Norway · Lofoten, the coastal express & the Arctic Circle
Nordland ferry routes & schedules
Nordland has the longest and most far-flung ferry network in Norway. Stretching across the Arctic Circle from Helgeland up to the Lofoten and Vesterålen islands, it leans heavily on fast passenger boats (hurtigbåt) that serve island communities no road will ever reach — as much a lifeline as a way to travel.
- 313
- Connections
- 3
- Operators
- 222
- Quays
- 33m
- Avg crossing
About
Ferry travel in Nordland
Where the boat is the only road
More than almost anywhere else in Norway, ferries in Nordland are essential infrastructure. Along the Helgeland coast and out to the islands off Bodø, whole communities depend on the express boat for school, work and hospital trips. That gives the network a distinctive shape: long, multi-stop hurtigbåt routes that thread between dozens of small quays, plus the car ferries that carry the E6 and the roads into Lofoten across the widest sounds. Our Nordland ferry network guide maps how it all fits together.
Gateway to Lofoten & Vesterålen
The classic approach to Lofoten by sea is the car ferry across the Vestfjord from Bodø to Moskenes, and the shorter crossings that link the islands to the mainland further north toward Vesterålen. These fill quickly in summer, and unlike the short fjord hops further south, the popular Lofoten car ferries can be worth reserving ahead. Express passenger boats add faster, foot-passenger links to Svolvær and the smaller island villages — our Lofoten by ferry guide covers the routes, seasons and how to combine them.
Weather & the Vestfjord
Weather matters here more than in the sheltered south: the Vestfjord is open water, and sailings can be delayed or cancelled in winter gales — always check the day's status before relying on a connection. Nordland is also a link in Norway's Hurtigruten and Havila coastal voyage, the long-distance line that calls at ports the local ferries don't.
Destinations
Places to reach by ferry in Nordland
Travel guides to the islands and fjords this region's ferries serve.
Lofoten Islands
Lofoten's road is fine. The ferry is the problem. Almost everyone driving to the islands crosses the Vestfjorden from Bodø to Moskenes, and in summer those car spaces disappear from the booking system weeks ahead — while the alternative, the long road in from the north, adds most of a day. Sorting the ferry first is not a detail of the trip; on this archipelago it is the trip.
Lofoten Islands travel guideVesterålen
Drive north out of Lofoten and the peaks soften, the beaches widen and the tour buses stop. Vesterålen is the archipelago people pass through, and the road through it ends at Andenes on the northern tip. From there you either turn round and drive back the way you came, or you take a small summer ferry across open water to Senja. There is no third option.
Vesterålen travel guide
Quays
Ferry quays in Nordland
