Ferry to Sweden
Helsingør - Helsingborg
From Denmark to Sweden in just 20 minutes on the shortest ferry crossing over the Öresund. Departures every 20 minutes, 365 days a year.
- Up to 53 daily departures, first ferry 00:10, last 23:40
- Just 20 minutes across the Öresund (9.6 km)
- Car incl. passengers, every 20 minutes year-round
Getting there & prices
Getting there, ports and prices
Table of Contents
How to get to the Helsingør and Helsingborg ferry ports
The ferry port of Helsingør sits on the north-east coast of the Danish island of Zealand, just a short walk from Helsingør station and the famous Kronborg Castle. The destination port, Helsingborg, is right in the centre of this southern Swedish port city, only five minutes from Helsingborg C station. Öresundslinjen is the only operator on this route.
From Germany via Denmark to Helsingør
From Germany, you take the E47/E55 through Denmark towards Copenhagen. North of Copenhagen, continue on the E47 towards Helsingør. From the Öresund Bridge to Helsingør is about 60 km, from Rødby (ferry from Puttgarden) about 170 km, and from Gedser (ferry from Rostock) about 210 km.
Terminals in Helsingør and Helsingborg
In Helsingør, follow the signs for the ferry port or Öresundslinjen. The terminal sits right on the harbour, centrally located in town: vehicles check in at Færgevej 8 (3000 Helsingør), foot passengers at Færgevej 9. There's paid parking around the harbour for foot passengers, with the first 15 minutes free. On the Swedish side, ferries dock at Helsingborg C, where the railway station, bus terminal and ferry terminal all sit under one roof: vehicles enter and exit via Bredgatan 5 (252 25 Helsingborg), while foot passengers board through Helsingborg C. Both terminals are centrally located, just ten minutes from the station in Helsingør, and five minutes from Helsingborg C station in Helsingborg, with trains from Copenhagen running to Helsingør. Since 2022 both terminals have been cashless, and border checks are possible.
Check-in and boarding
Check-in for vehicles closes 10 minutes before departure at the latest (5 minutes with a commuter card), and 5 minutes before departure for foot passengers. Boarding runs via express check-in: if you gave your number plate at booking, you're registered automatically and can drive straight onto the ferry. If you have a Scandlines combined ticket, scan the barcode at the ticket machine or show your booking confirmation. A ticket bought at the terminal is valid for the next available departure.
What does the ferry cost?
Öresundslinjen offers two ticket categories: the cheap Lowprice ticket with a narrow time window (one hour before and after your booked departure, non-refundable), and the flexible Standard ticket with an eight-hour window either side, which you can rebook and cancel free of charge. Prices are dynamic, so booking early pays off. Buying at the ticket machine at the port costs noticeably more than booking online, so booking via the website or the Molslinjen app is almost always cheaper. In the high season from June to August, fares are higher than in the low season.
The car fare covers vehicles up to six metres in length including all passengers; anything longer incurs a length surcharge, and motorhomes and car-trailer combinations between six and twelve metres check in manually. For trailers, you book an additional ticket, with the surcharge based on length (under or over five metres, maximum height 1.95 m or 4 m). Motorbikes have their own fare including the rider, and bicycles travel at a flat rate including the cyclist. Foot passengers pay less for a same-day return than for two one-way Standard tickets, and children under 7 travel free.
If you're travelling from Germany, there's the Scandlines combined ticket, which combines a Puttgarden-Rødby or Rostock-Gedser crossing with the Helsingør-Helsingborg Öresund ferry. One ticket covers both crossings, the car fare includes up to nine people, and the Öresund leg can be used up to eight hours before or after your booked Scandlines departure.
You'll find current prices for all vehicle types, fares and the combined ticket in the price overview.
