R I P. The DFDS ferry to Norway was sadly withdrawn for good in September 2008, ending over 120 years of direct ferry links between the UK & Norway. Photo courtesy of DFDS |
UK to Norway without flying
The last ferry between the UK & Norway (DFDS from Newcastle to Bergen) was sadly withdrawn in 2008, but there's no need to fly. It's easy to travel from London to Norway by train, travelling from London to Hamburg by train on day 1, stopping overnight, then Hamburg to Oslo on day 2. Or take a train from London to Kiel in northern Germany and sail on the luxurious Color Line ferry to Oslo, sailing up Oslo Fjord over breakfast.
Train times, fares & tickets
On this page you'll find a step-by-step guide to planning, booking & making a journey from the UK to Norway by train, with train times, approximate fares, and the best way to buy tickets.
London to Oslo by train all the way
London to Oslo via DFDS Denmark-Oslo ferry
London to Oslo via Color Line Kiel-Oslo ferry
London to Kristiansand & Stavanger via Hirtshals
Trains in Norway: Oslo to Bergen, Stavanger...
How to buy Norwegian train tickets
Coastal ferries Bergen-Trondheim-Kirkenes
Trains from Norway to other European cities
Trains from other European cities to Norway
Useful country information: dial code, currency...
Hotels in Oslo, Bergen & Norway
General European train travel information
Luggage Taking a bike Taking a dog
Interactive map: London to Scandinavia by train & ferry
Cick on a route for times, fares & how to buy tickets.
Useful country information
Option 1, London to Oslo by train
You can travel from London to Oslo by train all the way, with an overnight stop in Hamburg, leaving London on day 1 and arriving Oslo late at night on day 2. Or take an evening Eurostar and travel to Oslo with overnight stops in Brussels & Copenhagen, with time to travel up to London from other locations across the UK and it breaks up the journey.
London ► Oslo with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from London to Hamburg by train, see the London to Hamburg timetable. For example:
Leave London St Pancras at 09:01, change Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:14.
Leave London St Pancras at 11:04, change Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:14.
I'd take the 09:01 if possible, it gives more wiggle room if there's a delay as well as a longer evening in Hamburg.
You travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Brussels to Cologne by superb German ICE3 and Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg.
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com. Or try the innovative Cab20 capsule hotel, a 550m 6-minute walk from the station, see walking map.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg by EuroCity train & Öresund train:
Leave Hamburg Hbf 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:34. Leave Copenhagen at 14:30, arriving Göteborg Central at 18:20.
The EuroCity train from Hamburg to Copenhagen has power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey. The Öresund train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink. It crosses from Denmark to Sweden on the Öresund fixed link, an interesting experience as the train appears to 'fly' across the water just feet above it.
Have an early dinner in Gothenburg.
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Day 2, travel from Gothenburg to Oslo, leaving Göteborg Central at 20:10, arriving Oslo Sentral 23:47.
This is a smart modern Norwegian train run by Vy, with power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.
London ► Oslo with overnight stops in Brussels & Copenhagen
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Day 1, travel from London to Brussels on any evening Eurostar you like.
The last Eurostar usually leaves London St Pancras at 19:34 arriving Brussels Midi at 22:38, but by all means travel earlier for a pleasant evening in Brussels. Check times at www.eurostar.com.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 2, travel from Brussels to Copenhagen by train, with a choice of two departures.
Leave Brussels Midi at 06:23 by ICE3, change at Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:34.
Leave Brussels Midi at 08:23 (08:25 weekends), change at Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:34.
This is a straightforward journey all on one ticket booked at int.bahn.de.
You travel from Brussels to Cologne by superb German ICE3, Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train with free WiFi when in Denmark, power sockets at all seats & refreshment trolley. I'd take the earlier departure if possible as it offers more wiggle room in the event of any delay.
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Stay overnight in Copenhagen.
The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information. Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).
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Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train.
You can leave Copenhagen at 07:30 by Öresund train arriving Gothenburg Central 11:20.
Change onto a Norwegian train, leaving Gothenburg Central at 12:15 and arriving Oslo Sentral at 15:47.
Or there's an earlier 05:30 departure from Copenhagen, or a later 09:30 or 11:30 departure, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable.
The Öresund train crosses from Denmark to Sweden on the Öresund fixed link, an interesting experience as the train appears to 'fly' across the water just feet above it.
Oslo ► London with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Oslo to Gothenburg, leaving Oslo Sentral at 06:11 Monday-Friday only, arriving Gothenburg Central 09:45.
This is a smart modern Norwegian train run by Vy, with power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink. There is no suitable connection at weekends, unless you travel the evening before and stay overnight in Gothenburg.
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Day 1, travel from Gothenburg to Hamburg by Öresund train & EuroCity train:
Leave Gothenburg Central at 10:40 arriving Copenhagen 14:29. Leave Copenhagen at 15:26, arriving Hamburg Hbf 20:04.
You travel from Gothenburg to Copenhagen by Öresund train with power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink. It crosses from Sweden to Denmark on the Öresund fixed link, an interesting experience. You then travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats and refreshment trolley. More about the Copenhagen-Hamburg journey.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg.
