Route · Kattegat · Molslinjen

Aarhus – Odden ferry

Anyone crossing Denmark from Jutland to Zealand faces the same choice: the long way round via the Great Belt, or straight across the Kattegat. This line is the shortcut. Ninety minutes on one of the world’s largest fast ferries instead of a long drive over the bridge. Our archive holds 461 sailings across both directions, almost all of them at 90 minutes — and MOLSLINJEN publishes roughly 90 minutes for Odden–Aarhus. On weekdays the line runs up to eleven times each way.

1 hr 30 minCrossing — 90 min on almost every sailing recorded
Up to 11 ×Sailings each way on weekdays
Year-roundNo seasonal break in our archive
from DKK 249Lowprice ticket including up to 9 people
Express 2, Express 3 and Express 4 — fast ferriesCrossing times from our archive, 461 sailings recordedBook direct with the operator, no surcharge

Timetable Aarhus – Odden

This line has no memorable clockface pattern — it simply has a lot of sailings. On a typical weekday eleven leave Aarhus, the first at 05:30 and the last at 18:30. From Odden there are likewise eleven, but the day runs longer: first at 07:10, last at 20:30. Weekends look different, with fewer sailings and a later start; our archive shows eight to nine departures from Aarhus at weekends against ten or eleven on weekdays. The evening difference matters most: the last ferry from Aarhus leaves two hours earlier than the last from Odden.

7-day price overviewLowest fare per person for each departure day
Loading timetable …
Departure Arrival Duration Operator Ship
05:30 07:00 90 min Molslinjen Molslinjen vessel
06:30 08:00 90 min Molslinjen Molslinjen vessel
07:30 09:00 90 min Molslinjen Molslinjen vessel
09:00 10:30 90 min Molslinjen Molslinjen vessel
11:15 12:45 90 min Molslinjen Molslinjen vessel
13:00 14:30 90 min Molslinjen Molslinjen vessel
14:15 15:45 90 min Molslinjen Molslinjen vessel
15:30 17:00 90 min Molslinjen Molslinjen vessel
17:00 18:30 90 min Molslinjen Molslinjen vessel
18:30 20:00 90 min Molslinjen Molslinjen vessel
Live data · subject to change Check availability →

The route on the map

From Aarhus harbour east across the Kattegat to the ferry berth on Sjællands Odde. The fast ferries make up to 40 knots, and that speed is the whole point: ninety minutes instead of the far longer drive round via the Great Belt.

  • Crossing timeAbout 90 min, confirmed by 440 sailings in our archive
  • DepartureAarhus: Færgevej 7A, 8000 Aarhus C
  • ArrivalOdden: Oddenvej 388, 4583 Sjællands Odde
  • FrequencyUp to 11 sailings each way on weekdays

Ferry or the Great Belt Bridge?

This is the classic Jutland-to-Zealand calculation. The ferry is neither the only nor always the best route — it is the short one.

Aarhus – Odden

Across the Kattegat by fast ferry

  • Journey1 hr 30 min on the water
  • SailingsUp to 11 each way on weekdays
  • FareLowprice from DKK 249 including up to 9 people
  • Best forAarhus and east Jutland to north-west Zealand
  • DrawbackYou are tied to a departure time

Ebeltoft – Odden

Same operator, shorter crossing

  • JourneyAbout 1 hr 15 min on the water
  • SailingsFewer than on the Aarhus line
  • FareSame ticket types at MOLSLINJEN
  • Best forDjursland and the area around Ebeltoft
  • DrawbackA longer drive if you start in Aarhus

Great Belt Bridge

E20 motorway all the way

  • JourneyNo waiting, but considerably more driving
  • SailingsAround the clock
  • FareWeekend return DKK 346 with a bizz
  • Best forSouthern Jutland and Funen towards Copenhagen
  • DrawbackThe southward detour if your destination is north-west

Ferry fares from the MOLSLINJEN price page, bridge discount from storebaelt.dk, both retrieved 24 Aug 2026. The bridge’s standard single toll appears only in their calculator, so we do not quote it. The answer depends entirely on where you are going: for Copenhagen the bridge often makes sense; for Odsherred, Kalundborg or north Zealand the Kattegat is the short way.

