Hirtshals - Larvik Ferry
From the northern tip of Jutland to Vestfold, with Color Line's SuperSpeed 2.
- 3h45 across the Skagerrak
- Year-round, usually twice a day
- Car, motorhome and dog on board
- Midday and late-evening sailings from Hirtshals
- Arrival in Larvik right on the E18
- Foot passengers, cars, motorhomes and bikes welcome
The Hirtshals - Larvik ferry route at a glance
Table of Contents
The Hirtshals - Larvik ferry links the northern tip of Jutland with Vestfold on the southern coast of eastern Norway. Color Line runs the route year-round with the fast ferry SuperSpeed 2 in a scheduled 3 hours 45 minutes, with two sailings each way on most days. If you're driving into the Oslofjord area, Vestfold or Telemark, this route puts you straight onto the E18 and saves the detour via Sweden.
Below you'll find the crossing step by step: choosing a sailing, getting to the terminal, check-in, time on board, vehicles and pets, arrival and tickets. Sailing times and prices change most often, so you'll find them in the timetable and on the Prices & fares page.
Which sailing suits you
On this route there's no choice of ferry company or ship, just a time of day, and that's what shapes the trip. From Hirtshals there are two basic options:
- The midday ferry departs around a quarter to one and reaches Larvik in the late afternoon. You arrive in daylight and can still cover a good distance further that same evening.
- The late sailing departs late in the evening and arrives in Larvik around three in the morning. It suits you if you're driving through Jutland during the day and have somewhere to stay near Larvik that you can still reach at night.
From Larvik the ferries leave around eight in the morning and in the late afternoon; the morning ferry gets you to Hirtshals around midday, the afternoon one late in the evening. In autumn and winter some days have only one sailing; in April Hirtshals usually only has the midday ferry; in summer times shift slightly. On a few winter weekends the sister ship SuperSpeed 1 sails as well. Which sailing runs on your date is shown in the timetable.
Getting there and the terminal
Color Line departs Hirtshals from the Fergeterminalen, Norgeskajen 2, in the northern part of the port near the town centre. The E39 runs from the Aalborg direction right up to the harbour entrance, and from there the terminal is signposted. It's around 500 km from Hamburg. Without a car, you can reach Hirtshals by train or bus; it's about a ten-minute walk from the station to the terminal.
In Larvik the terminal is at Revet 8, at the town's harbour. Parking there is limited and cannot be reserved, with the railway and bus station around 2.5 km away. Both ports in detail: Hirtshals ferry port and Larvik ferry port.
Check-in and departure
Check-in opens two hours before departure and closes 15 minutes before. Color Line still expects all guests at the terminal at least 60 minutes before departure. Norway is part of the Schengen area but not the EU: every traveller needs their own valid ID document, a national ID card or passport. The minimum age for travelling without an accompanying adult is 16, and 20 for a same-day return. The process with a car, on foot and by bike is described on the Check-in page.
On board the SuperSpeed 2
The SuperSpeed 2 is a day ferry with no cabins. Food is served on Deck 8: in the Catch Me If You Can buffet restaurant, with hot and cold dishes and a children's buffet, or in the Fly Me To The Moon bistro, with baked goods, hot dishes and salads, open from departure to arrival. You can sit for free in Centrum Seating and the Family Lounge, or pay a surcharge for Voyager Class with reclining seats on Deck 9 and Business Class on Deck 8 with coffee, fruit, water and newspapers. There's a play area for children.
Wi-Fi is available across the whole ship, included in Business Class. You can pay by card or in euros, Danish kroner and Norwegian kroner. The public areas are accessible. The ship's profile is on the Color Line page.
Vehicle, bike and pet
Cars, motorcycles, motorhomes, trailers and bicycles all travel on board. Color Line sells a car saver package for cars up to 5 metres long and 1.95 metres high, and a motorhome saver package up to 5 metres long and 2.55 metres high; anything larger is booked to measure. Give the total dimensions including a roof box, bike rack and tow bar. Before boarding you close off the gas supply, loose petrol canisters aren't allowed, and the car deck is closed during the crossing. How to measure and book is on the Motorhome & caravan page, the route without a car on On foot & by bike.
Dogs and cats can travel too, but for Norway they need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, an EU pet passport and, for dogs, a tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival. On board the animal stays in the vehicle or in a dog box in the dog area. Full details are on the Dog & pets page.
Arrival and onward travel
In Larvik you drive straight off the car deck into town and are on the E18 within minutes, running north-east towards Oslo and south-west towards Kristiansand along the coast. On arrival, Norwegian customs carry out spot checks; anyone travelling with a pet takes the red lane. Foot passengers cover the roughly 2.5 km to the station on foot or by local transport, from where trains and regional buses depart. The full journey chain with and without a car is on the Getting there & onward travel page.
In the other direction, the E39 leads back south from Hirtshals via Aalborg; it's around 500 km to Hamburg.
Tickets and fares
Color Line sells the crossing at dynamic prices: travel day, sailing, vehicle and booking time all affect the amount. You'll pay the least by booking early, travelling midweek and outside school holidays. With a car or motorhome, the company prices in packages that bundle the vehicle and its occupants; seating classes and the dog are added as surcharges.
The from-prices, Color Line's package prices, the seating classes and dog fares are on the Prices & fares page; common questions are answered in the FAQ.
Hirtshals - Larvik
Across the Skagerrak to eastern Norway
Color Line links Hirtshals, at the northern tip of Jutland, with Larvik in Vestfold all year round on the fast ferry SuperSpeed 2. The scheduled crossing time is 3 hours 45 minutes: one ferry company, one ship, no cabins.
On most days there are two sailings each way: from Hirtshals at midday and late in the evening, from Larvik in the morning and late afternoon. In Larvik the terminal sits right at the town's harbour, with the E18 leading on into the Oslofjord area.
- Crossing
- 3h45
- Ferry company
- Color Line, SuperSpeed 2
- Frequency
- usually 2×/day each way
- Ports
- Hirtshals (DK), Larvik (NO)
Hirtshals - Larvik Sailings
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Hirtshals - Larvik ferry
How long does the Hirtshals - Larvik ferry take? +
The scheduled crossing time on the SuperSpeed 2 is 3 hours 45 minutes. The late sailing from Hirtshals takes a little longer and reaches Larvik around three in the morning. Exact times for your date are in the timetable.
How often does the ferry run? +
Twice each way on most days, just once on some days in autumn, winter and April, and more often on a few winter weekends. From Hirtshals you sail at midday or late evening, from Larvik in the morning or late afternoon. Times for your date are in the timetable.
Are there cabins on board? +
No. The SuperSpeed 2 is a fast ferry with no cabins. For more peace and quiet, add a seat in Voyager Class or Business Class; what it costs is on the Prices & fares page.
When do I need to be at check-in? +
Check-in opens two hours before departure and closes 15 minutes before. Color Line expects all guests at the terminal at least 60 minutes before departure, and with a vehicle even earlier. The process is described on the Check-in page.
Can my dog come to Norway? +
Yes, with a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, an EU pet passport and a tapeworm treatment shortly before entry. On board it stays in the car or in a dog box. Full details are on the Dog & pets page.