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to London by train. For example:
Leave Hamburg Hbf at 06:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 15:57.
Leave Hamburg Hbf at 08:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 17:47.
Leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 19:47.
See the Hamburg to London timetable here. Hamburg to Cologne is by ICE4, Cologne to Brussels is by ICE3, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Brussels to London is by Eurostar, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Oslo ► London with overnight stops in Copenhagen & Brussels
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Day 1, travel from Oslo to Copenhagen by train.
Leave Oslo Sentral at 14:14 every day by Norwegian train, arriving Gothenburg Central at 17:40.
Then leave Gothenburg Central at 18:40 by Öresund train arriving Copenhagen at 22:29.
Or take the earlier 10:14 or (Mon-Fri) 12:14 departure from Oslo for more time in Copenhagen, see the Oslo-Copenhagen timetable.
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Stay overnight in Copenhagen.
The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information. Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Brussels by train.
Leave Copenhagen at 07:26, change at Hamburg Hbf & Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 19:35.
You travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by EuroCity train with free WiFi when in Denmark, power sockets at all seats & refreshment trolley, then Hamburg to Cologne by superb German ICE4 and Cologne to Brussels by ICE3, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
A later 09:26 departure is possible from Copenhagen to Brussels but with no wiggle room for delay, I'd stick with the 07:26.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 3, travel from, Brussels to London on any morning Eurostar you like.
The first train leaves Brussels Midi at 07:56 on Mondays-Saturdays, arriving London St Pancras 08:59 or at 08:52 Sundays arriving 09:57. By all means take a later train, check times at www.eurostar.com.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £140 return standard premier (1st class).
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Brussels to Gothenburg starts at €79.90 in 2nd class or €91.90 in 1st class each way.
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Gothenburg to Oslo starts at 249 Krone (€24).
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All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets
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Here I'll explain the straightforward way to book the 'overnight in Hamburg' journey.
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Step 1, book from London to Hamburg for Day 1 at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Both are easy to use, small booking fee. Booking for Eurostar & onward trains as far as Gothenburg opens up to 6 months ahead.
If you're returning, book this as a round trip because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways.
After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Step 2, book from Hamburg to Gothenburg for Day 2 at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
If returning, you'll find it easier to book one way at a time, in this case it makes no difference to the price. Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You can also book this with German Railways at int.bahn.de with no booking fee, or you may prefer to keep all your bookings together at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
You should see affordable through fares, if not, split the booking: Book Hamburg Hbf to Copenhagen at either www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com or int.bahn.de, then book Kobenhavn H to Göteborg Central at www.oresundstag.se.
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Step 3, now book the Norwegian train from Göteborg Central to Oslo Sentral at the Vy website www.vy.no.
Obviously, make sure it's the departure which connects out of the Copenhagen-Gothenburg train you've booked, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable. You can load your ticket into the Vy app or download it in PDF format which you can print out or show on your phone.
How to buy tickets - advanced
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This is the cheaper, but more fiddly way to book, whether you want the overnight in Hamburg journey or the overnight in Brussels & Copenhagen journey, the principle is the same. Obviously, do a dry run on all stages before booking.
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Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels at www.eurostar.com.
If you're returning, book this as a round trip, because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways. You print your own ticket or can load it into the Eurostar app on your phone.
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Step 2, book from Brussels to Gothenburg as one journey at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. If you're returning, book one-way at a time, it's easier and makes no difference to the price.
You'll be able to select seats on the ICE trains from a seat map, another advantage of booking this way.
To get the overnight stop in Hamburg (or Copenhagen), click Stopovers and enter Hamburg (or Copenhagen) with a length of stay of (say) 11 hours. Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central.
Adjust departure time & length of stay to get the trains you want either side of the overnight stop. Some trial & error may be needed! If you're booking an 'overnight in Hamburg' journey, you'll obviously need to book the departure from Brussels to Hamburg that connects out of the Eurostar you've booked, it's not rocket science, the timetable here may help.
You should see affordable through fares, at least in 2nd class. If you don't, you'll have to split the booking into stages.
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Step 3, book from Gothenburg (= Goteborg Central) to Oslo at the Vy website www.vy.no.
Obviously, make sure you book the departure that connects out of the Hamburg/Copenhagen-Gothenburg train you've booked, not rocket science, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable.
You can choose to load your ticket into the Vy app, or download it in PDF format which you can either print out or show on your phone.
Have your trip arranged as a package
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Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a UK-Norway trip for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers. You'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays on their website which can be varied or customised to your requirements. As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.
UK 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk
US 1-888-829-4775, see website
Canada 1-855-882-2910, see website
Australia 1300 971 526, see website
New Zealand 0800 000 554 or see website
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Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating. If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a one-way or return UK-Norway train trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like. Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away. They can build a trip to your requirements if you email them or use this contact form. When you book, please say you heard about them from Seat 61.
How to buy tickets by phone
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It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey. Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7. However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Brussels by Eurostar
Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More about Eurostar & check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.
2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3
Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat. 50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava. As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station. More about ICE3 trains. Brussels Midi station guide. Cologne Hbf station guide.
3. Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4
ICE4s have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, and are capable of 265 km/h (165 mph). Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, Cologne-Hamburg trains cross the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine, then pass through the industrial Ruhr. More about ICE trains. Hamburg Hbf station guide.
4. Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train
As from June 2023, Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are operated by former German Railways intercity cars like this, now shown in the timetable as EC for EuroCity. This is only temporary, as brand-new trains being built for DSB will be delivered in 2024. These ex-DB intercity cars have power sockets at all seats (although no WiFi). There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
On 17 June 2023, the first Copenhagen to Hamburg train to use the 'new' German intercity cars is boarding at Copenhagen. Photo courtesy of Peter Kincey.
2nd class seats in are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches.
The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.
5. Copenhagen to Oslo by train
Option 2, London to Oslo via DFDS ferry
In this option, you travel by train from London to Denmark, then use the luxurious DFDS overnight cruise ferry between Copenhagen & Oslo. It's faster than the previous option using train all the way, and the cruise into Oslo Fjord is a bonus.
London ► Oslo
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Day 1, travel from London to Hamburg by train.
You can leave London St Pancras at 09:01 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne, & ICE to Hamburg Hbf arriving 19:14.
Or leave London St Pancras at 11:04 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne, & ICE to Hamburg Hbf arriving 21:14.
For more about the London to Hamburg journey, see the London-Hamburg timetable on the London to Germany page. A later departure at 13:01 is theoretically possible, but with no wiggle room in case of delay.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg:
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50 and arriving Copenhagen at 13:34.
The EuroCity train has free WiFi when in Denmark, refreshments available. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
In Copenhagen, the connection with the ferry on days when it sails at 15:00 is a little tight, so take a taxi from the station to the DFDS ferry terminal, this takes just 10 minutes. Check-in closes at 14:45.
From 14 June to 25 August there's an earlier train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 06:31 and arriving Copenhagen 11:34, see the timetable here. This would give you time for lunch in Copenhagen and a more robust connection on days when the ferry sails at 15:00.
On days when the ferry sails at 16:30 (when check-in closes at 16:15), or if you take the summer-only 06:31 train from Hamburg, you can walk from Copenhagen station to the DFDS ferry terminal through the centre of Copenhagen in 50 minutes, or take an 8-minute local train ride from Copenhagen main station to Nordhavn station, from where it's a 10-minute walk to the terminal, see walking map.
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Day 2, sail from Copenhagen to Oslo by overnight ferry.
The luxurious DFDS Seaways ferry sails from Copenhagen DFDS ferry terminal every day, either at 15:00 (check-in closes 14:45) or at 16:30 (check-in closes 16:15), arriving Oslo Vippetangen terminal at 10:00 next day (day 3).
Check times at www.dfds.com or using the Direct Ferries website.
At the DFDS ferry terminal, you check yourself in at the self-service check-in machines just inside the entrance. You enter your booking reference, scan your passport, and it produces your boarding pass/cabin key. You then pass through a fairly nominal customs check and walk onto the ferry.
All passengers travel in comfortable private cabins with en suite toilet & shower and satellite TV. To travel in luxury, treat yourself to DFDS's famous Commodore Class, some suites with private balconies with sea view.. The ship has bars & restaurants for breakfast on board, you can pre-book breakfast with your ticket. There's also a sauna. The ships on this route are the Crown Seaways or Pearl Seaways.
Make sure you're on deck in the morning when the ferry sails up the scenic Oslo Fjord, a stunning way to arrive in Norway. You'll see coast on either side of the ship from about 06:30 and she enters the narrow part of the fjord by about 07:00.
In Oslo you can walk from the ferry terminal the city centre in 15-20 minutes, or you can take a taxi. I'd allow at least 90 minutes between the ferry's arrival and any onward train from Oslo Sentral. See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.
Oslo ► London
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Day 1, sail from Oslo to Copenhagen by overnight ferry.
DFDS Seaways' daily cruise ferry leaves Oslo Vippetangen terminal at 15:00 and arrives Copenhagen DFDS terminal at 10:00 next morning.
All passengers travel in comfortable private cabins with en suite toilet & shower. To travel in luxury, treat yourself to one of DFDS's famous Commodore Class cabins, some with private balconies with sea view. The ship has bars & restaurants for dinner & breakfast on board, you can pre-book dinner & breakfast with your ticket.
In Oslo you can walk from the city centre to the ferry terminal in 15-20 minutes or take a taxi. See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.
In Copenhagen it's a 50-minute walk from the ferry terminal through Copenhagen city centre to the main station, or you can take a taxi, or you can walk 10 minutes to Nordhavn station and take an 8-minute suburban train ride to Copenhagen main station. See map of Copenhagen showing DFDS ferry terminal.
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by EuroCity train, leaving Copenhagen at 13:26, arriving Hamburg Hbf at 18:04.
There's a later 15:26 departure if you'd like more time in Copenhagen, see the timetable here. The EuroCity train has free WiFi when in Denmark, refreshments available. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg.
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 3, travel from Hamburg to London by train.
For example, the first departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:57.
Or you can leave Hamburg at 08:45 arriving London at 18:57. Or leave Hamburg at 12:50 arriving London at 21:57 (21:27 on Saturdays), see the Hamburg to London timetable on the London to Germany page.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £140 return standard premier (1st class).
