 R I P. The DFDS ferry to Norway was sadly withdrawn for good in September 2008, ending over 120 years of direct ferry links between the UK & Norway. Photo courtesy of DFDS |
UK to Norway without flying
The last ferry between the UK & Norway (DFDS from Newcastle to Bergen) was sadly withdrawn in 2008, but it's easy enough to travel from London to Norway by train, travelling from London to Hamburg by train on day 1, stopping overnight, then Hamburg to Oslo on day 2. Or take a train from London to Kiel in northern Germany and sail on the luxurious Color Line ferry to Oslo, sailing up Oslo Fjord over breakfast.
Train times, fares & tickets
On this page you'll find a step-by-step guide to planning a journey from the UK to Norway by train, with train times, fares, and how to buy tickets.
London to Oslo by train all the way
London to Oslo via
the Copenhagen-Oslo ferry
London to Oslo via Color Line's Kiel-Oslo
ferry
London to
Kristiansand & Stavanger via Hirtshals
Trains in
Norway: Oslo to Bergen, Stavanger...
How to buy Norwegian
train tickets
Coastal ferries Bergen-Trondheim-Kirkenes
Trains from Norway
to other European cities
Trains from other European
cities to Norway
Useful country information:
dial code, currency...
Hotels in Oslo,
Bergen & Norway
General European train travel information
Luggage
Taking a bike
Taking a dog
Interactive map: London to Scandinavia by train & ferry
Click on a route for times, fares & how to buy tickets.
Useful country information
Option 1, London to Oslo by train
You can travel from London to Oslo by train all the way, with an overnight stop in Hamburg, leaving London on day 1 and arriving Oslo late at night on day 2. Or take an evening Eurostar and travel to Oslo with overnight stops in Brussels & Copenhagen, with time to travel up to London from other locations across the UK and it breaks up the journey.
London ► Oslo with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from London to Hamburg by train, with a choice of departures:
Leave London St Pancras at 09:01, change Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:14.
Leave London St Pancras at 11:04, change Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:14.
You travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Brussels to Cologne by superb ICE3neo and Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. See the London-Hamburg timetable here.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg.
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com. Or try the innovative Cab20 capsule hotel, a 550m 6-minute walk from the station, see walking map.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg by EuroCity train & Öresund train:
Leave Hamburg Hbf 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38. Leave Copenhagen at 14:30, arriving Göteborg Central 18:20.
The EuroCity train from Hamburg to Copenhagen has power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey. The Öresund train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink. It crosses from Denmark to Sweden on the Öresund fixed link, an interesting experience as the train appears to 'fly' across the water just feet above it.
Have an early dinner in Gothenburg.
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Day 2, travel from Gothenburg to Oslo, leaving Göteborg Central at 20:10, arriving Oslo Sentral 23:47.
This is a smart modern Norwegian train run by Vy, with power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.
London ► Oslo with overnight stops in Brussels & Copenhagen
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Day 1, travel from London to Brussels on any Eurostar you like, check times at www.eurostar.com.
The last Eurostar leaves London St Pancras at 19:34 arriving Brussels Midi 22:38.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi on the station itself, or the Ibis Brussels Midi across the road.
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Day 2, travel from Brussels to Copenhagen by train, with a choice of two departures.
Leave Brussels Midi at 06:23 by ICE3, change at Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:38.
Leave Brussels Midi at 08:25 by ICE3, change at Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:38.
This is a straightforward journey all on one ticket booked at int.bahn.de.
You travel from Brussels to Cologne by superb German ICE3neo & Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train with free WiFi when in Denmark, power sockets at all seats & refreshment trolley. I'd take the earlier departure if possible as it offers more wiggle room in case of delay.
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Stay overnight in Copenhagen. The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information. Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).
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Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train on any departure you like, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable.
You can leave Copenhagen at 07:30 by Öresund train arriving Gothenburg Central 11:20.
Change onto a Norwegian train, leaving Gothenburg Central at 12:15 and arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.
Or there's an earlier 05:30 departure or later 09:30 or 11:30 departures from Copenhagen.
The Öresund train crosses from Denmark to Sweden on the Öresund fixed link, an interesting experience as the train appears to fly just 100 feet above the water.
Oslo ► London with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Oslo to Gothenburg, leaving Oslo Sentral at 06:11 Monday-Friday only, arriving Gothenburg Central 09:45.
