Getting around by boat

Norway is a coastal nation, and ferries and boats are among our most important modes of transportation. Enjoy strolling along the deck in the sun, grab a bite to eat in a cafe or restaurant, or hop on a cruise!

Travel to Norway by ferry

Numerous ferries connect Norway with other European countries, including daily crossings from both Denmark, Sweden and Germany. From April 2022 you can also sail directly from the Netherlands.

You can often find discounts for senior citizens, students and children. Package deals are also usually available.

In this article, you will find all the information you need about the different ferries to Norway.

Car ferries and express boats in Norway

Norway has an extensive coastline, with many fjords and islands. In Fjord Norway and Northern Norway, travellers often have to rely on ferries and express boats for transportation. Choosing a ferry can often dramatically shorten the length of your trip. 

Express boats and car ferries sail up and down the coast, in sheltered waters and across open seas, to towns, villages and islands big and small. They provide good logistics for an island hopping adventure or an itinerary of your own choosing.

Be prepared, there may be queues in the summer months. For the most popular ferries, it is recommended to arrive early. This includes the Geiranger–Hellesylt and Lauvvik–Lysebotn connections in Fjord Norway and at Bognes-Lødingen and Bodø-Moskenes in Northern Norway in particular.

The Norwegian coastal express – Hurtigruten and Havila

The long-running Hurtigruten sails from Bergen to Kirkenes, in Finnmark. The journey, Bergen–Kirkenes–Bergen, takes 11 days. This voyage offers you an exquisite way to experience the natural beauty of the coast. It is indeed “the world's most beautiful sea voyage”. What fascinates tourists most are all the tiny and not-so-tiny communities they call at along the journey.

Departures are daily and there are frequent stops along the coast. The ships can accommodate cars, making it easy to combine the cruise with a holiday on shore.

Havila Kystruten also offers cruises and port-to-port tickets. Havila has departures twice a week and some of the most environmental-friendly ships in the world.

Norwegian inland ships

In the last half of the 1800s, Norwegian inland ships made it possible to transport passengers and freight across Norway's major lakes and inland fjords.

Many of these vessels are still sailing their regular schedule and transporting goods and passengers today.

Read more about the historic Norwegian inland ships here.