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Brussels to Hamburg starts at €39.90 each way in 2nd class or €69.90 each way in 1st class.
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Hamburg to Copenhagen by train starts at €28.90 in 2nd class or €37.90 in 1st class each way with a Sparpreis fare booked well in advance.
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Copenhagen to Oslo by DFDS overnight cruise ferry starts at £47 one-way per person for two people travelling together, £94 each way for a solo passenger, including private en suite cabin.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, buy train tickets from London to Hamburg (& back, if returning), then Hamburg to Copenhagen (& back, if returning) at www.raileurope.com, see the tips below.
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Step 2, book the ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo at www.dfds.com.
A wide range of cabins is available, you can also add dinner & breakfast in the restaurant,which saves money over buying on board.
Tip: You can also book the DFDS ferry at hotel booking website www.booking.com. This can only book the main cabin types, but fares seem to be cheaper than on the DFDS website, so compare prices. Use these direct links: www.booking.com/hotel/dk/dfds-ferry-copenhagen-to-oslo (Copenhagen > Oslo) or https://www.booking.com/hotel/no/dfds-ferry-oslo-to-copenhagen.en-gb.html?aid=339247 (Oslo > Copenhagen).
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Tips for booking London-Hamburg-Denmark at www.raileurope.com:
Using www.raileurope.com means you can book all your train tickets together in one place, in plain English, international credit cards accepted, in €, £ or $. There's a small booking fee.
First book your ticket from London to Hamburg. Book this as a round trip if you're returning, because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways. Add this to your basket.
Then book your train from Hamburg to Copenhagen one-way for the following day, add to basket, then (if returning) book from Copenhagen to Hamburg one-way, add this to your basket and check out.
Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices. You print your own tickets, or you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB ticket on your laptop or phone.
After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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When does booking open?
Booking for Eurostar opens up to 6 months ahead, sometimes up to 11 months. Onward trains from Brussels to Germany & Denmark open up to 6 months ahead, but significantly less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. I recommend waiting until all your trains are open for booking before committing to a non-refundable Eurostar ticket. More about when booking opens.
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Is it a through ticket?
No, but www.raileurope.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus an onward German Railways ticket from Brussels to Hamburg, then it'll sell you a ticket from Hamburg to Copenhagen for the following day.
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Seat reservations
A seat reservation is automatically included with every ticket on Eurostar. However, seat reservations on German trains are usually optional, if you want a reserved seat it can be added during the booking process for around €4.90 per seat each way. A reserved seat is a good idea, especially at busy periods, so I'd add one when prompted.
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About those tight 20-minute connections at Brussels Midi
The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make. It's not usually a problem, especially if you use the Brussels Midi short cut between platforms.
Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.
Just make sure that if you did miss that 20 minute connection in Brussels, there are later trains that would still get you to Hamburg by close of play that day.
Alternatively, nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection. To do this using www.raileurope.com, click More options, then enter Brussels (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of (say) 1 or 2 hours. There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!
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Connecting tickets from other UK towns & cities: See the advice on special add-on tickets here.
Another way to buy tickets
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This is more work as it involves three websites, but it can be slightly cheaper for two reasons: First, you don't pay any booking fee. Second, you can use the Stopovers feature at int.bahn.de to book a Brussels to Copenhagen through ticket with an overnight stop in Hamburg programmed in. This is cheaper than buying separate Brussels to Hamburg & Hamburg to Copenhagen tickets from Raileurope. Another advantage of booking direct with int.bahn.de is that you can select your seat from a seat map on ICE trains between Brussels, Cologne & Hamburg.
Obviously, do a dry run on each site first to check availability & prices. I'd also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are indeed a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at int.bahn.de - read the paragraph in the previous section about the 20-minute connection in Brussels.
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Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (& back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com.
Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, make sure you book this as a round trip. You print your own ticket or can load it into the Eurostar app on your phone. After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Step 2, book from Brussels to Copenhagen at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers, enter Hamburg Hbf and a length of stay of (say) 11-13 hours. You'll need to fiddle with the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg, it takes a bit of trial & error.
This will get you a through ticket from Brussels to Copenhagen with an overnight stop in Hamburg included. If you have problems, by all means just book Brussels-Hamburg and Hamburg-Copenhagen separately.
If you're returning, now book Copenhagen to Brussels with an overnight stop in Hamburg using the same stopover method.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 3, book the Copenhagen-Oslo ferry at www.dfds.com.
A wide range of private cabins is available, and you can also add dinner & breakfast in the restaurant, which saves money over buying meals separately on board.
How to buy tickets by phone
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To buy tickets by phone, click here for a list of agencies who sell European train tickets.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Brussels by Eurostar
Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More about Eurostar & check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.
2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3
Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat. 50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava. As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station. More about ICE3 trains. Brussels Midi station guide. Cologne Hbf station guide.
3. Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4
ICE4s have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, and are capable of 265 km/h (165 mph). Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, Cologne-Hamburg trains cross the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine, then pass through the industrial Ruhr. More about ICE trains. Hamburg Hbf station guide.