This is a smart modern Norwegian train run by Vy, with power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink. There is no suitable connection at weekends, unless you travel the evening before and stay overnight in Gothenburg.
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Day 1, travel from Gothenburg to Hamburg by Öresund train & EuroCity train:
Leave Gothenburg Central at 10:40 arriving Copenhagen 14:27. Leave Copenhagen at 16:22, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:08.
You travel from Gothenburg to Copenhagen by Öresund train with power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink. It crosses from Sweden to Denmark on the Öresund fixed link, an interesting experience. You then travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats and refreshment trolley. More about the Copenhagen-Hamburg journey.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to London by train, with a choice of departures:
Leave Hamburg Hbf at 06:46, change Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras 15:57.
Leave Hamburg Hbf at 08:45, change Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras 17:57.
Leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:46, change Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras 19:57.
You travel from Hamburg to Cologne by ICE4 and Cologne to Brussels by ICE3, with restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Then Brussels to London by Eurostar, with cafe-bar, power sockets & free WiFi. Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine. See the Hamburg to London timetable here.
Oslo ► London with overnight stops in Copenhagen & Brussels
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Day 1, travel from Oslo to Copenhagen by train.
Leave Oslo Sentral at 14:14 every day by Norwegian train, arriving Gothenburg Central 17:40.
Then leave Gothenburg Central at 18:40 by Öresund train arriving Copenhagen 22:27.
Or take the earlier 10:14 or (Mon-Fri) 12:14 departure from Oslo for more time in Copenhagen, see the Oslo-Copenhagen timetable.
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Stay overnight in Copenhagen. The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information. Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Brussels by train, with a choice of departures:
Leave Copenhagen at 06:22, change at Hamburg Hbf & Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 19:35.
Leave Copenhagen at 08:22, change at Hamburg Hbf & Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.
You travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by EuroCity train with free WiFi when in Denmark, power sockets at all seats & refreshment trolley, then Hamburg to Cologne by superb German ICE4 and Cologne to Brussels by ICE3neo, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi on the station itself, or the Ibis Brussels Midi across the road.
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Day 3, travel from, Brussels to London on any Eurostar you like, check times at www.eurostar.com.
The first train leaves Brussels Midi at 07:56 on Mondays-Saturdays arriving London St Pancras 08:59.
On Sundays the first train leaves Brussels Midi at 08:52, arriving London St Pancras 09:57.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Plus & Premier fares include breakfast.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in Standard, £97 one-way, £140 return in Plus (1st class).
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Brussels to Gothenburg starts at €79.99 in 2nd class or €91.99 in 1st class each way.
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Gothenburg to Oslo starts at 249 Krone (€24).
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All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets
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Here I'll explain the straightforward way to book the 'overnight in Hamburg' journey.
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Step 1, book from London to Hamburg for Day 1 at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Both are easy to use, with a small booking fee. Booking for Eurostar & onward trains as far as Gothenburg opens up to 6 months ahead.
If you're returning, book this as a round trip because Eurostar return fares are cheaper than two one-ways.
After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage your booking feature to select a better seat on Eurostar.
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Step 2, book from Hamburg to Gothenburg for Day 2 at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
If returning, you'll find it easier to book one way at a time, in this case it makes no difference to the price. Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You can also book this with German Railways at int.bahn.de with no booking fee, or you may prefer to keep all your bookings together at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
You should see affordable through fares, if not, split the booking: Book Hamburg Hbf to Copenhagen at either www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com or int.bahn.de, then book Kobenhavn H to Göteborg Central at www.oresundstag.se.
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Step 3, now book the Norwegian train from Göteborg Central to Oslo Sentral at the Vy website www.vy.no.
Obviously, make sure it's the departure which connects out of the Copenhagen-Gothenburg train you've booked, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable. You can load your ticket into the Vy app or download it in PDF format which you can print out or show on your phone.
Another way to buy tickets
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This is the cheaper but more fiddly way to book, whether you want the overnight in Hamburg journey or the overnight in Brussels & Copenhagen journey, the principle is the same. Do a dry run on all stages before booking.
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Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels at www.eurostar.com.
If you're returning, book this as a round trip, because Eurostar return fares are cheaper than two one-ways. You print your own ticket or can load it into the Eurostar app on your phone.
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Step 2, book from Brussels to Gothenburg as one journey at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. If you're returning, book one-way at a time, it's easier and makes no difference to the price.
