Ebeltoft to Odden, the other crossing
The same destination and a shorter sea passage, but only for part of the year. Which route suits you depends on where in Jutland you start.
Checked
Odden has two ferry routes, not one. The year-round crossing is from Aarhus. The seasonal one is from Ebeltoft, on the southern edge of Djursland, and it is the shorter sea passage.
The crossing at a glance
- Crossing
- about 75 min
- Ship specification; 55 min claimed elsewhere
- Season
- spring and summer
- Roughly April to October
- Terminal
- Ebeltoft Havn
- About 5 km from the town centre
- In winter
- closed
- Aarhus to Odden runs all year
Two crossing times, one operator
Molslinjen’s technical specification for Express 2 gives Odden to Ebeltoft as about 75 min. The Aarhus route page, on the same website, calls it 55 min. That is a difference of 20 min on a crossing of just over 60 min.
This is the same problem as on the main route, where the crossing is described as both 80 and 90 min on a single page. We plan around 75 min, because a ship’s specification is a more careful document than a sales page. If it runs quicker, so much the better.
Which route, from where
From Ebeltoft you sail less but usually drive more. The whole decision comes down to that trade.
| Starting from | Usually better | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Aarhus itself | Aarhus | The terminal is 20 min away and the route runs all year |
| Djursland, Grenaa, Ebeltoft | Ebeltoft | Shorter drive at the Jutland end and a shorter crossing |
| Randers, Aalborg, the north | Ebeltoft in season | Roughly comparable driving, shorter time at sea |
| Horsens, Vejle, the south | Aarhus | Ebeltoft means driving up and out onto Djursland first |
| Anywhere, November to March | Aarhus | Ebeltoft is closed |
Take the ferry if
- You are starting from Djursland, where Ebeltoft is the natural port
- You are travelling between roughly April and October
- You want the shortest time at sea
- You are travelling with a bicycle and can reserve a space in advance
Drive instead if
- It is winter, when the route does not run
- You are starting in or south of Aarhus, where the detour cancels the saving
- You want the flexibility of up to 24 sailings a day, which is the Aarhus route
- You have not booked and are hoping to turn up, which is riskier on a seasonal service
Flying into Aarhus Airport? Ebeltoft is closer
Aarhus Airport is not in Aarhus. It sits at Tirstrup, about 45 km northeast of the city, on the edge of Djursland, and a bus timed to the flights takes 45 to 50 min into town.
That location puts it nearer to Ebeltoft than to Aarhus: 16 km and about 19 min to Ebeltoft harbour, against 45 km and about 47 min to the Aarhus ferry terminal. So if you land at Aarhus with a hire car between April and October and Zealand is your destination, Ebeltoft saves you around half an hour of driving before you even reach a ferry.
Out of season the Ebeltoft route is closed and everything runs through Aarhus.
The Ebeltoft end
The terminal is at Ebeltoft harbour, about five kilometres from the town centre, with paid parking in the harbour area operated by Q-Park. Unlike Aarhus, the harbour is close enough to the town that walking in is realistic, which makes Ebeltoft the easier of the two Jutland ports to use without a car.
Bicycles travel free but the procedure differs from Aarhus: reserve the bicycle space in advance, check in at the vehicle machines, and ride aboard up the car ramp yourself. Ask the loading crew if you want a hand. Prams also board by the ramp. See by bike.
Staying in Ebeltoft
The harbour is about five kilometres from the town centre, and Ebeltoft itself, with its old quarter, is a reason to stop in its own right.
Loaded from another company
This map comes from Stay22 and sets its own cookies. It stays off until you ask for it.
You book through our partner. We may receive a fee for this, at no extra cost to you.
The Odden end
Both routes use Odden Færgehavn, so everything on Odden port applies: Route 21 from the harbour gate, Q-Park parking, the Kombardo coach stop at Oddenvej 388, and Havnebyen a short way along the coast.
Which also means the ferry or bridge arithmetic is unchanged at the Zealand end. Only the Jutland side of the sum changes: if Ebeltoft is closer to you than Aarhus, it shifts in the ferry’s favour.
Questions people ask
How long is the Ebeltoft to Odden ferry?
Molslinjen's ship specification gives Odden to Ebeltoft as about 75 min. The route page elsewhere claims 55 min, which is one of several places where Molslinjen's own figures do not agree.
When does the Ebeltoft to Odden route run?
Seasonally, roughly April to October: a spring and summer connection. Through the winter the Aarhus route carries the whole crossing.
Should I use Ebeltoft or Aarhus?
It depends where you start. From Djursland or the north of Jutland, Ebeltoft is usually the shorter drive. From Aarhus itself, from the south, or from anywhere in winter, take the Aarhus route.
Can I take a bicycle from Ebeltoft?
Yes, free of charge, but you must reserve the bicycle space in advance. You check in at the vehicle machines and ride aboard up the car ramp yourself.
Where is the Ebeltoft ferry terminal?
At Ebeltoft harbour, about five kilometres from the centre of Ebeltoft, with paid parking in the harbour area.