Helsingør - Helsingborg
By ferry from Denmark to Sweden across the Öresund
The Helsingør-Helsingborg route is the shortest and busiest ferry crossing over the Öresund, and at just 20 minutes it takes about as long as a coffee break. It connects the Danish castle town of Helsingør, on the island of Zealand, with the southern Swedish port city of Helsingborg in Skåne, making it the gateway to Sweden for anyone who wants to avoid the Öresund Bridge.
The route is operated year-round, almost around the clock, by Öresundslinjen (part of the Molslinjen group) with four modern ferries: Tycho Brahe, Aurora af Helsingborg, Hamlet and Mercandia IV. On board you'll find restaurants, cafés, seating areas and duty-free shops. Whether you're travelling by car, motorhome, motorbike, bicycle or on foot, Helsingør-Helsingborg makes an ideal leg of the journey to Sweden, especially combined with the Scandlines combined ticket from Puttgarden-Rødby or Rostock-Gedser. On the Danish side, the UNESCO World Heritage Kronborg Castle (Shakespeare's Hamlet) awaits, while on the Swedish side there's the medieval Kärnan Tower, Sofiero Castle and Helsingborg's lively waterfront.
- Crossing
- 20 min
- Operator
- Öresundslinjen
- Frequency
- up to 53× daily
- Fares from
- SEK 299
Next departures
Öresundslinjen sails between Helsingør and Helsingborg year-round, every 20 minutes during the day and roughly every 30 minutes at night. The first ferry departs at 00:10, the last at 23:40. With up to 53 departures a day, you'll always find a sailing that suits you.
FAQ: Helsingør - Helsingborg
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about the Helsingør-Helsingborg ferry connection
How long does the ferry from Helsingør to Helsingborg take? +
The crossing from Helsingør to Helsingborg takes just 20 minutes, making it the fastest ferry connection between Denmark and Sweden.
How often does the ferry run between Helsingør and Helsingborg? +
Øresundslinjen's ferries run around the clock, 365 days a year. During the day there's a departure every 20 minutes, while at night they run less frequently.
The first ferry leaves at 00:10, the last at 23:40. In total there are more than 50 departures a day in each direction.
What does the Helsingør - Helsingborg ferry cost? +
There are two ticket categories: the cheap Lowprice ticket with a narrow time window, and the flexible Standard ticket, which you can rebook and cancel free of charge. Prices are dynamic, so booking early pays off.
Buying at the ticket machine at the port costs noticeably more than booking online. You'll find current prices for all vehicle types and fares in the price overview.
Who operates the ferry: Øresundslinjen or Scandlines? +
The route is operated by Øresundslinjen, a subsidiary of Molslinjen. The company was previously known as HH-Ferries, then Scandlines, and most recently ForSea Ferries, before taking its current name in 2023.
Scandlines doesn't run the route itself, but offers it as a combined ticket together with the Puttgarden-Rødby or Rostock-Gedser routes, ideal if you're travelling from Germany.
Do I need to book my ticket in advance, or can I just turn up? +
With the Lowprice ticket, your ticket is valid one hour before and after your booked departure. With the Standard ticket, you get an 8-hour window either side of your booked departure, so you can simply catch a different ferry without rebooking.
You can also buy a ticket at the terminal without booking ahead. In high season, though, it's worth booking online via the website or the Molslinjen app.
Can I bring my dog or cat on the ferry? +
Yes, dogs and cats are allowed on board, as long as they're kept on a lead and don't disturb other passengers. No separate ticket is needed.
To enter Sweden, your pet must be at least 15 weeks old, microchipped and vaccinated against rabies (at least 21 days before departure). You'll also need an EU pet passport and must declare your pet to Swedish customs.
Which ships operate the route, and what's available on board? +
Five ships operate on the route: Tycho Brahe, Aurora af Helsingborg, Hamlet, Mercandia IV and Mercandia VIII. The three largest ferries each carry up to 1,250 passengers and 240 cars.
All ferries have a restaurant, café, onboard shop and seating. Tycho Brahe and Aurora run on battery power and are fully emission-free in battery mode.