You can select seats on the ICE trains from a seat map, another advantage of booking this way.
To get the overnight stop in Hamburg (or Copenhagen), click Stopovers and enter Hamburg (or Copenhagen) with a length of stay of (say) 11 hours. Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central.
Adjust departure time & length of stay to get the trains you want either side of the overnight stop. Some trial & error may be needed! If you're booking an 'overnight in Hamburg' journey, you'll obviously need to book the departure from Brussels to Hamburg that connects out of the Eurostar you've booked, it's not rocket science, the timetable here may help.
You should see affordable through fares, at least in 2nd class. If you don't, you'll have to split the booking into stages.
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Step 3, book from Gothenburg to Oslo at the Vy website www.vy.no.
Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central. Obviously, make sure you book the departure that connects out of the Hamburg/Copenhagen-Gothenburg train you've booked, not rocket science, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable.
You can choose to load your ticket into the Vy app, or download it in PDF format which you can either print out or show on your phone.
Have your trip arranged as a package
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Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a UK-Norway trip for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers. You'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays on their website which can be customised to your requirements. As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens such as a strike or delay.
UK 0207 864 4600,
www.railbookers.co.uk
US 1-888-829-4775,
see
website
Canada 1-855-882-2910,
see website
Australia 1300 971 526,
see website
New Zealand 0800 000 554 or
see
website -
Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating. If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a one-way or return UK-Norway train trip with Byway as a package, including hotels, starting from any British station you like. Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.
They can build a trip to your requirements if you phone 0300 131 7173 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, from outside the UK call +44 300 131 7173) or email them or use this contact form. Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.
How to buy tickets by phone
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It's better to book online to avoid phone booking fees and see for yourself which trains are cheapest. Most agencies only work weekday office hours, you can book online 24/7. But if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK-based ticketing agencies.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Brussels by Eurostar
Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More about Eurostar & check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide.
2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3
Germany's superb ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, food & drink orders are taken at your seat. 50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava. As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station. More about ICE3 trains. Brussels Midi station guide. Cologne Hbf station guide.
An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about ICE trains. Photo above courtesy of Christian Hunt.
3. Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4
ICE4s have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, and are capable of 265 km/h (165 mph). Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, Cologne-Hamburg trains cross the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine, then pass through the industrial Ruhr. More about ICE trains. Hamburg Hbf station guide.
An ICE4 at Hamburg Hbf. Click on the images below for larger photos.
4. Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train
As from June 2023, Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are operated by former German Railways intercity cars like this, now shown in the timetable as EC for EuroCity. This is only temporary, as brand-new trains being built for DSB will be delivered in 2024. These ex-DB intercity cars have power sockets at all seats (although no WiFi). There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
On 17 June 2023, the first Copenhagen to Hamburg train to use the 'new' German intercity cars is boarding at Copenhagen. Photo courtesy of Peter Kincey.
2nd class seats in are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches.
The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.
5. Copenhagen to Oslo by train
Copenhagen to Gothenburg by Öresund train. More about Öresund trains.
These Öresund trains cross the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden...
Gothenburg to Oslo by Norwegian train seen here at Göteborg Central, courtesy of @AndyBTravels.
Scenery between Gothenburg & Oslo. Photo courtesy of @Simply_Railway.
Above left, standard class seating, courtesy @AndyBTravels. Above right, arrived at Oslo Sentral, courtesy @Marcos Castro.
Option 2, London to Oslo via DFDS ferry
In this option, you travel by train from London to Denmark, then use the luxurious overnight cruise ferry between Copenhagen & Oslo. It's faster than the previous option using train all the way, and the cruise into Oslo Fjord is a bonus.
London ► Oslo
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Day 1, travel from London to Hamburg by train, with a choice of departures:
Leave London St Pancras at 09:01, change Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:14.
Leave London St Pancras at 11:04, change Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:14.
You travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Brussels to Cologne by superb ICE3neo and Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. See the London-Hamburg timetable here.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg: The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.
The EuroCity train has free WiFi when in Denmark, refreshments available. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
In Copenhagen, the connection with the ferry on days when it sails at 15:00 is on the tight side, so take a taxi from the station to the DFDS ferry terminal, this takes just 10 minutes. Check-in closes at 14:45.