4. Hamburg to Copenhagen by train
From June 2023, Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are operated by former German Railways intercity cars like this, now shown in the timetable as EC for EuroCity. This is only temporary, as brand-new trains being built for DSB will be delivered in 2024. These ex-DB intercity cars have power sockets at all seats (although no WiFi). There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
On 17 June 2023, the first Copenhagen to Hamburg train to use the 'new' German intercity cars is boarding at Copenhagen. Photo courtesy of Peter Kincey.
2nd class seats in are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches.
The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.
Crossing the Little Belt (Lillebælt in Danish) from Jutland (mainland Denmark) to Funen, the island on which Odense is located.
5. Copenhagen to Oslo overnight by DFDS cruise ferry
Option 3, London to Oslo via Kiel
OK, so this takes a bit longer, but with comfortable daytime trains, a night in a hotel in Kiel or Hamburg then a mini-cruise on a luxurious Color line cruise ferry. In many ways the most luxurious way to Norway!
London ► Oslo
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Day 1, travel from London to Kiel by train.
There are various options with easy changes of train in Brussels, Cologne & Hamburg. The 09:01 from London St Pancras arrives Kiel Hbf at 21:41. The 11:04 from London St Pancras arrives Kiel Hbf 22:32.
See the London to Hamburg timetable on the Germany page. Regional trains run from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf every hour in just 1h16. In Kiel, the Color Line ferry terminal is just a 5-6 minute walk from Kiel Hbf.
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Stay overnight in Kiel.
The InterCity Hotel Kiel gets good reviews, is relatively inexpensive and is right next to the station and a few minutes walk from the ferry. The B&B Hotel Kiel City is also next to the station with good reviews and is even cheaper. For something upmarket, the Atlantic Hotel Kiel gets great reviews and is in Bahnhofsplatz in front of the station.
Alternatively, you could stay in Hamburg if you prefer and take the hourly regional train to Kiel Hbf next day. Hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, private rooms with en suite shower & toilet in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hauptbahnhof start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by Color Line cruise ferry.
The luxurious m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy sails from Kiel daily at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning, day 3 from London.
Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord. The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre. Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis. If you have little luggage it's possible to walk. See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.
Oslo ► London
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Day 1, sail from Oslo to Kiel by Color Line cruise ferry.
The luxurious m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy sails from Oslo daily at 14:00 arriving Kiel at 10:00 next morning (day2). See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal. In Kiel, it's just a 5-6 minute walk from the Color Line ferry terminal to Kiel Hbf.
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Day 2, stay overnight in Kiel or Hamburg.
In Kiel, the InterCity Hotel Kiel gets good reviews, is relatively inexpensive and is right next to the station and a few minutes walk from the ferry. The B&B Hotel Kiel City is also next to the station with good reviews and is even cheaper. For something upmarket, the Atlantic Hotel Kiel gets great reviews and is in Bahnhofsplatz in front of the station.
Or catch the hourly regional train to Hamburg Hbf and stay the night there, trains leave every hour, journey time 1h16.
In Hamburg, suggested hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, private rooms with en suite shower & toilet in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hauptbahnhof start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 3, travel from Kiel or Hamburg to London by train.
For example, the first departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:57.
Or you can leave Hamburg at 08:45 arriving London at 18:57. Or leave Hamburg at 12:50 arriving London at 21:57 (21:27 on Saturdays), see the Hamburg to London timetable on the London to Germany page.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £140 return standard premier (1st class).
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Brussels to Kiel starts at €37.90 each way in 2nd class or €69.90 each way in 1st class.
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Kiel to Oslo varies by date, cabin choice and number of passengers sharing. For two passengers travelling together, the price starts at around €258 (€129 each) including a double-bed en suite cabin, although prices on busier dates can be much higher. You need to go online to check prices for your specific dates.
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The train fares work like air fares, rising as departure date approaches. So book as early as the booking horizon allows and shop around for the cheapest date & departure.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, buy train tickets from London to Hamburg & Hamburg to Copenhagen at www.raileurope.com, see the tips below.
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Step 2, book the Kiel to Oslo ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.colorline.com.
Money-saving tip: It's considerably cheaper to book on Color Line's Norwegian website www.colorline.no in Norwegian Krone, for example a €274 fare becomes the equivalent of €164. You'll need to use Google Chrome translation to translate the Norwegian. You are still able to enter a UK or other European address and contact details. Feedback appreciated.
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Tips for booking London-Hamburg-Copenhagen at www.raileurope.com:
Anyone from any country can use www.raileurope.com, it allows you to book all your train tickets together in one place, in plain English, international credit cards accepted and fares shown in multiple currencies. There's a small booking fee.
Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.
It can help to specify Brussels as a via station if you want to see journeys with an easy same-station change in Brussels, rather than also seeing journeys via Paris. At www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Brussels (any station).
You print your own ticket, or you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB ticket on your laptop or phone.
After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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When does booking open?
Booking for Eurostar and onward trains to Kiel opens up to 6 months ahead, but significantly less when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. Journeys involving a Brussels-Cologne Eurostar (formerly Thalys) only open 4 months ahead. More about when booking opens.
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Is it a through ticket?
No, as there are no through tickets between the UK & Germany any more, DB's Sparpreis London fares were discontinued in March 2020. But www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus onward tickets from Brussels to Kiel.
