We’ve done the Norway-to-Denmark run more than once — first by car through Sweden, then on the direct overnight ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen. Both work. Neither is obviously right for everyone. The choice comes down to what you’re optimising for: flexibility, sleep, cost, or just how much of Sweden you actually want to see.

This post is the breakdown we wish we’d had before our first crossing. No fluff, just the real trade-offs between ferry vs driving through Sweden on the Norway-to-Denmark leg.

The two routes at a glance

Option A — Drive through Sweden

Oslo → Gothenburg (via E6, ~310 km) → Malmö (via E20, ~270 km) → cross the Øresund Bridge into Copenhagen. Total driving: roughly 600 km, 6–7 hours at a relaxed pace. You’ll pass through Gothenburg (Sweden’s second city, very much worth a stop), cruise along the Swedish west coast, and arrive in Malmö before crossing the bridge. You can also do a shorter Helsingborg–Helsingør ferry crossing to cut the drive, but most people just go all the way to Malmö–Copenhagen via the bridge.

The E6 south of Oslo through to Gothenburg is well-maintained motorway, low stress, and — for Scandinavian standards — not too expensive to drive. Expect about two to three toll stops in Norway before you cross into Sweden, where toll roads are largely absent on this corridor.

Option B — Overnight ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen

DFDS runs the Oslo–Copenhagen overnight ferry, departing Oslo around 4 pm and arriving Copenhagen early the next morning (typically 9–10 am). You can take your car on board. If you’re travelling without a car, the cabin price replaces a night’s hotel. This is the real value proposition of the ferry: you sleep while you travel.

The crossing takes roughly 17–18 hours and passes through the Oslofjord and then the Kattegat, with open water for most of the journey. Cabins range from basic inside berths to sea-view staterooms. There’s a restaurant, a bar, a small spa, and duty-free shopping on board.

Ferry option: Oslo to Copenhagen (DFDS)

Booking and pricing

Book via DFDS directly or through comparison sites. Prices are highly dynamic — book 4–8 weeks ahead for reasonable rates, especially in summer. For two adults in a basic inside cabin (no car), expect to pay around €80–150 per person in peak season. Add a car and you’re looking at an extra €80–120. Sea-view cabins and superior rooms can push the total to €400+ for two in high summer.

One thing worth knowing: the ferry price includes your “hotel” for the night. If you price it purely as transport, it looks expensive. Priced as transport + accommodation, it often competes very well with driving plus a Swedish hotel.

What the crossing is actually like

We’ve done the Oslo–Copenhagen DFDS crossing in May, and the honest verdict: it’s comfortable but not glamorous. The cabins are clean and functional — think decent budget hotel on water. The buffet dinner is genuinely good, and the bar is the social hub, especially for Scandinavians doing the duty-free run. Bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper; the ship engine hum is constant but low. The Oslofjord exit at dusk is genuinely beautiful.

• Check-in: 2.5–3 hours before departure — plan your Oslo day around this.
• Cars: drive on, park on the vehicle deck, don’t go back until arrival. Cabin access is separate.
• Breakfast: included or available at extra cost depending on your ticket tier — worth adding if you don’t want to navigate Copenhagen on an empty stomach.
• Arrival in Copenhagen: the ferry docks at Nordhavn, a 15-minute metro ride from the city centre. Easy.

Driving through Sweden: what to expect

The E6 and E20 corridors

The drive from Oslo to Copenhagen via Sweden is one of Scandinavia’s great under-discussed road trips. The E6 south of Oslo descends through rolling agricultural country, hits the coast around Sandefjord, and crosses into Sweden near Svinesund. Once in Sweden the road quality improves noticeably and the tolls disappear. Gothenburg arrives in about 3 hours from Oslo — and it’s worth stopping. The fish market, the Haga neighbourhood, a coffee by the canal. Most people skip it because they’re “just passing through.” Don’t.

From Gothenburg, the E20 runs east then south toward Malmö, passing through flatter Swedish countryside. The final approach across the Øresund Bridge into Copenhagen is a proper arrival moment — the skyline emerges as you hit the Danish side. Budget at least 30 extra minutes if you want to stop for photos.

Norwegian toll roads

Before you leave Norway, you’ll encounter AutoPASS toll points. Foreign rental cars are billed via their licence plates — check with your rental company whether this is included or billed separately after the trip (it usually is). If you have a rental, don’t stress; you’ll get a bill. If you’re driving your own car, get a BroBizz or AutoPASS transponder from Norway for much cheaper rates. Budget roughly €20–40 in Norwegian tolls on this corridor depending on your start point in the Oslo region.

