If you want to reach Denmark by ferry from the UK, it helps to start with what the operators list today. When I checked their own route lists on 11 November 2026, none showed a sailing between the UK and Denmark. The Danish ferries they list go from Denmark to Norway and Sweden, and from Germany into Denmark.
So the practical way to do it is a UK ferry to the Netherlands, then a drive through Germany to Denmark, with a short ferry hop across the Baltic if it suits your route. Here are the crossings, times and fares as the operators state them, and GOV.UK's rules for entering and driving in Denmark.
The Danish ferries they list go from Denmark to Norway and Sweden, and from Germany into Denmark.
What the operators' route lists show
- DFDS lists one UK route across the North Sea, Newcastle to Amsterdam, under "Ferry to Holland". Its other routes go to France, Jersey, the Baltics, Germany and Sweden.
- Stena Line has "key ports in Scandinavia, Mainland Europe, Ireland and the UK". Its only route touching Denmark is Frederikshavn to Gothenburg in Sweden.
- Color Line sails between Hirtshals in Denmark and Larvik and Kristiansand in Norway.
- Fjord Line says its "three ships operate four different routes between Denmark and Norway".
- Scandlines runs Puttgarden–Rødby and Rostock–Gedser, both between Germany and Denmark.
Step one: a ferry from the UK to the Netherlands
These are the three North Sea crossings on the operators' sites, with the fares they showed when I checked on 11 November 2026.
| Route | Operator | Crossing time | Sailings | Fare from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle–Amsterdam | DFDS | Departs 17:00, arrives 09:45 (listed as 15 hours 45 minutes) | Daily | £74 per person, based on 4 people in an inside cabin with a car, one way |
| Harwich–Hook of Holland | Stena Line | From 6 hours 30 minutes | 4 daily | £93.50 single, car and driver |
| Hull–Rotterdam | P&O Ferries | About 11 hours 30 minutes | Nightly | £196 for a Standard ticket |
Newcastle–Amsterdam (DFDS). Check-in in Newcastle starts at 14:00 and closes at 16:15, and the ferry leaves daily at 17:00. The timetable for the week I checked showed arrival at 09:45. DFDS says its crossings suit travellers "with your vehicle or on foot". DFDS also mentions "easy onward connections to Belgium, Germany and beyond".
DFDS was offering 15% off the cabin and vehicle fare for 2027 travel on this route when I checked, for bookings made by 1 February 2027.
Harwich–Hook of Holland (Stena Line). Stena Line says you can "choose from 4 daily sailings with a crossing time from only 6 hours 30 minutes". It calls this "the most direct route to the Netherlands and Germany from the south of England".
Stena Line was offering 20% off new Economy fares for 2027 trips to Holland when I checked, for bookings made by 15 November 2026 for travel between 15 February and 30 November 2027.
Hull–Rotterdam (P&O Ferries). P&O Ferries says the overnight crossing "takes approximately 11 hours and 30 minutes". The ferry typically leaves Hull at 20:30 Monday to Friday and at 20:00 on Saturday and Sunday.
P&O Ferries was offering 15% off Hull–Rotterdam Long Breaks and Single tickets for travel in 2027 when I checked, for bookings made by 1 February 2027.
There's more on all three in the Holland ferries hub.
Step two: driving from the Netherlands to Denmark
From the Dutch ports the drive takes you across Germany. Stena Line says Hanover is "just over a four hour drive north-east from the Hook of Holland". I haven't given driving times all the way to Denmark, because none of the operators states them.
GOV.UK's Denmark advice notes "temporary border controls in place to travel into Germany", and GOV.UK's Germany advice says "a temporary reintroduction of border controls is currently in place at Germany's land borders". Keep passports handy for the drive.
Scandlines across the Baltic. Instead of driving all the way by road, you can take a Scandlines ferry from northern Germany into Denmark. Scandlines says the Puttgarden–Rødby crossing takes 45 minutes and Rostock–Gedser takes 2 hours, and you must check in at least 15 minutes before departure. Scandlines calls itself "The shortcut to Scandinavia".