From 23 May to 11 July & 4-31 August 2025 you'll find an earlier train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 07:03 and arriving Copenhagen 11:38, see the timetable here. This would give you time for lunch in Copenhagen and a more robust connection on days when the ferry sails at 15:00.
On days when the ferry sails at 16:30 (when check-in closes at 16:15), or if you take the summer-only 07:03 train from Hamburg, you can walk from Copenhagen station to the DFDS ferry terminal through the centre of Copenhagen in 50 minutes, or take an 8-minute local train ride from Copenhagen main station to Nordhavn station, from where it's a 10-minute walk to the terminal, see walking map.
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Day 2, sail from Copenhagen to Oslo by overnight ferry.
The luxurious DFDS Seaways ferry sails from Copenhagen DFDS ferry terminal every day, either at 15:00 (check-in closes 14:45) or at 16:30 (check-in closes 16:15), arriving Oslo Vippetangen terminal at 10:00 next day (day 3).
Check times at www.dfds.com or using the Direct Ferries website.
At the ferry terminal, check yourself in at the self-service check-in machines just inside the entrance. You enter your booking reference, scan your passport, and it produces your boarding pass/cabin key. You then pass through a fairly nominal customs check and walk onto the ferry.
All passengers travel in comfortable private cabins with en suite toilet & shower and satellite TV. To travel in luxury, treat yourself to Commodore Class, some suites have private balconies with a sea view.. The ferry has bars & restaurants for breakfast on board, you can pre-book breakfast with your ticket. There's even a sauna. The ships on this route are the Crown Seaways or Pearl Seaways.
Make sure you're on deck in the morning when the ferry sails up the scenic Oslo Fjord, a stunning way to arrive in Norway. You'll see coast on either side of the ship from about 06:30 and she enters the narrow part of the fjord by about 07:00.
In Oslo you can walk from the ferry terminal to the city centre in 15-20 minutes, or you can take a taxi. I'd allow at least 90 minutes between the ferry's arrival and any onward train from Oslo Sentral. See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.
Oslo ► London
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Day 1, sail from Oslo to Copenhagen by overnight ferry.
DFDS Seaways' daily cruise ferry leaves Oslo Vippetangen terminal at 15:00 and arrives Copenhagen DFDS terminal at 10:00 next morning.
All passengers travel in comfortable private cabins with en suite toilet & shower. To travel in luxury, treat yourself to a Commodore Class cabin, some have private balconies with a sea view. The ferry has bars & restaurants for dinner & breakfast on board, you can pre-book dinner & breakfast with your ticket.
In Oslo you can walk from the city centre to the ferry terminal in 15-20 minutes or take a taxi. See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.
In Copenhagen it's a 50-minute walk from the ferry terminal through Copenhagen city centre to the main station, or you can take a taxi, or you can walk 10 minutes to Nordhavn station and take an 8-minute suburban train ride to Copenhagen main station. See map of Copenhagen showing DFDS ferry terminal.
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by EuroCity train, leaving Copenhagen at 14:22, arriving Hamburg Hbf at 19:00.
If you'd like more time in Copenhagen there's a later 16:22 departure, arriving Hamburg Hbf at 20:59, see the timetable here.
The EuroCity train has free WiFi when in Denmark, refreshments available. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 3, travel from Hamburg to London by train, with a choice of departures:
Leave Hamburg Hbf at 06:46, change Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras 15:57.
Leave Hamburg Hbf at 08:45, change Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras 17:57.
Leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:46, change Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras 19:57.
You travel from Hamburg to Cologne by ICE4 and Cologne to Brussels by ICE3, with restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Then Brussels to London by Eurostar, with cafe-bar, power sockets & free WiFi. Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine. See the Hamburg to London timetable here.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in Standard, £97 one-way, £140 return in Plus (1st class).
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Brussels to Hamburg starts at €39.99 each way 2nd class or €69.99 each way 1st class.
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Hamburg to Copenhagen by train starts at €28.99 each way 2nd class or €37.99 each way 1st class each way.
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Copenhagen to Oslo by DFDS overnight cruise ferry starts at £47 one-way per person for two people travelling together, £94 each way for a solo passenger, including private en suite cabin.
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All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, buy train tickets from London to Hamburg (and back, if returning), then Hamburg to Copenhagen (and back, if returning) at www.raileurope.com, see the tips below.
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Step 2, book the ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo at www.dfds.com.
A wide range of cabins is available, you can also add dinner & breakfast in the restaurant, which saves money over buying on board.