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One-way or round trip?
With Eurostar, a return ticket costs significantly less than two one-ways. With ICE & Eurostar (formerly Thalys), a return is normally two one-ways. So for a round trip you should book London to Kiel & back as a return journey, or for more control over the booking, book London-Brussels as a return journey to benefit from the round trip discount, add to basket, then book Brussels to Kiel one way, add to basket, then Kiel to Brussels one-way, add to basket & check out.
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Seat reservations
A seat reservation on Eurostar and Eurostar (formerly Thalys) is automatically included with every ticket. However, seat reservations on ICE trains are optional, if you want a reserved seat it can be added during the booking process for fee of around €4.50 each way. A reserved seat is a good idea, especially at busy periods, so I'd add one when prompted.
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About the 20-minute connections (sometimes less) between Eurostar & ICEs at Brussels Midi
The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make. It's not usually a problem, especially if you use the Brussels Midi short cut between platforms.
Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.
The system is programmed to know which connections are recognised/acceptable and which are too tight - if you intend booking your Eurostar and ICE tickets separately (which I often do to check prices for Eurostar and onwards trains separately, and to retain more control over the booking) it's wise to run a London-Cologne enquiry first just to check that the system does indeed recognise that specific Eurostar as connecting with that specific onward ICE, on that specific date.
Tip: Nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection. There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!
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Connecting tickets from other UK towns & cities: See the advice on special add-on tickets here.
Another way to buy tickets
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This is more work, but there's no booking fee. Obviously, do a dry run on each site first to check availability & prices. Also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are indeed a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at int.bahn.de, as explained in the paragraph about the 20-minute connections in Brussels in the previous section.
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Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com and print your own ticket, or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone. Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, make sure you book this as a round trip. After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Step 2, book from Brussels to Kiel at the German Railways site int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. An advantage of booking direct with int.bahn.de is that you can select an exact seat on ICE & IC trains from a seating plan. A round trip is ticketed as two one-ways, so feel free to book one way at a time if it's easier.
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Step 3, book the Kiel to Oslo ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.colorline.com.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Brussels by Eurostar
Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More about Eurostar & check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.
2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3
Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat. 50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava. As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station. More about ICE3 trains. Brussels Midi station guide. Cologne Hbf station guide.
3. Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4 & on to Kiel by regional train
ICE4s have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, and are capable of 265 km/h (165 mph). Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, Cologne-Hamburg trains cross the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine, then pass through the industrial Ruhr. More about ICE trains. Hamburg Hbf station guide.
4. Kiel to Oslo overnight by Color Line cruise ferry
Option 4, London to Norway via Hirtshals
You can of course travel by train to Oslo, then take a train from Oslo to Bergen (a very scenic route), or from Oslo to Kristiansand & Stavanger. Click here for advice on booking onward trains within Norway.
But as you can see on the route map above, the most direct route is to head up to Hirtshals in northern Denmark and take a Color Line or Fjord Line ferry direct to Kristiansand, Stavanger or Bergen, by-passing Copenhagen, Sweden & Oslo.
London ► Kristiansand, Stavanger & Bergen
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Day 1, travel from London to Hamburg by train.
For example, leave London St Pancras 11:04 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne, EuroCity to Hamburg Hbf arriving 21:14.
By all means travel earlier for more of an evening in Hamburg, see the London-Hamburg timetable on the London to Germany page.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg.
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Hirtshals by train.
Check train times & fares from Hamburg to Hirtshals in northern Denmark at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
A morning train will get you there by late afternoon or early evening. In Hirtshals, it's a few minutes walk from the station to the Color Line ferry terminal, a longer 2km walk or taxi ride to the Fjord Line terminal, or you may find a number 480 bus available. Remember to allow for the 1 hour ferry check-in!
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For Kristiansand, sail from Hirtshals to Kristiansand by Color Line ferry, see www.colorline.com.
There's usually a sailing at 20:45 arriving in Kristiansand at 23:59, still on day 2 from London. There's a 1 hour check-in for the ferry. You can stay overnight in Kristiansand and take a train on to Stavanger next day, see here for advice on finding and booking a train.
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For Stavanger & Bergen, sail from Hirtshals to Stavanger & Bergen by Fjord Line ferry, see www.fjordline.com.
The ship normally sails on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays at 20:00 (day 2 from London), arriving Stavanger next day at 07:00 and Bergen around 14:00 (day 3 from London), but always check sailing times and dates at www.fjordline.com. A range of comfortable en suite cabins is available.
Bergen, Stavanger & Kristiansand ► London
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Coming from Bergen or Stavanger, sail from Bergen or Stavanger to Hirtshals by Fjord Line ferry, see www.fjordline.com.
The ship normally sails from Bergen on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays at 15:00 and Stavanger at 23:00 (we'll call this day 1), arriving Hirtshals next day at 10:55 (day 2), but check sailing times and dates at www.fjordline.com. A range of comfortable en suite cabins is available. On arrival in Hirtshals, it's a 2km walk or short taxi ride from the Fjord Line ferry terminal to the station, or you may find a number 480 bus available.