222 quays with published connections. Open a quay for every route that calls there.
- Bodø hurtigbåtkai15
- Ørnes hurtigbåtkai10
- Rødøy hurtigbåtkai9
- Brottøy hurtigbåtkai8
- Brønnøysund hurtigbåtkai7
- Nesna hurtigbåtkai7
- Onøy ferjekai7
- Sørarnøy hurtigbåtkai7
- Terråk hurtigbåtkai7
- Tonnes hurtigbåtkai7
- Bodø ferjekai6
- Herøy ferjekai6
- Onøy hurtigbåtkai6
- Røytvoll hurtigbåtkai6
- Sandnessjøen hurtigbåtkai6
- Stokkvågen ferjekai6
- Tjøtta ferjekai6
- Tjøtta hurtigbåtkai6
- Træna hurtigbåtkai6
- Våg hurtigbåtkai6
- Værøy ferjekai6
- Øksningøy hurtigbåtkai6
- Forvik hurtigbåtkai5
- Hildring hurtigbåtkai5
- Jektvik ferjekai5
- Mevær hurtigbåtkai Fleinvær5
- Sleneset ferjekai5
- Stokkvågen hurtigbåtkai5
- Støtt ferjekai båt5
- Tonnes ferjekai5
- Træna ferjekai5
- Austbø ferjekai4
- Bindalseidet hurtigbåtkai4
- Bjørn ferjekai Dønna4
- Bognes ferjekai4
- Drag hurtigbåtkai4
- Grødset hurtigbåtkai4
- Horn ferjekai4
- Igerøy ferjekai4
- Ingelsfjord hurtigbåtkai4
- Jektvik hurtigbåtkai4
- Kilboghamn ferjekai4
- Lovund ferjekai4
- Løkta ferjekai4
- Moskenes ferjekai4
- Nesna ferjekai4
- Røst ferjekai4
- Sandnessjøen ferjekai4
- Sandvær hurtigbåtkai4
- Sanna hurtigbåtkai4
- Selsøyvik hurtigbåtkai4
- Sommerset hurtigbåtkai4
- Stokkasjøen hurtigbåtkai4
- Sørarnøy ferjekai4
- Sørnesøy hurtigbåtkai4
- Søvik ferjekai4
- Tro ferjekai4
- Tunnstad hurtigbåtkai4
- Ylvingen ferjekai4
- Øksnes hurtigbåtkai4
Show all 222 quaysShow fewer
- Øyen hurtigbåtkai
- Bjørn hurtigbåtkai
- Bliksvær hurtigbåtkai
- Bogøy hurtigbåtkai
- Bolga ferjekai
- Bolga hurtigbåtkai
- Bærøyvågen hurtigbåtkai
- Børøy
- Flostad hurtigbåtkai
- Gjersvikgrenda hurtigbåtkai
- Gjerøy ferjekai
- Gjerøy hurtigbåtkai
- Harangsfjord hurtigbåtkai
- Helnessund hurtigbåtkai
- Indre Kvarøy hurtigbåtkai
- Kilboghamn hurtigbåtkai
- Lonkan hurtigbåtkai
- Lovund hurtigbåtkai
- Melfjordbotn hurtigbåtkai
- Meløysund ferjekai
- Meløysund hurtigbåtkai
- Mindland ferjekai
- Musken hurtigbåtkai
- Myken hurtigbåtkai
- Rødøy ferjekai
- Rørøy hurtigbåtkai
- Sandvik hurtigbåtkai
- Sandøya hurtigbåtkai
- Selsøyvik ferjekai
- Selvær ferjekai
- Skogsholmen hurtigbåtkai
- Skotnes hurtigbåtkai
- Skrova hurtigbåtkai
- Smines hurtigbåtkai
- Storselsøy ferjekai
- Storselsøy hurtigbåtkai
- Støtt hurtigbåtkai
- Sunderøy hurtigbåtkai
- Svolvær ferjekai
- Sørfjorden ferjekai
- Sørfjorden hurtigbåtkai
- Sørlandegode hurtigbåtkai
- Sørvær hurtigbåtkai Fleinvær
- Andalsvåg ferjekai
- Austringen hurtigbåtkai
- Barkestad hurtigbåtkai
- Bodø kystrutekai
- Brasøy ferjekai
- BrasøyFK hurtigbåtkai
- Brønnøysund kystrutekai
- Drag ferjekai
- Festvåg ferjekai
- Fiskebøl ferjekai
- Forvik ferjekai
- Forøy ferjekai
- Grønnøy hurtigbåtkai
- Handnesøya ferjekai
- Handnesøya hurtigbåtkai
- Hanøy hurtigbåtkai
- Helgenes hurtigbåtkai
- Helligvær hurtigbåtkai
- Hestmona hurtigbåtkai
- Hestøya ferjekai
- Holm ferjekai
- Holmen hurtigbåtkai
- Horsdal ferjekai
- Hundåla ferjekai
