Ferry Hirtshals (Denmark) ⇄ Kristiansand (Norway) times, fares, duration
A guesthouse on the shore at Hirtshals, a hundred metres from the sand.
- Direct access to the beach and the trails
- Buffet breakfast included
- Limited choice at breakfast
The Hirtshals hotel closest to the quays, five hundred metres from the terminal.
- Heated indoor pool and sauna
- Buffet breakfast included · free parking
- Some rooms small for the price
Hirtshals–Kristiansand ferry timetableGeneral times
⚠️ General times, subject to change: from one date to the next these times shift by a few minutes, and the operator sometimes swaps ships. Exact times are shown when you book.
How much does the Hirtshals–Kristiansand ferry cost?
How these figures were read
- Three ships, three speeds: the Fjord FSTR catamaran in 2 hours 25 minutes from March to October, the SuperSpeed 1 in 3 hours 15 minutes all year round, the cruise ships in 3 hours 55 minutes.
- No cabin to book: you leave Denmark in the morning and sleep in Norway that night.
- If one sailing is full, there is almost always another later the same day.
- Kristiansand sits on the southern tip: for Bergen you still have about 7 hours of coastal driving ahead, ferries included — as much as leaving from Oslo over the mountain roads.
- The busiest route of all in July and August since Langesund closed in 2023.
The Hirtshals–Kristiansand ferry in detail
This is the route everyone ends up taking, and the only one where two operators fight over the same passengers. Three ships, three speeds: the Fjord FSTR catamaran crosses in 2 hours 25 minutes from March to October, the SuperSpeed 1 in 3 hours 15 minutes all year round, the cruise ships in 3 hours 55 minutes. So you are choosing your ship as much as your timing.
Its real advantage is not speed, it is flexibility. No cabin to book, no night to plan around: you leave Denmark in the morning and have dinner in Norway. And with up to four sailings a day in summer, a full ship is not a cancelled trip — there is almost always another one later the same day.
The drawback shows up on a map. Kristiansand sits on the southern tip of the country: allow another 4 hours 30 minutes of driving to Oslo and close to 7 hours to Bergen. Since Hirtshals – Langesund closed in 2023, it has also been the busiest route of all in July and August.
On price, that competition finally shows, and the gap is surprising. For Saturday 15 August 2026, two people and a car, Color Line asks €103.60 on its 20:45 departure and €135.10 on the midday one; Fjord Line asks €158 on the 20:30 Fjord FSTR and €182 on both of its middle-of-the-day sailings. That is €54.40 between the two cheapest — against roughly fifty minutes less at sea for the catamaran. One warning, though: the Color Line prices recorded that day carried a 30% discount explicitly limited to orders placed before 16 August 2026. Without the promotion, the same departures climb back to €148 and €193, and the ranking flips. On this route more than on any other, open both booking engines before you choose.
The November reading turns the picture completely around. On Thursday 12 November 2026, Color Line asks €148 on both its departures — the discount has gone — while Fjord Line asks only €110. Fjord Line therefore comes out €38 ahead, the exact reverse of August. Two things change on board as well: the Fjord FSTR catamaran does not sail in winter, so both Fjord Line crossings that day are operated by the MS Bergensfjord in 3 hours 45 minutes and 3 hours 55 minutes; and on either side, the price does not move all week. On this route the real variable is not the date, it is the operator — and the right answer changes with the season.
Hirtshals–Kristiansand ferry map
Route map…
Preparing your Hirtshals–Kristiansand crossing
Hotels on both sides, activities and car hire
Hirtshals–Kristiansand ferry: frequently asked questions
How much does the Hirtshals – Kristiansand ferry cost?
Expect €105 to €110 depending on the season, with the cheaper of the two operators, for two people and the car. The price is dynamic: it depends on the date, on the departure time and on how far ahead you book. Recorded on 31 July 2026 in the operator's booking engine, it gives an order of magnitude, not a guaranteed fare.
Do I need to book?
Yes: the car space has to be booked in advance. This is the busiest route of all in July and August, and both operators push the fare up as the ship fills, so booking early costs less than booking well. Go to the booking site →
How long does the Hirtshals – Kristiansand crossing take?
The crossing takes 2 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours. Up to 4 sailings a day in summer, 1 to 2 in midwinter.
Where do you arrive, and what is there to see nearby?
Kristiansand, on the southern tip of Norway. Oslo is 4 hours 30 minutes away by road, Bergen 7 hours.
Who is this crossing right for?
Anyone driving up Jutland by car or motorhome, anyone travelling out of season, and anyone who hates the idea of an overnight crossing.