Going on from Denmark to Sweden or Norway
If Denmark is a stop on a longer trip, these are the ferries onward from the north of Jutland. Fares are the ones shown when I checked on 11 November 2026.
| Route | Operator | Crossing time | Fare from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederikshavn–Gothenburg | Stena Line | 3 hours 30 minutes | £88.50 single, car and driver |
| Hirtshals–Kristiansand | Color Line | 3 hours 15 minutes | €44 per person, one way, based on 4 passengers in 1 car |
| Hirtshals–Larvik | Color Line | 3 hours 45 minutes | €53 per person, one way, based on 4 passengers in 1 car |
| Hirtshals–Kristiansand | Fjord Line | 2 hours 25 minutes on Fjord FSTR (March–September); about 3 hours 55 minutes on the cruise ferries (all year) | |
| Hirtshals–Stavanger–Bergen | Fjord Line | Leaves Hirtshals 19:15, reaches Stavanger at 07:00 and Bergen at 13:00 |
Fjord Line describes Hirtshals as "North Jutland's main ferry hub for connections to Norway", and says the terminal is well connected to the E45 motorway, about 50km from Aalborg.
Passports, visas and border checks for Denmark
GOV.UK's Denmark travel advice says Denmark follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must:
- have a "date of issue" less than 10 years before the date you arrive
- have an "expiry date" at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area
You can travel to the Schengen area, which includes Denmark, without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, as a tourist or to visit family or friends. Visits to other Schengen countries in the previous 180 days count towards your 90 days.
At Danish border control, GOV.UK says you may also need to show a return or onward ticket and prove you have enough money for your stay.
GOV.UK also says the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) is now being implemented across the Schengen area. On your first visit you may need to register fingerprints and a photo, and there is no cost for EES registration.
On customs, GOV.UK says you cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries, with some exceptions such as powdered baby milk and baby food. You must declare cash or travellers' cheques worth 10,000 euros or more.
Driving in Denmark
GOV.UK's Denmark advice says:
- You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Denmark. If you still have a paper licence, you may need to update it or get the correct international driving permit as well.
- Hire car companies often have stricter rules, such as a year of driving experience and a higher minimum age.
- Cyclists often have the right of way. Always check cycle lanes before turning right.
You may also need a UK sticker. GOV.UK says you don't need one if your number plate has the UK identifier with the Union flag. You must display one if your plate has numbers and letters only, a GB identifier with the Union flag, a European Union flag, or the national flag of England, Scotland or Wales.
Questions about Denmark by ferry from the UK
Is there a direct ferry from the UK to Denmark?
None of the route lists I checked on 11 November 2026 (DFDS, Stena Line, Color Line, Fjord Line and Scandlines) shows a sailing between the UK and Denmark. The usual way by sea is a UK ferry to the Netherlands, then a drive through Germany.
Which UK ferry should I take to get to Denmark?
There are three crossings to the Netherlands: DFDS from Newcastle to Amsterdam, Stena Line from Harwich to Hook of Holland, and P&O Ferries from Hull to Rotterdam. Stena Line's crossing is the shortest of the three, from 6 hours 30 minutes.
Is there a ferry from Germany to Denmark?
Yes. Scandlines sails Puttgarden–Rødby in 45 minutes and Rostock–Gedser in 2 hours, and you must check in at least 15 minutes before departure.
Can I drive in Denmark on my UK licence?
GOV.UK says you can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Denmark. You may need a UK sticker, depending on your number plate.
Do I need a visa for Denmark?
GOV.UK says you can travel to the Schengen area, which includes Denmark, without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must meet the Schengen date-of-issue and expiry rules.
Can I carry on from Denmark to Norway or Sweden?
Yes. Color Line and Fjord Line sail from Hirtshals to Norway, and Stena Line sails from Frederikshavn to Gothenburg in 3 hours 30 minutes.