- Husvika hurtigbåtkai
- Indre Kvarøy ferjekai
- Inndyr hurtigbåtkai
- Kaljord hurtigbåtkai
- Kilvær hurtigbåtkai
- Kjøpsvik ferjekai
- Langøy hurtigbåtkai
- Levang ferjekai
- Lødingen ferjekai
- Melbu ferjekai
- Mesøy hurtigbåtkai
- Mindland hurtigbåtkai
- Misten ferjekai
- Nesna kystrutekai
- Nesna lokalbåtkai
- Nordnesøy hurtigbåtkai
- Nordskot hurtigbåtkai
- Reine hurtigbåtkai
- Sandnessjøen kystrutekai
- Sauren ferjekai
- Selvær hurtigbåtkai
- Skarberget ferjekai
- Skipnes hurtigbåtkai
- Skrova ferjekai
- Skutvik hurtigbåtkai
- Solfjellsjøen ferjekai
- Stokkasjøen ferjekai
- Stokmarknes kystrutekai
- Storå hurtigbåtkai
- Sund ferjekai
- Sundøy hurtigbåtkai
- Svolvær hurtigbåtkai
- Telnes hurtigbåtkai
- Tomma ferjekai
- Tomma kai
- Tro hurtigbåtkai
- Vandve ferjekai
- Vassdalsvik ferjekai
- Vennesund ferjekai
- Vikholmen ferjekai
- Vikholmen kai
- Vindstad hurtigbåtkai
- Visthus hurtigbåtkai
- Vågaholmen hurtigbåtkai
- Ylvingen hurtigbåtkai
- Ågskardet ferjekai
- Ørnes kystrutekai
- Aursletta hurtigbåtkai
- Brennsund hurtigbåtkai
- Evenes hurtigbåtkai
- Finnvåg hurtigbåtkai
- Gardsøya kai Vega
- Givær hurtigbåtkai
- Grytåga hurtigbåtkai
- Hellmobotn hurtigbåtkai
- Holkestad hurtigbåtkai
- Kilvågen hurtigbåtkai
- Kirkefjord hurtigbåtkai
- Kjeldebotn hurtigbåtkai
- Kjerrvika hurtigbåtkai
- Kjøpsvik hurtigbåtkai
- Mosjøen ferjekai
- Myre hurtigbåtkai
- Nordfugløy hurtigbåtkai
- Nordnesøy ferjekai
- Rendal hurtigbåtkai
- Rostad hurtigbåtkai
- Skutvik ferjekai
- Sleneset hurtigbåtkai
- Sortland kystrutekai
- Stamsund kystrutekai
- Stokmarknes hurtigbåtkai
- Stuvland hurtigbåtkai
- Svolvær kystrutekai
- Sørfugløy hurtigbåtkai
- Sørnes ferjekai
- Teksmona hurtigbåtkai
- Tinden hurtigbåtkai
- Valøy hurtigbåtkai
- Visten hurtigbåtkai
- Vågsodden ferjekai
- Aldra hurtigbåtkai
- Bønå hurtigbåtkai
- Digermulen ferjekai
- Finnvik ferjekai
- Hulløyhamn hurtigbåtkai
- Hysværøyan hurtigbåtkai
- Nordsolvær hurtigbåtkai
- Sigerland hurtigbåtkai
- Skjellfjord hurtigbåtkai
- Skålvær hurtigbåtkai
- Storå hurtigbåtkai
- Strandbukta hurtigbåtkai
- Vokkøy hurtigbåtkai
- Vågsodden hurtigbåtkai
At a glance
Which Nordland crossings run most often?
The busiest published crossings, ranked by number of listed sailings.
| Route | Crossing | Sailings | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Misten → Festvåg | 8m | 30 / wk | 1 |
| Bjørn ferjekai Dønna → Sandnessjøen | 25m | 28 / wk | 1 |
| Sandnessjøen → Bjørn ferjekai Dønna | 25m | 28 / wk | 1 |
| Skarberget → Bognes | 25m | 27 / wk | 1 |
| Bognes → Skarberget | 25m | 27 / wk | 1 |
| Skrova → Svolvær | 30m | 25 / wk | 1 |
| Svolvær → Skrova | 30m | 25 / wk | 1 |
| Bognes → Lødingen | 1h | 24 / wk | 1 |
| Forøy → Ågskardet | 10m | 23 / wk | 1 |
| Ågskardet → Forøy | 10m | 23 / wk | 1 |
| Lødingen → Bognes | 1h | 23 / wk | 1 |
| Bodø → Moskenes | 3h 15m | 22 / wk | 1 |
Timetables
Ferry routes in Nordland
310 routes departing Nordland.