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Coming from Kristiansand, sail from Kristiansand to Hirtshals by Color Line ferry, see www.colorline.com.
There's a sailing from Kristiansand at 08:00 arriving in Hirtshals at 11:15. There's a 1 hour check-in for the ferry, so be at the port by 07:00. On arrival in Hirtshals, it's a fairly short walk from the Color Line ferry terminal to the station.
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Day 2 if starting from Bergen or Stavanger, Day 1 if coming from Kristiansand, travel from Hirtshals to Hamburg by train using any departure you like. You can check times & prices at int.bahn.de. I'd allow at least 2 hours between scheduled ferry arrival and train departure.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg.
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 3 if starting from Bergen or Stavanger, Day 2 if coming from Kristiansand, travel from Hamburg to London by train.
For example, the first departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:57.
Or you can leave Hamburg at 08:45 arriving London at 19:10. Or leave Hamburg at 12:50 arriving London at 21:57 (21:27 on Saturdays), see the Hamburg to London timetable on the London to Germany page.
Fares & how to buy tickets
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See the London to Germany page for fares & how to buy tickets from London to Hamburg. Fares vary depending how early you book and how popular that date or combination of trains is.
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Hamburg to Hirtshals starts at €29.90 each way booked at int.bahn.de. Fares vary depending how early you book and how popular that date or combination of trains is. You print your own ticket.
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Hirtshals to Kristiansand by ferry costs from €19 booked in advance, €29 full-price. Book online at www.colorline.com, or you can buy a ticket at the port.
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Check Fjord Line ferry fares & buy tickets at www.fjordline.com. Fares vary by season, by how far ahead you book, and by what cabin accommodation you choose.
Train travel in Norway
Oslo to Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Bodo
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Modern air-conditioned trains link Oslo with Bergen, one of Europe's most scenic train routes, a journey worth doing for its own sake. Similar trains link Oslo with Stavanger, Kristiansand, Trondheim and other Norwegian cities.
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Norway's train services have been outsourced route by route to three private operators:
www.vy.no (rebranded from NSB Norwegian State Railways in 2019), routes include Oslo-Bergen, Oslo-Gothenburg.
www.sj.no (a Norwegian subsidiary of Swedish Railways), routes include Oslo-Trondheim-Bodo.
go-aheadnordic.no, routes include Oslo-Kristiansand-Stavanger.
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To find train times and fares on any route with any operator, go to entur.no (Norway's government-owned public transport website) or Vy's website, www.vy.no.
Both sites sell tickets for all the privatised Norwegian operators. Entur.no charges no booking fee, www.vy.no charges no fee for Vy tickets, but adds a booking fee for other operators. However, you may get better seat choice functionality if you book the Oslo-Bergen route direct with Vy.
At www.vy.no, the English button is top right. You can choose to load your ticket into the Vy app, or download it in PDF format which you can either print out or simply show on your phone or laptop.
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Oslo-Bergen costs from 249 Kr £28 each way with a limited-availability Lowfare fare or over 900 Kr (£90) each way full fare. Oslo-Stavanger also costs from 249 Kr each way with a Lowfare fare or 900+ Kr (£90) one-way full fare. Return fares are twice the one-way.
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Anyone over 67 (or married couples where one partner is over 67) get a 50% discount on full-fare but not off Lowfare fares. Children under 4 free, children 4-15 (inclusive) half price.
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First class is known as Plus, Komfort or Premium depending on the operator. The complimentary tea & coffee can justify the extra cost! Plus/Komfort/Premium class is available on most mainline routes including Oslo to Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim & Bodo, Gothenburg.
How to buy Norwegian train tickets
Option 1, buy at entur.no
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You can check train times and buy tickets for all Norwegian operators at the official government-owned public transport website entur.no. This charges no booking fee. Only downside? You may get more seat choice functionality if you use the specific operator's site.
Option 2, at www.vy.no
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You can buy Norwegian tickets online at www.vy.no, this sells tickets for trains operated by Vy and (with a small booking fee) trains operated by the other Norwegian operators.
Cheap advance-purchase Lowfare fares are often available, saving a lot of money over the regular fare that you'll be charged on the day of travel. Lowfare tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable.
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To switch it to English, scroll down and click In English right at the bottom of the page.
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Useful words: Voksen means adult. 'Barn' means child aged 4 to 15 inclusive (under 4's go free). Honnør means senior citizen over 67 years old (anyone aged over 67 gets gets a 50% reduction on standard fares, although no reduction on Lowfare fares).
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When you see the fares page, you'll see both Standard fares (Ordinær) which are flexible and refundable, and Lowest fares which are cheap limited-availability Lowfare fares, non-changeable and non-refundable. Lowfare fares cost from 249 Kr upwards depending on availability.
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Useful words: Okonomi means standard class, any fare including the word Plus (formerly Komfort until April 2020) means first class with larger seats, more space, laptop power points and complimentary tea and coffee.
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Tick the box to say you don't have a Norwegian phone number.
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You may need to make up a postcode. If it doesn't accept UK-style postcodes simply make up random digits such as '1234'. No-one will send anything to you, so it doesn't matter!
