A woman taking pictures on the deck of Hurtigruten in stormy weather
The fishing village Reine in Lofoten, Northern Norway between tall mountains
The Hurtigruten ship DS Finnmark opens the Risøy channel in Vesterålen, Northern Norway in 1912
A black and white photo of a woman embarking from a Hurtigruten ship in Norway
A black and white photo of a woman embarking from a Hurtigruten ship in Norway
Hurtigruten located in port Honningsvåg
The Hurtigruten museum building around the ship MS Finnmarken. Stokmarknes, Vesterålen
Two people in Multe bakery & ice cream on a Hurtigruten ship in Norway
Close-up of the face of a man in sunglasses. Hurtigruten, Norway
A person preparing a fancy dish at the Norway’s coastal kitchen at a Hurtigruten ship
A fishing boat in front of a Hurtigruten ship in Northern Norway
Havila Voyages in the Hjørundfjord
View of the Hurtigruten ship MS Nordlys from a kayak at Hjørundfjorden in Fjord Norway
Two people on the deck of a Hurtigruten ship under the norhtern lights in Northern Norway
Two people on the deck of a Hurtigruten ship under the norhtern lights in Northern Norway

The Coastal Express Route

Cruise like a local with Hurtigruten or Havila

Are you ready for a once-in-a-lifetime journey?

Hurtigruten, the Norwegian Coastal Express, has been sailing from port to port between Bergen and Kirkenes along one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines for more than 130 years!

Hurtigruten has also been joined by Havila Voyages, which sails the same route several days a week.

The journey takes six to seven days one way, while the full round trip takes 12 days, including as many as 34 ports of call.

Unlike other cruise ships sailing along the Norwegian coast, these modern vessels still carry a very unique history on board, and the unmistakable spirit of the North.

You see, most of Northern Norway didn’t actually have proper roads or a railway until after the Second World War.

So if you lived in a remote fishing village, it felt …

… very remote.

That all changed in 1893 when DS Vesteraalen, the first Hurtigruten steamship, began its journey from Trondheim to Hammerfest on 2 July, visiting 11 harbours along the way.

In 1898, the route expanded south to include Bergen.

Ten years later, Kirkenes, near the Russian border, became the northernmost homeport for the coastal voyage.

Over the years, Hurtigruten has become an integral part of Norwegian culture and has even been immortalised in the song Hurtigrute by singer/songwriter Kari Bremnes.

"I've always had that dream,
ever since I was a little girl by a great wide fjord,
of getting to sail on Hurtigruten,
to the place where I was meant to go one day."

Hurtigrute, Kari Bremnes

Even after the road network was completed, most communities in Northern Norway remained scattered along the coast.

Travelling between towns and villages by road can therefore take a very long time and may involve several ferry crossings.

By sea, however, these communities are much closer than they appear.

The Coastal Express Route is therefore a very important lifeline for many coastal communities even today.

So many stories. Ships. Destinies. Lifelines.

Explore how the coastal express connected Norway at the Hurtigruten Museum, in Stokmarknes in Vesterålen.

Revisit history in the authentic salons and cabins on the former Hurtigruten ship MS Finnmarken, built in 1956.

Life is maybe not that different on board the ships today as it was more than a century ago.

Although they have all the comforts of a modern vessel, these cruise ships still continue to bring locals to family gatherings, nan to her doctor's appointment, and the kids to football tournaments …

… alongside tourists who gaze towards the mountains under a sun that never sets …

… or that never even appears.

There is no need to stay up all night to try to catch Aurora dancing on an autumn or winter cruise.

A northern lights alarm will wake you up if you’re sleeping!

Hurtigruten and Havila even offer a Northern Lights Guarantee when you travel in wintertime, which means they give you a free 6-day southbound or 7-day northbound voyage if the northern lights do not appear within sight of your ship on the full round trip!

So get a good night's sleep in your cabin …

… after a meal that tastes of the Norwegian coast.

Both operators offer a unique taste of Norway on their voyages, using high-quality seafood, meats, cheeses, and other local ingredients from the regions they sail through.

King crab. Tender lamb. Slow-growing potatoes. And fresh fish, of course.

Go on a culinary cruise with Hurtigruten

As much as 80 per cent of the food you enjoy on board Hurtigruten's ships is sourced from Norwegian providers, which secures jobs and supports people who live along the coast.

Both Hurtigruten and Havila are committed to protecting the fragile coastline and communities that have shaped its journeys for generations. They also support local producers, eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic and work toward zero food waste on board.

Because it's crucial to move towards a more sustainable future.

Through hybrid-powered ships, lower-emission fuels, shore power and energy-efficient upgrades, Hurtigruten is steadily reducing its environmental footprint.

Havila Voyages’ four coastal cruise ships are loaded with the largest battery packs ever installed on a passenger ship. They can sail for four hours straight with zero emissions in vulnerable areas.

The batteries are charged with clean hydropower ashore. The rest of the time, they run on more emission friendly LNG (liquified natural gas).

You can also sign up for a range of awesome adventures whilst travelling the Coastal Express Route, organised by local guides and tour operators.

Come along!

Travel slowly.

Feel the power of the far north.

1 trip

12 days

34 ports of call

2,500 nautical miles

Countless memories!

Book a cruise

Havila Voyages offers a variety of cruise packages, from 2-12 days, along the Coastal Express Route. It has 4 ships and sails the route two days a week.

Hurtigruten offers a wide range of cruises along the Coastal Express Route, from 2-12 days, with departures every day, all year round.

You can also travel with Hurtigruten all the way from Oslo to the North Cape with the new North Cape Express or travel all the way from Bergen to Svalbard with the Svalbard Express, during summer.

They also have Norwegian coastal cruises starting in Hamburg.

Plan your Hurtigruten cruise

Book a Norwegian cruise

Experience the highlights of the Norwegian coast from our partners.

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Discover more

View of the Hurtigruten ship MS Nordlys from a kayak at Hjørundfjorden in Fjord Norway
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Travel responsibly

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A more sustainable future

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