Tip: You can also book the DFDS ferry at hotel booking website www.booking.com. This can only book the main cabin types, but fares seem to be cheaper than on the DFDS website, so compare prices. Use these direct links: www.booking.com/hotel/dk/dfds-ferry-copenhagen-to-oslo (Copenhagen > Oslo) or www.booking.com/hotel/no/dfds-ferry-oslo-to-copenhagen (Oslo > Copenhagen).
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Tips for booking London-Hamburg-Denmark at www.raileurope.com:
Using www.raileurope.com means you can book all your train tickets together in one place, in plain English, international credit cards accepted, in €, £ or $. There's a small booking fee.
First book from London to Hamburg. Book this as a round trip if returning, because Eurostar return fares are cheaper than two one-ways. Add to your basket.
Then book from Hamburg to Copenhagen one-way for the following day, add to basket, then (if returning) book Copenhagen to Hamburg one-way, add to your basket and check out.
Fares are vary like air fares, so book ahead. You print your own tickets, or can show them on your phone.
After booking you can use Eurostar's Manage your booking feature to choose a better seat on Eurostar.
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When does booking open?
Booking for Eurostar opens up to 11 months ahead. Onward trains from Brussels to Germany & Denmark usually open up to 6 months ahead, but less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. I recommend waiting until all trains are open for booking before committing to a non-refundable Eurostar ticket. More about when booking opens.
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Is it a through ticket?
No, but www.raileurope.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus an onward German Railways ticket from Brussels to Hamburg, then it'll sell you a ticket from Hamburg to Copenhagen for the following day.
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Seat reservations
A seat reservation is included with every ticket on Eurostar. However, seat reservations on German trains are usually optional, you can add a reserved seat during the booking process for €5.20 per seat in 2nd class, €6.50 in 1st class. A reserved seat is a good idea so I'd add one when prompted.
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About those tight 20-minute connections at Brussels Midi
The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make. It's not usually a problem.
Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.
Just make sure that if you did miss that 20 minute connection in Brussels, there are later trains that would still get you to Hamburg by close of play that day.
Alternatively, nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection. To do this using www.raileurope.com, click More options, then enter Brussels (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of (say) 1 or 2 hours. There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!
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Connecting tickets from other UK towns & cities: See the advice on special add-on tickets here.
Another way to buy tickets
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This is more work as it involves 3 websites, but it can be slightly cheaper for two reasons: First, you don't pay any booking fee. Second, you can use the Stopovers feature at int.bahn.de to book a Brussels to Copenhagen through ticket with an overnight stop in Hamburg programmed in. This is cheaper than buying separate Brussels-Hamburg & Hamburg-Copenhagen tickets. Another advantage of booking with int.bahn.de is that you can select your seat from a seat map on ICE trains between Brussels, Cologne & Hamburg.
Obviously, do a dry run on each site first to check availability. Also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry - read the paragraph above about the 20-minute connection in Brussels.
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Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (& back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com.
Eurostar return fares are less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, book this as a round trip. You print your own ticket or can load it into the Eurostar app on your phone. After booking you can use Eurostar's Manage your booking feature to select a better seat on Eurostar.
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Step 2, book from Brussels to Copenhagen at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers, enter Hamburg Hbf and a length of stay of (say) 11-13 hours. You'll need to fiddle with the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg, it takes a bit of trial & error.
This will get you a through ticket from Brussels to Copenhagen with an overnight stop in Hamburg included. If you have problems, by all means just book Brussels-Hamburg and Hamburg-Copenhagen separately.
If you're returning, now book Copenhagen to Brussels with an overnight stop in Hamburg using the same stopover method.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 3, book the Copenhagen-Oslo ferry at www.dfds.com.
A wide range of private cabins is available, and you can also add dinner & breakfast in the restaurant, which saves money over buying meals separately on board.
How to buy tickets by phone
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It's better to book online to avoid phone booking fees and see for yourself which trains are cheapest. Most agencies only work weekday office hours, you can book online 24/7. But if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK-based ticketing agencies.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Brussels by Eurostar
Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More about Eurostar & check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide.
2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3
Germany's superb ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, restaurant orders are taken at your seat. 50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava. As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station. More about ICE3 trains. Brussels Midi station guide. Cologne Hbf station guide.
An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about ICE trains. Photo above courtesy of Christian Hunt.
3. Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4
ICE4s have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, and are capable of 265 km/h (165 mph). Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, Cologne-Hamburg trains cross the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine, then pass through the industrial Ruhr. More about ICE trains. Hamburg Hbf station guide.
4. Hamburg to Copenhagen by train
From June 2023, Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are operated by former German Railways intercity cars like this, now shown in the timetable as EC for EuroCity. This is only temporary, as brand-new trains being built for DSB will be delivered in 2024. These ex-DB intercity cars have power sockets at all seats (although no WiFi). There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
On 17 June 2023, the first Copenhagen to Hamburg train to use the 'new' German intercity cars is boarding at Copenhagen. Photo courtesy of Peter Kincey.
2nd class seats in are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches.
The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.
Crossing the Little Belt (Lillebælt in Danish) from Jutland (mainland Denmark) to Funen, the island on which Odense is located.
5. Copenhagen to Oslo overnight by DFDS cruise ferry
Option 3, London to Oslo via Kiel
This takes a bit longer, but with comfortable daytime trains, a night in a hotel in Kiel or Hamburg then a mini-cruise on a luxurious Color line cruise ferry, it's perhaps the most luxurious way to Norway!
London ► Oslo
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Day 1, travel from London to Kiel by train.
There are various options with easy changes of train in Brussels, Cologne & Hamburg.
The 09:01 from London St Pancras arrives Kiel Hbf at 21:41. The 11:04 from London St Pancras arrives Kiel Hbf 22:32.
See the London to Hamburg timetable here. I'd take the 09:01 if you can, it gives more wiggle room in case of delay. Regional trains run from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf every hour in 1h16.
All these trains have a cafe-bar or restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. On Eurostar, Plus & Premier fares include breakfast.
In Kiel, the Color Line ferry terminal is a 7 minute 500m walk from Kiel Hbf, see walking map.
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Stay overnight in Kiel.
The InterCity Hotel Kiel gets good reviews, is relatively inexpensive and is right next to the station and a few minutes walk from the ferry. The B&B Hotel Kiel City is also next to the station with good reviews and is even cheaper. For something upmarket, the Atlantic Hotel Kiel gets great reviews and is in Bahnhofsplatz in front of the station.
Alternatively, you could stay in Hamburg if you prefer and take the hourly regional train to Kiel Hbf next day. Hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, private rooms with en suite shower & toilet in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hauptbahnhof start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by Color Line cruise ferry.
The luxurious m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy sails from Kiel daily at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning, day 3 from London.
Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord. The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre. Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis. If you have little luggage it's possible to walk. See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.
Oslo ► London
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Day 1, sail from Oslo to Kiel by Color Line cruise ferry.
The luxurious m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy sails from Oslo daily at 14:00 arriving Kiel at 10:00 next morning (day2).
See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal. In Kiel, it's a 7 minute 500m walk from the Color Line ferry terminal to Kiel Hbf, see walking map.
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Day 2, stay overnight in Kiel or Hamburg.
In Kiel, the InterCity Hotel Kiel gets good reviews, is relatively inexpensive and is right next to the station and a few minutes walk from the ferry. The B&B Hotel Kiel City is also next to the station with good reviews and is even cheaper. For something upmarket, the Atlantic Hotel Kiel gets great reviews and is in Bahnhofsplatz in front of the station.
Or catch the hourly regional train to Hamburg Hbf and stay the night there, trains leave every hour, journey time 1h16.
In Hamburg, suggested hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, private rooms with en suite shower & toilet in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hauptbahnhof start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 3, travel from Kiel or Hamburg to London by train.
For example, the first departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:57.
Or leave Hamburg 08:45 arriving London 18:57. Or leave Hamburg 10:46 arriving London 19:57, see the Hamburg to London timetable here.
All these trains have a cafe-bar or restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. On Eurostar, Plus & Premier fares include dinner with wine.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in Standard, £97 one-way, £140 return in Plus (1st class).
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Brussels to Kiel starts at €37.99 each way 2nd class or €69.99 each way 1st class.
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Kiel to Oslo varies by date, cabin and number of passengers. For 2 passengers, the price starts at around €258 (€129 each) including a double-bed en suite cabin, although prices on busier dates can be much higher. You need to go online to check prices for your specific dates.
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All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, book from London to Hamburg & Hamburg to Copenhagen at www.raileurope.com, see the tips below.
