the vehicle deck or in the onboard kennels during the crossing. On overnight ferries, dedicated pet cabins are available - book these in advance, as numbers are limited.

Always register your pet in advance and bring all required documents. For full details, see our guide Travelling to Norway with a dog.

Norway is not an EU member and applies stricter rules than most neighbouring countries. To enter from the EU, you'll need:

• an ISO-compliant microchip, implanted before the first rabies vaccination
• a valid rabies vaccination, given at least 21 days before entry
• an EU pet passport issued by an authorised vet
• a tapeworm treatment with praziquantel, given 24 to 120 hours before entry, with the date and time recorded in the passport

On arrival, you must proactively present the dog or cat to customs, always via the red channel. Full details are in our guide Travelling to Norway with a dog.