If you're looking for a ferry to Norway from the UK, the first thing to know is what the operators list today. When I checked their own route lists on 11 November 2026, none of them showed a sailing between the UK and Norway. The ferries that serve Norway sail from Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
So the practical way to get there by sea is in two legs: a UK ferry across the North Sea to the Netherlands, then a drive north to one of the crossings into Norway. Below are both legs, with crossing times and fares as the operators give them, plus GOV.UK's entry and driving rules for Norway.
The ferries that serve Norway sail from Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
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, and none goes to Norway.
- Stena Line says it has "key ports in Scandinavia, Mainland Europe, Ireland and the UK". Its routes from Great Britain go to Belfast, Dublin, Rosslare and Hook of Holland. Its Scandinavian routes include Gothenburg–Kiel and Gothenburg–Frederikshavn, and none of its routes goes to Norway.
- Color Line describes its network as "Ferry between Denmark, Germany and Sweden to Norway". It sails between Hirtshals and Larvik, Hirtshals and Kristiansand, Kiel and Oslo, and Strömstad and Sandefjord.
- Fjord Line says its "three ships operate four different routes between Denmark and Norway".
That's why this guide treats the trip as a North Sea crossing followed by a drive. If you were searching for a Newcastle to Norway ferry in particular, DFDS's Newcastle route goes to Amsterdam.
Leg one: a ferry from the UK to the Netherlands
Three crossings from England to the Netherlands appear on the operators' own sites. These are the fares the operators 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). DFDS says 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 in Amsterdam at 09:45, listed as 15 hours and 45 minutes. These are overnight crossings, and DFDS says you can travel with or without your vehicle. For anyone setting off from Scotland or the north-east, this is the sailing to look at first.
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 also says Hanover in Germany is "just over a four hour drive north-east from the Hook of Holland", which is the direction you'll be heading for Denmark and Norway.
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. You arrive at Europoort, which P&O says is a 30-minute drive from Rotterdam.
The Holland ferries hub has more on all three routes.
Leg two: from the Netherlands to the Norway ferries
Once you're in the Netherlands you have two main choices: drive to Hirtshals in Denmark for the shortest crossings into Norway, or drive to Kiel in Germany for Color Line's overnight ship to Oslo. 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.
I haven't given driving times from the Dutch ports to Hirtshals or Kiel, because none of the operators states them.
Either way, you'll drive through Germany. GOV.UK says "a temporary reintroduction of border controls is currently in place at Germany's land borders", so keep your passport to hand.
Ferries into Norway
| Route | Operator | Crossing time | Fare from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Kiel–Oslo | Color Line | Leaves 14:00, arrives 10:00 the next morning |
Color Line's fares are the ones it showed when I checked on 11 November 2026.
Color Line from Hirtshals. Color Line's SuperSpeed ships sail from Hirtshals to Kristiansand and Larvik. It asks guests with and without a vehicle to arrive at least 60 minutes before departure. If you book a round trip, Color Line says you get 10% off the return journey.
Fjord Line from Hirtshals. Fjord Line sails daily between Hirtshals and Kristiansand all year. Its high-speed catamaran Fjord FSTR takes 2 hours and 25 minutes and runs from March to September. The cruise ferries MS Stavangerfjord and MS Bergensfjord take about 3 hours 55 minutes and run all year. Fjord Line says there are up to four daily departures in peak season.
Fjord Line straight to Stavanger and Bergen. If you're heading for the fjords of western Norway, Fjord Line sails daily from Hirtshals to Stavanger and Bergen. The ferry leaves Hirtshals at 19:15, reaches Stavanger the next morning at 07:00 and arrives in Bergen at 13:00. On this route, Fjord Line says booking a cabin or an Airseat (a reclining seat) is mandatory, because it's an overnight crossing.
Color Line from Kiel to Oslo. Color Line has daily departures at 14:00 from both Kiel and Oslo, arriving at 10:00 the next morning. When you book your outbound and return together, Color Line gives at least 10% off all vehicles for the return trip, all year round.
Via Sweden. Stena Line's Kiel–Gothenburg ferry takes 14 hours, overnight, and its Frederikshavn–Gothenburg crossing from Denmark takes 3 hours 30 minutes. Stena Line says Oslo is "a mere 3.5 hours away" from Gothenburg. Stena Line's fares started from £168 for Kiel–Gothenburg (single, car, driver and cabin) and from £88.50 for Frederikshavn–Gothenburg (single, car and driver) when I checked on 11 November 2026.
Passports, visas and border checks for Norway
GOV.UK's Norway travel advice says Norway 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 Norway, 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 Norwegian border control, GOV.UK says you may also need to show proof of your accommodation, proof of travel insurance, and 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. You may need to register fingerprints and a photo on your first visit, and there is no cost for EES registration.
Color Line adds a practical point: "Norway is introducing border controls on all ferries from Sweden, Denmark and Germany. We encourage all guests to bring their passports when checking in."
On customs, GOV.UK says you cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EEA countries without special permission. You must declare cash or travellers' cheques worth 25,000 Norwegian krone or more.
Driving in Norway
GOV.UK's Norway advice covers these points for drivers:
- You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Norway for up to 90 days.
- You must use winter tyres with a minimum 3mm tread if there is snow or ice on the roads, and you may also need studded tyres or snow chains.
- Keep your headlights on, but dipped, during the daytime all year round.
- On roads without a priority sign (a yellow diamond), give way to traffic coming from the right.
- If you're found with a quarter of England's legal alcohol limit in your system, you may get a fine and possible imprisonment.
- On-the-spot fines for driving offences can be up to 10,000 Norwegian krone.
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 the ferry to Norway from the UK
Is there a direct ferry from the UK to Norway?
None of the route lists I checked on 11 November 2026 (DFDS, Stena Line, Color Line and Fjord Line) shows a sailing between the UK and Norway. Color Line and Fjord Line sail to Norway from Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
Is there a ferry from Newcastle to Norway?
DFDS's ferry from Newcastle goes to Amsterdam, leaving daily at 17:00. From the Netherlands you can drive to Hirtshals or Kiel for a ferry into Norway.
Can I take a ferry from Scotland to Norway?
None of the route lists I checked shows a sailing from Scotland to Norway. DFDS's Newcastle–Amsterdam crossing, followed by a drive to Hirtshals or Kiel, is the way across by sea.
What's the quickest crossing into Norway?
Fjord Line's catamaran Fjord FSTR crosses from Hirtshals to Kristiansand in 2 hours and 25 minutes, from March to September. Fjord Line calls it "the fastest connection between Denmark and Norway".
Can I sail straight to Bergen?
Yes. Fjord Line's ferry leaves Hirtshals at 19:15 and arrives in Bergen at 13:00 the next day, calling at Stavanger at 07:00. You must book a cabin or an Airseat on this route.
Do I need a visa for Norway?
GOV.UK says you can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Norway, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must meet the Schengen date-of-issue and expiry rules.