What to know before you book

Three things on this line catch out even seasoned travellers.

Ferry alongside the berth in port

The check-in deadline applies even if the ferry is late

MOLSLINJEN states it plainly: check-in times are counted against the scheduled departure in the timetable, and the deadlines apply even when the ferry is running late. Arrive after the deadline and your reservation lapses; you then board in the order space becomes free. Watching the departure board and adding on the delay is not enough — the clock that counts is the timetable’s.

Wake behind a ferry on open water

Charging on board requires BlueClass

Electric cars can charge during the crossing, but the offer applies only to passengers holding a Business BlueClass ticket, and one charging space can be reserved per ticket per sailing. The space must be booked in advance and confirmed by email. Fail to use a booked charge and MOLSLINJEN may charge DKK 200. Check-in must be completed twenty minutes before scheduled departure or the booking is cancelled. Charging uses the ferry’s own cables, and for safety reasons the car deck is not accessible during the crossing. The terms are dated 2 October 2025.

Ferry at the harbour mole in evening light

The last sailing differs by direction

From Aarhus the last weekday departure in our archive is 18:30; from Odden it is 20:30. That sounds like a detail, but it means you can still get back to Jutland late from Zealand while the reverse closes earlier. Anyone planning a day trip out of Aarhus should factor it in.

Practical tips for the crossing

Five things worth knowing on the Kattegat line.

Three ticket types, and the fare covers the whole car

MOLSLINJEN lists Lowprice from DKK 249, Standard from DKK 524 and BlueClass at DKK 950 — all three for up to nine people. Lowprice can be rebooked for a fee but not refunded. Standard rebooks free of charge and refunds against a fee. BlueClass is valid for twelve months on a departure of your choice, gives access to the business lounge overlooking the Kattegat, priority on and off the ship, and refunds without a fee. Trailers cost between DKK 449 and DKK 749 depending on size. Fares retrieved 24 Aug 2026.

The deadline depends on what you are driving

Standard and Lowprice, and foot passengers: ten minutes. BlueClass: five. Motorcycles, caravans and trailers, and vehicles over 2.95 m high up to 3,500 kg: ten minutes. Coaches: fifteen. Articulated lorries and road trains, and electric cars with a reserved charge: twenty. Disabled-adapted vehicles and foot passengers needing special assistance: thirty.

Parking is paid at both harbours

You can park at both Aarhus and Odden, but for a fee, and it is run by Q-Park rather than the shipping line. Machines take Dankort, Visa, Mastercard and Eurocard, and the Q-Park, EasyPark, ParkMan and OK & Park One apps all work. Parking queries go to Q-Park, whose round-the-clock service centre is on +45 7025 7213.

Weekends run to a different timetable

The dense weekday programme does not apply on Saturdays and Sundays. In our archive departures from Aarhus drop from ten or eleven on weekdays to eight on Saturday and nine on Sunday, and the day starts later. If you want an early Saturday start, the 05:30 sailing is not there.

Fast ferries, not conventional ships

The route is worked by Express 2, Express 3 and Express 4. Express 2 is 112.6 m long, 30.5 m wide and makes up to 40 knots — 75 km/h — or 36 knots fully loaded. She was built by Incat in Tasmania. Clearance is 2.10 m on the upper car deck and 4.60 m on the lower. On board there is a business lounge, a restaurant, MOLLY’S DINER and the BARISTA’S COFFEE SHOP, plus a lift from the car deck.

Across the Kattegat

Looking over the rail of a ferry during the crossing
Ninety minutes on the water — enough for a meal in the restaurant or an hour of work in the lounge.
Lifeboat on the deck of a ferry
The Express ferries are Incat catamarans from Tasmania and make up to 40 knots.

