Driving Calais to Copenhagen - Best Route?

[SafeReturnDoubtful]

If you’re bothered by mosquitoes they are prevalent in Norway inland in May and June. To avoid them stay on the coast where there is usually a wind that keeps them away.
I’m also in a VW Crafter and have been in Scandinavia slowly a number of times in the last few years.
Most ferries to the islands off Norway are free now. It’s easy to get away from the route that most tourists take therefore, which is how I like to do it.
There are some of the best stop over places I’ve ever used, wild beaches and incredible scenery. For me, it’s my favourite by some way. I’m off up again come autumn.
The route I used is on my blog posts should it be of use.. https://safe-return-doubtful.com/category/from-the-trail/islands-of-norway-and-baltic-return-2024/
Good luck, and hope to here how it goes..

 

[deemac]

We are dipping our touring toes in Scandinavian waters this summer (late May to mid-July, 7 weeks), and my first job is to devise an outline itinerary. We are getting the ferry to Calais, then thought we would spend two nights in Ghent, but that's as far as I've got. We would like to go to Copenhagen first, so I'm interested in what routes people would take, with interesting places to stop on the way. We have a dog, so that's a factor, and we want to avoid big cities, and would probably prefer to stay on sites en route than wild camp. Any recommended sites in/near Copenhagen would be appreciated. After Copenhagen we are planning to go to Aarhus, then north to get the ferry to Kristiansand from Hirtshals, up and around south Norway and back via Oslo and Gothenburg. Our vehicle is a VW campervan. All suggestions gratefully received, Dave, Anne and Guinness.

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We travelled to Norway via Sweden last year and found the Storebelt Bridge very expensive. We had an Oresund tag which cut costs and also worked for the ferries in Norway. We didn't stop in Copenhagen as we had been there before. The tag also works for Austria replacing a Go Box. We returned via Hirthshals. We thought Aalborg was great. A beautiful city and easy to travel around by bike. Also stopped at Aarhus for a few days staying at the aire at the marina. Nice surroundings, but the city centre was disappointing. Lots of Middle Eastern men hangng around the parks, security guards in supermarkets and saw confrontations between the security people and these people. We didn't stay long. Would not go back. However most of Denmark is very motorhome friendly and picturesque. Southern Norway is really nice. We went as far as Alesund. Be aware that last year the Trollstigen pass didn't open until mid July. We actually left at the end of May by which time the volume of motorhome traffic had increased substantially.

 

[cyberyacht]

Two options really. Via Puttgarden ferry and, if time, visiting the Hanseatic ports of Bremen and Lubeck or up via Schleswig ( great aire at the marina). Less impressed by the marina aire at Aarhus.

 

[Ziggy123]

This was the last trip we did, last August/September with our dog. We did the Puttgarden to Rodby ferry route as it was the shortest crossing around 40 minutes from memory, they do a combo pass if you then want to take the bridge into Sweden. No hold ups in Hamburg either way as I think this route bypasses the issues https://www.scandlines.com/tickets/puttgarden-rodby/ or you can take another short ferry into Sweden which we did on the way back which was cheaper. We were going to stay in Copenhagen but the campsite was booked up and mixed reviews of other options and difficulty getting in with the dog as he couldnt go on buses, but they can trains, which is possible from the campsite. We then took the Oresund bridge into Sweden and drove up. We headed north first via Lillehammer up to the Atlantic highway then made our way back down.
We were going to get the ferry from Hirtshalls originally but heavy seas were forecast and we didn't fancy it with the dog so we did this route instead and drove up the West coast of Sweden which was absolutely stunning making several stops on route as it was great for dog walking. Loved it so much we came back same way!

 

[Wanders from Glos]

I would guess so , however I would go direct to the ferry companies for a hopefully a better price

Yes I tested this tonight and it is definitely cheaper to go direct. At least on the ones I checked.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

I read your post to say you have made your mind up how you want to get across the channel so not sure why everyone wants to change your mind? We are also doing Norway this year around the same time crossing from hirtshalls but we intend to travel up to lofoten and return. Happy to share our route with you so you can take what you want from it if you wish?
In terms of places to visit after Ghent (which is beautiful) we are calling it a kinderdijk, Geithorn lubeck (in Germany) Ribe on our way north. Haven’t decided on our return yet but there are lots of lovely towns in Netherlands and northern Germany.

This is pretty much exactly what we plan to do. No real route planned yet though.

 

[Dave+Anne+Guinness]

I read your post to say you have made your mind up how you want to get across the channel so not sure why everyone wants to change your mind? We are also doing Norway this year around the same time crossing from hirtshalls but we intend to travel up to lofoten and return. Happy to share our route with you so you can take what you want from it if you wish?
In terms of places to visit after Ghent (which is beautiful) we are calling it a kinderdijk, Geithorn lubeck (in Germany) Ribe on our way north. Haven’t decided on our return yet but there are lots of lovely towns in Netherlands and northern Germany.

Thanks very much. I would be interested to see your route. We are giving Copenhagen a miss now and going to Aarhus instead, en route to Hirtshalls. I have booked the Calais ferry, but that's as far as I've got so far!

 

[cyberyacht]

Wasn't particularly impressed by Aarhus. The Marselisborg marina aire is a bit cramped and like much of Denmark a bit on the pricey side for what you get. There is a shortish clip in Pt 2 of my latest trip( link in sig) if you want a preview.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

We have decided not to bother booking the ferry to Norway until the day before to give us the widest choice over where we go. I’ve been monitoring three routes and they all always have availability the next.

 

[Graydo]

fastest way is up past Hamburg to the ferry at puttgarden its all easy peasy then 2 hours drive to copehhagen i have done it a few times

Definitely the way to go, avoids Hamburg mainly and the first bridge crossing to Copenhagen.
We did it in reverse and came back from Rodby to Puttgarden.
Btw the first bridge crossing is now around £67, did it two weeks ago.

Oh, and be prepared to sell a kidney, Denmark is expensive.
Fuel and trains was reasonable (by comparison) but thats about all.
25 cl bottle of beer was around £8.50.

Be aware of the skinny dippers if you stay in a marina, the Danes strip off at the drop of a hat.

(Yes, even in the winter)

Graydo

 

[aleclitchfiel]

we are do that route in late aug return late sept we will be overnighting in hanover stellplaze then up puttgarden and over to Copenhagen can't waite

We will be using the putysgarden route in September h