Gothenburg stopover option

The drive is easily split in Gothenburg overnight. This turns a 6–7 hour push into two relaxed days, gives you a full Swedish city break, and is especially sensible if you’re travelling with kids. Budget accommodation in Gothenburg costs €80–140 per night. We’ve done this split and it made the whole journey feel like a trip, not a commute.

Cost comparison: ferry vs driving

The honest numbers (two adults, summer 2026)

• Ferry (no car, inside cabin, 2 adults): €160–280 total depending on season and booking window. No fuel, no tolls, no hotel.
• Ferry (with car + cabin, 2 adults): €280–450 in summer peak.
• Driving, no Sweden stop (fuel + tolls + Øresund Bridge): roughly €120–180 in fuel (assuming a normal petrol car, current Scandinavian prices), €30–40 in Norwegian tolls, €65 for the Øresund Bridge. Total: €215–285 plus the hidden cost of a full driving day.
• Driving with one Gothenburg overnight: add €80–140 hotel to the above. Total: €295–425, but you get a bonus city.

The honest conclusion: costs are broadly similar when you account for accommodation. The ferry is not the expensive option it first appears when you subtract the hotel night. The drive becomes competitive once you factor in the Swedish stop — you’re paying similarly but getting more country.

Time comparison: who wins?

• Ferry door-to-door: arrive at Oslo port ~1 pm, depart 4 pm, arrive Copenhagen 9–10 am next day. You lose your Oslo afternoon and gain your Copenhagen morning. Effective travel time: ~19 hours from port arrival to city arrival, but you sleep through most of it.
• Drive non-stop: 6–7 hours on the road. Oslo city centre to Copenhagen city centre in a single day. Best for early starters who want to arrive with a full afternoon in Copenhagen.
• Drive with Gothenburg stop: 3 hours day 1 (Oslo to Gothenburg), 3.5 hours day 2 (Gothenburg to Copenhagen). Two half-days of driving, one full Swedish city day.

If time is genuinely tight and you need to be in Copenhagen by a specific hour, drive non-stop — the ferry can’t guarantee a precise arrival time in the same way. If you have more flexibility, the ferry’s “sleep-and-arrive” model is genuinely pleasant.

Which traveller should take which route?

• Take the ferry if: you’re travelling without a car, you want a relaxed crossing that doubles as accommodation, you get tired of long drives, or you want a proper Scandinavian ferry experience (it’s a bucket-list transport mode for many visitors).
• Drive through Sweden if: you have a car and want flexibility, you want to see Gothenburg, you’re on a multi-week Scandinavian road trip and Sweden is part of the itinerary anyway, or you want to cross the Øresund Bridge (which is genuinely thrilling).
• Do the Helsingborg–Helsingør short ferry instead if: you’ve driven Sweden and just want to hop across the sound quickly, skip the bridge toll, and arrive in northern Denmark rather than Copenhagen directly.

We’ve done both the overnight ferry and the drive, and both are good. The deciding factor for us is almost always whether we want more Scandinavia or a faster crossing. On a road trip, we drive. On a city-break mission, we ferry.

Mistakes we’ve seen (and made)

• Forgetting the Øresund Bridge toll. It’s €65 one-way for a standard car. Not cheap, not optional. Factor it in before you decide the drive is “cheaper” than the ferry.
• Booking the ferry at the last minute in summer. July and August sailings can sell out or cost 2–3x the off-peak rate. Book 4–6 weeks ahead minimum.
• Skipping Gothenburg entirely. If you’re driving, stopping adds 2 hours max. Not stopping is the wrong call.
• Arriving at the Oslo ferry terminal at departure time. DFDS asks you to check in 2.5–3 hours early with a car. Arrive at 1 pm for a 4 pm sailing. We’ve seen people miss boarding because they treated it like a train.
• Not booking a cabin on the overnight ferry. Seats-only is technically possible but we’ve heard grim stories. Book a cabin — at minimum the basic inside berth. Sleep matters more than the price difference.
• Assuming Swedish toll-free means totally free. The Øresund Bridge is Danish-Swedish infrastructure and charges on both sides. You pay when crossing westbound (Norway to Denmark direction) via the Danish toll plaza. No way around it.

Frequently asked questions

A final word from Rovaniemi

We’ve made this crossing in both directions and by both methods. The honest truth is that Scandinavia rewards travellers who take their time — and whether that means sleeping on a ferry or stopping a night in Gothenburg, either approach will give you something the fast lane won’t. The route from Norway to Denmark is not just a transit corridor. It is, quietly, one of Europe’s better drives.

Pick your method based on whether you want more Scandinavia or a faster crossing. If you have the car and the time: drive, stop in Gothenburg, cross the bridge. If you want to skip a hotel and wake up in Copenhagen with your luggage unpacked: book the ferry. Both are the right answer — just for different trips.