Showing the 150 busiest of 310 routes departing Nordland.
150 routes
Operators
Who runs the ferries in Nordland?
Guides
Planning ferry travel in Nordland
Practical guides to fares, booking and the crossings worth building a trip around.
- Nordland Ferry Network: Norway's Hurtigbåt & Coastal FerriesComplete guide to Nordland's ferries and hurtigbåt express boats — Helgeland, Lofoten, Vesterålen & Bindal routes, tickets, and Reis Nordland booking.
- Lofoten Islands by Ferry: Routes, Times & TipsEvery ferry to and around the Lofoten Islands — Bodø–Moskenes, the Bodø–Svolvær express boat, seasonal shortcuts, and practical tips for cars and foot passengers.
- Hurtigruten & Havila: Norway's Coastal Voyage (Bergen-Kirkenes)How Norway's Bergen-Kirkenes Coastal Express works: Hurtigruten vs Havila, segments, cabins, seasons and practical tips.
- Are Ferries Cancelled in Bad Weather?When ferries are delayed or cancelled, why high-speed services are most affected, and what to do if your sailing is called off.
- Norway's Ferry Network: Your Comprehensive Route GuideExplore Norway's extensive ferry network, from the iconic Western Fjords to the Arctic. Discover car ferries, express boats, and coastal routes.
- Ferry Prices in Norway: AutoPASS, Free Crossings & How Payment WorksNorway's road ferries bill your number plate automatically, discount prepaid AutoPASS accounts and carry foot passengers free. Here is how the pricing system works, including rental cars and foreign plates.
- Are Ferries Free in Norway? The 2026 List of Free Routes (and the New Summer Fares)Yes, many low-traffic and island ferries are free in Norway, but three counties reintroduced summer vehicle fares for 2026. Here is the current picture.
- AutoPASS for Ferry in Norway: Ferjekort vs Brikke — Which You Actually Need (2026)The ferry card and the toll tag are not two rival products — one runs on top of the other. Here is which you actually need in 2026.
Travel updates
Latest updates for Nordland
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Lofoten by ferry, and how long does it take?
The main sea route is the car ferry across the Vestfjord from Bodø to Moskenes at the southern tip of Lofoten, which takes roughly 3–3.5 hours. Foot passengers travel free and don't need to pre-book; drivers taking a car in the busy May-to-September season should book ahead, as only part of the deck is sold in advance and weekend sailings fill days ahead.
Do I need to book the Bodø to Moskenes ferry?
Not as a foot passenger — you can simply turn up and board (an optional paid reservation exists if you want a guaranteed place). With a vehicle it's a different story in summer: only about half the car deck is pre-bookable, so reserve ahead for May–September travel and, if a sailing shows sold out online, arrive early to queue for the remaining places.
Are Nordland's express boats just for tourists?
No — they are primarily a lifeline service. Along the Helgeland coast and the islands off Bodø, the fast passenger boats (hurtigbåt) are how residents commute, reach school and get to hospital, which is why many routes make numerous stops at small quays.
How many ferry routes are there in Nordland?
Nordland has 313 ferry and express-boat connections across 222 quays. Each route page lists the timetable, crossing time and operator.
Who operates ferries in Nordland?
Boat and ferry services in Nordland are run by 3 operators, including Havila, Hurtigruten and Nordland fylkeskommune. Most are part of Norway's county public-transport network.
How long are ferry crossings in Nordland?
Across Nordland's active crossings the average sailing takes about 33m, while the longest runs roughly 3h 55m. Each route page shows the exact duration.
Explore
Other ferry regions in Norway
Reviewed by Serhat Özçelik, Founder & Editor of Ferry Schedule Hub · Last updated August 30, 2026.