Across fjords and out to islands: ferries are a vital part of traveling along the coast of Northern Norway.
Due to the large distances in Northern Norway, many people enjoy spending their holidays here in a car. Below you will find some of the important car ferries, sorted by geography, south to north.
- Ferry routes in Nordland fylke (county) are listed on Reis Nordland
- Ferry routes in Troms and Finnmark fylke (county) is listed on Tromskortet.
- The easiest way to find the next ferry departure, is to check the website of the Norwegian Road Authorities, Statens vegvesen.
The Coastal Route
The fantastic Coastal Route from Central Norway to Bodø has a number of ferry crossings. For additional info on this route, it has its own website.
- Vennesund – Holm
- Andalsvåg – Horn
- Tjøtta – Forvik
- Nesna – Levang
- Jektvik- Kilboghamn On this long sailing, you pass the Arctic Circle.
- Forøy – Ågskardet
Check the Statens vegvesen homepage for the next ferry departure.
Other car ferries in Helgeland-Salten
- Igerøy-Horn is the connection to the island of Vega
- Søvik- Herøy is the connection to the island community of Herøy. Dønna and Herøy islands are connected by bridges, so you can make a loop from Sandnessjøen/The Coastal Highway.
- Sandnessjøen – Dønna is the connection to the island of Dønna
- Stokkvågen – Træna Connection to the outermost island of Træna
- Stokkvågen-Lovund is the connection to the island of Lovund.
- Festvåg – Misten short crossing for visiting historic Kjerringøy near Bodø
- Drag-Kjøpsvik connection across the Tysfjord.
Check the Statens vegvesen homepage for the next ferry departure.
On the E6
The main north-south artery has one single ferry crossing left, with numerous departures. Check the Statens vegvesen homepage for the next ferry departure.
Lofoten and Vesterålen
The archipelagos are now bridged with the mainland. However, some ferry crossings shorten the trip considerably.
- Bognes – Lødingen From the E6 towards Harstad and Vesterålen. Also a good alternative if the fery Bodø-Værøy Moskenes is full
- Melbu-Fiskebøl From the Lofoten Islands to the Vesterålen Islands.
- Bodø-Værøy-Røst-Moskenes Much-used connection to the southern end of the Lofoten chain. Pre-booking is a good idea.
Check the Statens vegvesen homepage for the next ferry departure.
Island of Senja
Summer-only ferries make for helpful ferry crossings from other destinations. Check the Statens vegvesen homepage for the next ferry departure.
- Andenes-Gryllefjord (towards the islands of Vesterålen and Lofoten)
- Botnham-Brensholmen (towards the city of Tromsø – now all year)
Troms and Finnmark
Bridges and tunnels have made many ferries obsolete, but look out for the following:
- Flesnes-Refsnes Useful between Harstad and the Vesterålen Island
- Sørrollnes-Stangnes Useful from Harstad to the mainland when heading north.
- Breivikeidet-Svensby og Lyngseidet Olderdalen Useful from Tromsø towards Alta and the North Cape
- Øksfjord-Hasvik For travellers to the island of Sørøya
Check the Statens vegvesen homepage for the next ferry departure.
About ferries
- In winter there is usually plenty of capacity
- Popular ferry crossings, notably to Lofoten and Senja, are sometimes full in summer, and cars are left behind.
- Car reservations are accepted at some crossings, not at others.
- Cancellations due to bad weather happen, but not very often.
- We overtake no liability for information on this page