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Step 2, book the Kiel-Oslo ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.colorline.com.
Money-saving tip: It's considerably cheaper to book on Color Line's Norwegian website www.colorline.no in Norwegian Krone, for example a €274 fare becomes the equivalent of €164. You'll need to use Google to translate the Norwegian. You can still enter a UK or other European address and contact details. Feedback appreciated.
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Tips for booking London-Hamburg-Copenhagen at www.raileurope.com:
Using www.raileurope.com allows you to book all your train tickets together in one place, in plain English, international credit cards accepted and fares shown in €, £ or $. There's a small booking fee.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.
It can help to specify Brussels as a via station if you want to see journeys with an easy same-station change in Brussels, rather than also seeing journeys via Paris. At www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Brussels (any station).
You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.
After booking you can use Eurostar's Manage your booking link to select a better seat on Eurostar.
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When does booking open?
Booking for Eurostar opens up to 11 months ahead, onward trains to Kiel open up to 6 months ahead, significantly less when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. I'd wait until all trains are open for booking. More about when booking opens.
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Is it a through ticket?
No, as there are no through tickets between the UK & Germany. But www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus onward tickets from Brussels to Kiel.
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One-way or round trip?
With Eurostar, a return ticket costs less than two one-ways. With ICE & Eurostar (formerly Thalys), a return is normally two one-ways. So for a round trip you should book London to Kiel & back as a return, or for more control over the booking, book London-Brussels as a return to benefit from the round trip discount, add to basket, then book Brussels to Kiel one way, add to basket, then Kiel to Brussels one-way, add to basket & check out.
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Seat reservations
A seat reservation on Eurostar is automatically included with every ticket. However, seat reservations on ICE trains are optional, a reserved seat can be added during booking for €5.20 in 2nd class, €6.50 in 1st class. A reserved seat is a good idea so I'd add one when prompted.
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About the 20-minute connections (sometimes less) between Eurostar & ICEs at Brussels Midi
The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make. It's not usually a problem.
Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.
The system knows which connections are recognised/acceptable and which are too tight - if you intend booking your Eurostar and ICE tickets separately (which I often do to check prices for Eurostar and onwards trains separately, and to retain more control over the booking) it's wise to run a London-Cologne enquiry first just to check that the system does indeed recognise that specific Eurostar as connecting with that specific onward ICE, on that specific date.
Tip: Nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection. There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!
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Connecting tickets from other UK towns & cities: See the advice on special add-on tickets here.
Another way to buy tickets
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This is more work, but no booking fee. Do a dry run on each site first to check availability & prices. Also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at int.bahn.de, as explained in the paragraph above about the 20-minute connections in Brussels.
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Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com.
You print your own ticket or can load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone. Eurostar return fares are less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, book this as a round trip. After booking you can use Eurostar's Manage your booking link to select a better seat on Eurostar.
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Step 2, book from Brussels to Kiel at the German Railways site int.bahn.de.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. An advantage of booking direct with int.bahn.de is that you can select your seat on ICE & IC trains from a seat map. A round trip is priced as two one-ways, it can be easier to book one way at a time.
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Step 3, book the Kiel to Oslo ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.colorline.com.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Brussels by Eurostar
Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More about Eurostar & check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide.
2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3
Germany's superb ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, restaurant orders are taken at your seat. 50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava. As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station. More about ICE3 trains. Brussels Midi station guide. Cologne Hbf station guide.
An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about ICE trains. Photo above courtesy of Christian Hunt.
3. Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4 & on to Kiel by regional train
ICE4s have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, and are capable of 265 km/h (165 mph). Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, Cologne-Hamburg trains cross the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine, then pass through the industrial Ruhr. More about ICE trains. Hamburg Hbf station guide.
4. Kiel to Oslo overnight by Color Line ferry
The photo above is taken from Kiel station, you can see how close the ferry is, a 5-6 minute walk across the harbour. There's a lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal. If you've reserved one of Color Line's 5 star suites, check in at the desk rather than the machines to be directed to a VIP lounge with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi. You'll have priority boarding & free access to the on-board spa. Photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry except where shown.
Boarding the Color Line ferry to Oslo in Kiel.
Cabin with TV, shower & toilet. Luxury suites are also available.
Make
sure you take a good guidebook.
For independent travel, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.
Both guidebooks provide the same excellent
level of practical information and cultural and historical background.
You won't regret buying one!
