Can I drive to Norway from the UK or Germany, and which ferry should I take?
Ferries from Germany and Denmark, the UK detour and the land route.
Short answer
You can drive to Norway from Germany on Color Line's daily Kiel to Oslo ferry, or through Denmark to ferries from Hirtshals or the bridge to Sweden. From the UK there is no direct ferry to Scandinavia, so most drivers sail from Newcastle to IJmuiden near Amsterdam and continue by road.
Why
- Color Line sails every day at 14:00 from both Kiel and Oslo and arrives at 10:00 the next morning.
- From Hirtshals in northern Denmark, Color Line's fast ferries sail to Kristiansand and to Larvik, a crossing of 3 hours 45 minutes.
- DFDS says there are currently no direct passenger ferries from the UK to Scandinavia, and its overnight Newcastle to IJmuiden crossing runs daily.
Details
From IJmuiden, DFDS puts the drive through northern Germany to Denmark at about 6.5 hours. Instead of a ferry from Denmark, you can cross the Øresund Bridge, which calls itself the fastest way between Denmark and Sweden, and drive on to Norway; the toll depends on the vehicle's length. Book car space early on the ferries in summer.
Tip
Bring your passport even on the ferry: Color Line says Norway is introducing border controls on all ferries from Sweden, Denmark and Germany.
What may differ
A UK driving licence gives the same rights in Norway as one issued in an EEA country, so British drivers can use their usual licence.
Common misconception
There is still a direct car ferry from Britain to Norway.
What actually happens
DFDS says there are currently no direct passenger ferries from the UK to Scandinavia, so you travel via the Netherlands and Germany or another country first.
People also ask
- Can you drive to Norway?
- Which ferry should I take to drive from Germany to Norway?
Sources
- DFDS: Gateway to ScandinaviaChecked at:
- Color Line: Kiel to OsloChecked at:
- Color Line: Denmark to Norway, factsChecked at:
- Øresund BridgeChecked at:
- Statens vegvesen: Using a non-EU/EEA driving licence in NorwayChecked at:
Timetables and prices change, so check Color Line or DFDS before you go.
Related questions
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Are Norway's mountain roads open in May, or is it too early for a road trip?
Some seasonal mountain roads in Norway are open by May, but others, such as Trollstigen and Gamle Strynefjellsvegen, have opened as late as June in previous years.
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Has Norway banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars?
No, Norway has not banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, but it has a political goal that all new passenger cars should be zero-emission by 2025.
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Can other electric cars use Tesla Superchargers in Norway?
Yes, most Tesla Supercharger stations in Norway are now open to other electric cars with a CCS charging port, and you start and pay for charging in the Tesla app.
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Can I get E5 or 98 octane petrol in Norway?
Yes, you can still buy 98 octane petrol labelled 98 E5 in several places in Norway, but every pump marked 95 now sells E10 with up to 10 percent ethanol.