With a car, motorhome or bicycle

The shortcut between Jutland and Zealand

The whole point of this line is to save road miles. From Aarhus to north-west Zealand the Kattegat is the short way, while the Great Belt route means a substantial detour south. And ninety minutes on board is ninety minutes when nobody has to drive.

  • Lowprice, Standard and BlueClass fares all cover up to nine people
  • Clearance 2.10 m on the upper car deck, 4.60 m on the lower
  • Trailers are booked separately, from DKK 449 for 3.0 × 1.85 m
  • Charging on board only with BlueClass; book the space in advance
  • Vehicles over 2.95 m high up to 3,500 kg: ten-minute check-in
Book with a vehicle →
Motorhome boarding a ferry

Getting to the ferry berth in Aarhus

  1. Address – Færgevej 7A, 8000 Aarhus C. The berth is in Aarhus harbour, a few minutes from the city centre.
  2. By car – Follow signs for Aarhus harbour and the ferries. From the E45 motorway head towards the centre and on into the port area.
  3. Parking – Paid parking at the harbour, operated by Q-Park. Machines take cards and several parking apps work.
  4. Check-in – Standard and Lowprice no later than ten minutes before scheduled departure, BlueClass five. The deadline applies even if the ferry is delayed.
Harbour with a ferry berth

The ports on this route

Location, getting there and other connections from both ports.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the ferry from Aarhus to Odden take?

About 90 minutes. In our archive 440 of 461 recorded sailings show exactly 90 minutes, the rest 80. MOLSLINJEN itself publishes around 90 minutes for Odden–Aarhus.

How often does the ferry run?

Up to eleven times each way on weekdays. From Aarhus between 05:30 and 18:30, from Odden between 07:10 and 20:30. Weekends have fewer sailings and start later: eight to nine from Aarhus against ten or eleven on weekdays.

What does the Aarhus–Odden ferry cost?

MOLSLINJEN lists Lowprice from DKK 249, Standard from DKK 524 and BlueClass at DKK 950, each for up to nine people. Trailers cost DKK 449 to DKK 749 depending on size. Separately, our archive holds 322 per-person fares between €26 and €105, averaging about €50. Fares retrieved 24 Aug 2026.

Can I charge an electric car on board?

Yes, but only with a Business BlueClass ticket, and one charging space can be reserved per ticket per sailing. The space must be booked in advance and confirmed by email, with check-in completed twenty minutes before departure or the booking is cancelled. A no-show may be charged DKK 200. The car deck is not accessible during the crossing. Terms dated 2 October 2025.

When do I need to be at the harbour?

Standard and Lowprice, and foot passengers: ten minutes before departure. BlueClass: five. Motorcycles, caravans, trailers and vehicles over 2.95 m up to 3,500 kg: ten. Coaches: fifteen. Road trains and electric cars with a reserved charge: twenty. Disabled-adapted vehicles and foot passengers needing assistance: thirty. The deadlines apply even if the ferry is delayed.

Ferry or the Great Belt Bridge?

It depends on the destination. From Aarhus to Odsherred, Kalundborg or north Zealand the Kattegat is the short way. For Copenhagen or points further south the bridge often makes sense; its weekend return is DKK 346 with a bizz. The ferry, on the other hand, gives you ninety minutes when nobody has to drive.

Is there parking at the ferry port?

Yes, at both Aarhus and Odden, but it is paid. Parking is run by Q-Park rather than the shipping line, so queries go there. Machines take cards, and the Q-Park, EasyPark, ParkMan and OK & Park One apps can be used.

Which ships work the route?

Express 2, Express 3 and Express 4. Express 2 is 112.6 m long, 30.5 m wide, makes up to 40 knots and was built by Incat in Tasmania. On board there is a business lounge, a restaurant, MOLLY’S DINER and BARISTA’S COFFEE SHOP, plus a lift from the car deck.

Book the Aarhus – Odden ferry

All MOLSLINJEN sailings compared — book direct with the operator, no surcharge.

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