ArticleTroms, Norway6 min read
Norway by Car Ferry
Why the crossings are the best part of the road trip
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Norway's road network is stitched together by more than a hundred car ferries. A short guide to using them, and to the slow pleasure of a fjord crossing.
The road goes on by water
Look at a road map of western and northern Norway and you will notice the dotted lines. Where the fjords are too wide to bridge and too deep to tunnel under, the road simply stops at a quay and continues on the far side, and a ferry fills the gap. There are more than a hundred of these crossings, from five-minute hops to two-hour voyages, and on a road trip they are often the highlight of the day.
You rarely need to book. Drive into the lane at the quay, wait for the ferry, follow the deckhand's directions on board and go upstairs: most crossings have a small café selling coffee, waffles with brown cheese and the famous ferry hot dog. Tickets are charged automatically by number-plate recognition through AutoPASS, so keep the rental company's terms handy.
Crossings we love
- Lyngseidet to Olderdalen, across Lyngenfjord in the far north
- Bodø to Moskenes, the gateway to Lofoten, three and a half hours
- Hellesylt to Geiranger, a sightseeing crossing through the UNESCO fjord
- Mannheller to Fodnes, short and scenic, on the road from Bergen to Jotunheimen
Summer queues
A coastal classic
About this story
Ethan NorthwindAuthor
Northwind ToursPublisher
Reviews
Write a reviewAverage rating 5.0 out of 5
1 review- LJLars Johansson5 out of 5 stars2 Oct
Clear, calm and properly practical about Arctic conditions. Every ferry and bus connection worked as described.
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