AtB Ferries & Fast Boats in Trøndelag, Norway: Full Guide

AtB is the public transport authority for Trøndelag, the Norwegian county around Trondheim, and its network includes far more than city buses — 18 express boat (hurtigbåt) lines and a web of car ferries (ferje) reaching out along Trondheimsfjorden, the Frøya and Hitra islands, and the Namdalen coast further north. Here's how the pieces fit together.

What is AtB?

AtB AS was established in 2009 and is owned by Trøndelag county council, coordinating buses, the Gråkallbanen tram line in Trondheim, express boats and car ferries across the whole region — including the former Nord-Trøndelag area, brought into the network after the 2018 county merger.

Hurtigbåt vs ferje: two different boat systems

As elsewhere on the Norwegian coast, AtB runs two very different kinds of boat:

• Hurtigbåt (express boat) — fast, passenger-only boats, ticketed through the AtB app, the t:kort travel card, or on board. A single ticket is typically valid for 4.5 hours, letting you break a longer journey.
• Ferje (car ferry) — vehicle crossings paid through AutoPASS-ferje: you only pay for the vehicle, and passengers travel free. Cars without an AutoPASS tag are photographed and billed afterwards.

The Trondheim–Kristiansund express boat (Kystekspressen)

AtB's best-known route for visitors is the Trondheim–Kristiansund express boat, run by Norled, which threads Trondheimsfjorden via stops including Brekstad, Hitra, Kjørsvikbugen and Edøy before reaching Kristiansund — the full run takes around 3.5 hours. A shorter local leg, Trondheim–Vanvikan, uses a different, shorter ticket validity than the rest of the network. On board there's usually a café serving sandwiches and snacks, plus Wi-Fi — this is as much a scenic coastal trip as a transport link, ending in Kristiansund, a town built on stockfish trading and nicknamed Norway's "Atlantic City."

Reaching Frøya and Hitra

Trondheim connects to the Frøya and Hitra islands by a mix of direct bus and boat. From the islands themselves, a chain of hurtigbåt hops continues further out: Dyrøy–Mausundvær, Mausundvær–Gjæsingen, Gjæsingen–Sørburøy, Sørburøy–Bogøyvær and on to Sula, plus a further branch to Sauøya and Halten. Service to the outermost stops is denser in summer than winter, so check the current timetable before planning a trip to the smaller islands off-season.

The Namdalen coastal route

Further north, a coastal hurtigbåt chain runs from Namsos via Jøa, Abelvær and Rørvik on to Eidshaug, Fjølvika and Skei–Gutvik, with a seasonal extension to Sør-Gjæslingan in summer. Bus connections at Namsos link the boat to the wider Trøndelag network.

Trøndelag's car ferry network

Beyond the express boats, AtB runs a wide scatter of car ferries. Some of the busiest — Flakk–Rørvik, Brekstad–Valset and Hofles–Lund — charge a standard AutoPASS fare, while several quieter routes, including Garten–Storfosna, Levanger–Hokstad and Skei–Gutvik, run free or at a reduced summer rate. Fares depend on vehicle length and, on some routes, whether it's zero-emission. Notably, Flakk–Rørvik was the very first route in Norway to use the AutoPASS-ferje system, back in January 2010.

Tickets and payment

Short hops and buses use the t:kort travel card or the AtB app, both topped up online or via Vipps. Car ferries are billed automatically to an AutoPASS tag, or by photograph-and-invoice if you don't have one — private users with a prepaid AutoPASS agreement get a 50% discount on ferry fares. If you're travelling from outside Norway, it's worth confirming in advance whether your card works with the app, since international card acceptance isn't explicitly documented.

Planning your trip

• The Trondheim–Kristiansund express boat is the main scenic/tourist route — book a seat in summer if you want a specific departure.
• Car ferries need no advance ticket; AutoPASS or an onboard card covers the vehicle fare, passengers ride free.
• Sailings to the outer Frøya/Hitra islands and the Namdalen coast thin out in winter — check the current timetable for remote stops.
• See the AtB operator page for the full route list and live schedules.