Puttgarden-Rødby ferry: Fehmarn to Denmark

The Puttgarden-Rødby ferry, often also written Puttgarden-Rodby or Puttgarden-Rödby, is the shortest ferry link between Germany and Denmark on the Vogelfluglinie, the "bird flight line" from Hamburg to Copenhagen. It runs from Puttgarden on Fehmarn to Rødby on the Danish island of Lolland: about 20 kilometres across the Fehmarn Belt, a 45-minute crossing and a departure every 30 minutes during the day. Scandlines operates it with four identical hybrid double-ended ferries. If you are travelling from Hamburg to Copenhagen, the ferry is quicker than any overland route: no detour via Jutland and the Great Belt, just a short break on deck.

This page takes you through the crossing step by step: getting there, check-in, time on board, vehicles and bikes, arrival and choosing a ticket. The two things that change most often have their own pages: departure times in the timetable and fares on the Tickets & prices page.

Getting there and the terminal

The Scandlines terminal in Puttgarden is on Fährhafenstraße at the northern tip of Fehmarn, right at the end of the B207. From Hamburg and the rest of Germany, the A1 motorway runs via Lübeck to Heiligenhafen, where you continue on the B207 over the Fehmarn Sound Bridge onto the island; the whole route is signposted "Puttgarden" and "Dänemark" (Denmark). Without a car, the X85 express bus from Lübeck ZOB (central bus station) takes you straight to the terminal.

On the Danish side, the terminal is at Færgestationsvej 5 in Rødbyhavn, at the end of the E47 from Copenhagen. Without a car, take the train to Maribo and then bus 720R to the port; there is currently no train to the terminal itself. Both routes in detail: Port of Puttgarden and Port of Rødby.

Check-in and departure

At both ports, check-in closes 15 minutes before departure and opens two hours beforehand; allow at least 30 minutes before departure. In the peak season the extra time is worth it, as queues build up in the lanes before boarding. If you do miss your ferry, it is no big deal with a Standard or Flex ticket: both are valid for every departure on your day of travel.

The terminal has two lanes. The blue lane is for cars up to six metres: a camera reads your number plate, or you confirm your booking at the machine. The yellow lane is staffed and for everyone else: longer vehicles, cars with caravans or trailers, motorhomes over six metres, motorcycles, bicycles, travellers with reduced mobility and anyone paying cash or buying a ticket on the spot. Foot passengers check in inside the terminal building and board via the boarding bridge. The full process is on the Check-in page.

On board

45 minutes is not long, and the ships are designed for it. On board you will find the Scandlines Food Express for quick meals and Scandlines Coffee for coffee and pastries, plus an on-board shop. There is no buffet restaurant like on the longer sister route Rostock-Gedser, and no Wi-Fi on board; instead, Wi-Fi is free in the waiting areas at both ports. You can pay on board in euros or Danish kroner (DKK), most easily by card.

The car deck stays closed during the crossing, so take everything you need upstairs with you. What sets the route's four ships apart technically is covered on the Scandlines and the ships on the route page.

Vehicles, bikes and pets

Tickets are sold per vehicle: all occupants are included in the car ticket, and what counts is the vehicle class and the total length including anything attached. Cars up to six metres use the blue lane; anything longer and every car with a caravan or trailer uses the yellow lane. For motorhomes and caravans, the Motorhomes & caravans page explains how to measure and book correctly. Motorcycles have their own fare, and you can take a bicycle for a small supplement on top of the passenger ticket; the On foot & by bike page describes how it works without a car.

Dogs and cats are welcome, but they need valid papers for Denmark and must stay in certain areas on board. Everything you need to know is on the Dogs & pets page.

Arrival and onward travel

In Rødbyhavn you drive straight off the ship onto the E47. Copenhagen is about 160 kilometres away across the islands of Lolland, Falster and Zealand, roughly a two-hour drive; the From Rødby to Copenhagen page covers the whole journey with and without a car. If you are heading on to Sweden, continue from Copenhagen over the Øresund Bridge to Malmö. You can book the ferry and the bridge toll together; the alternatives are compared on the To Sweden via Fehmarn page.

In the opposite direction, the B207 takes you from Puttgarden over the Fehmarn Sound Bridge back towards the A1 and Hamburg. In the longer term the Fehmarn Belt tunnel is set to take over the crossing; until it opens, the ferry remains the direct link.

Tickets and fares

What you pay depends on the ticket type and when you book. If your departure is fixed, the Low Price ticket is the cheapest: online only and valid only for the departure you booked. The Standard ticket is valid for every departure on your day of travel, and the Flex ticket lets you change or cancel free of charge. There are also day tickets for day trips, Easy Return with an open return, and separate fares for motorcycles and foot passengers. You can buy at the port, but it costs several times the online price.