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Acceptance of UK and other foreign credit cards.
www.vy.no (or nsb.no as it was before rebranding in 2019) has always struggled with some UK-issued credit cards and many overseas ones, but they now accept PayPal as well as credit cards. Many UK credit & debit cards certainly do work, and most people report success buying tickets at vy.no, but a few travellers report that their UK-issued card didn't work (and were even told by NSB (now Vy) telesales that the site only accepts Norwegian cards). So try using www.vy.no as your card may well work fine. If it doesn't, try another card. If none of your cards work, use PayPal. If all else fails, call their telesales by phone on (+47) 61 05 19 10 and buy tickets that way. Vy definitely accept UK cards by phone, and you may well find the price three times cheaper than buying from a UK agency, or waiting till the date of travel when all the cheap advance-purchase lowfare fares will have sold out.
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Ticket delivery: You can choose to load your ticket into the Vy app, or download it in PDF format which you can either print out or simply show on your phone or laptop.
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Oslo to Copenhagen: www.sj.se can book tickets from Oslo to Copenhagen with 1 easy change in Gothenburg, from around 425 SEK (€46). Tickets can be printed at home or there is an SJ ticket collection machine installed at Oslo Sentral.
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Oslo to Stockholm: It won't book tickets between Oslo and Stockholm, as these trains are provided by Swedish train company SJ. Oslo to Stockholm tickets should be booked online at www.sj.se. Tickets can be printed at home or there is an SJ ticket collection machine installed at Oslo Sentral.
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Oslo to Gothenburg: www.vy.no can book train tickets between Oslo and Gothenburg (Goteborg) in either direction. Tickets can be collected at Oslo or Gothenburg stations or on board the train.
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Feedback from booking this way and using these trains would be very welcome!
The scenic Flåm Railway
A scenic tourist line worth mentioning is the famous Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) from Myrdal (on the Oslo-Bergen line) 900m above sea level to Flåm on the Fjord below. Train run daily all year round, 4 departures a day in winter, 10 or so in summer. It can be done as a day trip from Oslo, as the Myrdal-Flåm journey itself only takes 40-50 minutes each way. See www.visitflam.com/flamsbana, then see www.vy.no for connections from Oslo or Bergen to Myrdal.
Sleeper trains from Oslo to Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim
You can't beat a daytime journey on the scenic Oslo to Bergen line, but on the way back you can save time by travelling on the sleeper. Unlike most other European sleeper trains where you can book individual berths in shared compartments, in Norway you pay a fixed supplement and get a whole 2-berth compartment to yourself, whether there are two of you or only one. When you board, you must first check in at the cafe car to have your ticket checked and receive the plastic card-key to your sleeper compartment.
Hurtigruten coastal ferries
Bergen to the Arctic Circle: www.hurtigruten.com & www.havilavoyages.com
Bergen - Trondheim - Bodo - Tromso - Kirkenes
Every day, an express coastal steamer service sails from Bergen on an all-points trip north to Kirkenes in the Arctic Circle close to the Russian border, a 6-night one-way voyage or a 11 or 12-night round trip. It's an essential transport service for the communities along the route which also offers cruises for visitors wanting an unrivalled boat ride along the beautiful Norwegian Fjords up to the land of the Midnight Sun.
Until 2021, all sailings were operated by Hurtigruten (www.hurtigruten.com - the word hurtigruten simply means express route. However, the Norwegian government has split the route into 3 contracts, two won by Hurtigruten and one by Havila Kystruten (www.havilavoyages.com). From December 2021, 2 out of 3 sailings will be operated by Hurtigruten and one by Havila Kystruten.
To check sailing times & buy tickets see www.hurtigruten.com and www.havilavoyages.com. You'll need to check both, as each website only shows that company's sailings. For more about their service and history, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurtigruten.
Norway in a Nutshell tour
Oslo - Bergen - Flam - Oslo over 5 days
The popular 'Norway in a Nutshell' circular tour takes you from Oslo to Bergen to Flam and back to Oslo over 5 days. Train-based tour specialist Railbookers can sort this for you with train reservations & hotels.
UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk
US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com
Canada call 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com
Australia call 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au
New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or see website
European Rail Timetable & map
The European Rail Timetable (formerly the Thomas Cook European Timetable) has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information. It is essential for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for armchair travellers. Published since 1873, it had just celebrated 140 years of publication when Thomas Cook decided to pull the plug on their entire publishing department, but the dedicated ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and resumed publication of the famous European Rail Timetable in March 2014. You can buy it online at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses) or www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide). More information on what the European Rail Timetable contains.
Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south. Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted. See an extract from the map. Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).
Make sure you take a good guidebook. For independent travel, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide. Both guidebooks provide the same excellent level of practical information and cultural and historical background. You won't regret buying one!
Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk
Hotels in Oslo, Bergen & Norway
Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.
Travel insurance & other tips
Always take out travel insurance
You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer. It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit. These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here. Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.
www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection and gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.
Get an eSIM with mobile data package
Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. There's no need to buy a physical SIM card! Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.
Get a Curve card for foreign travel
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards. And you can get a Curve card for free.
How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.
Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN
When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I also get some commission to help support this site.
Carry an Anker powerbank
Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone. You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com.
Touring cities? Use hill walking shoes!
One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa. They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities. My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!