On board the Aarhus–Odden ferry

The three catamarans are fitted out for a short crossing of 90 min: two lounges, a restaurant, a coffee shop and an outer deck.

Checked: August 2026

Rows of seats beside the ferry's panoramic windows with the Kattegat outside

The three ferries

Express 2, Express 3 and Express 4 work this route. They are similar vessels rather than identical, and Molslinjen does not announce in advance which ship takes which sailing, so you cannot choose between them.

Molslinjen’s published specification for Express 2, which the figures below describe:

Length: 112.6 m; 30.5 m across the beam
Maximum speed: 40 knots; 36 knots fully laden
Built: Incat Tasmania; Hull 067, sailed 25,000 km home
Vehicle height booked: up to 4.00 m; Car fare stops at 1.85 m

40 knots is about 74 km/h, which is the top speed rather than the speed held across the whole crossing.

A deck plan sign for Express 2 showing the lounges, restaurant and facilities — The deck plan is posted at the top of each stairway. It repays a look before you pick a seat, because the sections are not obvious from inside them.

Where to sit

Window seats and tables for four tend to fill first, so the middle of the cabin is what is left later on.

So go up first, take a seat, and get coffee afterwards.

The passenger decks divide into several sections. You will find them on the deck plan and on the signs at every stairhead:

Free seating, the red and blue sections, first come first served
Reserved seating, for those who have booked a specific seat
Business Lounge, included with the BlueClass ticket, with a water and the day’s newspaper
A rest area, a ship’s cinema, and a section where dogs are allowed

What you can sit in depends on the ticket, and the difference is not obvious from the deck plan.

Section	Included with	Reserved?
Red and blue free seating	Every ticket	No, first come first served
Reserved seats	Booked separately	Yes, by seat number
Business Lounge	The BlueClass ticket	Yes, with a water and the day’s newspaper
Rest area, ship’s cinema, dog section	Every ticket	No

A blue overhead sign listing restaurant, BlueClass lounge, toilet, ship's cinema, rest area and dogs and picnic with seat numbers — Wayfinding is thorough and mostly in Danish, but the pictograms and seat numbers get you there without Danish.

Food and coffee

There is more here than a crossing of 90 min strictly needs, and Molslinjen lists it for the fast ferries as a group rather than ship by ship.

Barista’s Coffee Shop is the one to know about: a proper coffee bar with a pastry counter, and the busiest place on board in the first 15 min. You can take a cup with you to the car. Molly’s Diner is the American-styled counter with red stools, doing burgers, shakes and iced coffee; the burger comes in a vegetarian version, and the same counter sells kiosk goods, newspapers and magazines for the onward drive.

The Restaurant and Lounge is the one people overlook. It serves through the day, from a breakfast buffet to a lunch buffet with shrimp and salad, and in the evening it adds two hot dishes. On a late sailing you can eat dinner on board rather than out of a paper bag.

The pastry and cake display at Barista's Coffee Shop on board — Barista's. The queue is at its worst in the first 15 min and almost gone by the halfway point.

The counter at Molly's Diner with red bar stools and a neon sign — Molly's Diner, at the other end of the deck from Barista's and a great deal louder.

What BlueClass includes

At DKK 950 for the vehicle and up to nine people, BlueClass is the only ticket that changes the crossing rather than the booking terms. It includes the Business Lounge, with a water and the day’s newspaper, desk space, power and a quiet the main cabin does not have.

It also includes priority on and off the car deck, which shortens the wait at both ends, and check-in 5 min before departure instead of 10 min. If you drive an electric car, BlueClass is the only fare that lets you charge on board, free but booked in advance.

Whether DKK 701 above a Lowprice fare is a reasonable price depends on what you are doing with the 90 min. For a family on holiday the main cabin covers it. For anyone working, the lounge is the difference.

Seats and tables in the business lounge with signage reading Business Lounge — The Business Lounge. Desk space, power and the quiet end of the passenger deck.

Travelling with children

Molslinjen fits out the fast ferries for families: a play area and a small cinema, high chairs you can borrow so the baby sits at the table, and baby changing facilities. The kiosk sells soft ice cream and sweets, but also fruit and healthier snacks.

Food outlets on board are inspected like any Danish eatery, and Molslinjen links to its smiley reports from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

Wifi and power

Wifi is free on all the ferries. The network is called MOLSLINJEN Fri Internet, and the speed depends on how many people are using it, which on a full summer sailing is a great many. Download what you want to watch before you board rather than counting on it.

Outside

There is a small outer deck. On a fast catamaran the wind is considerable. It is worth stepping out even so, with the Danish coast passing alongside.

It is also where you want to be for the last 10 min into Odden, when the ferry slows right down along the breakwater.

Passengers standing at the railing of the ferry's open deck looking out over the sea — The open deck at the stern, with passengers at the railing.

Practical things

Free wifi, on the ships and on the Kombardo coaches
Charging points for a phone or a laptop
Toilets, more than one block, signposted from every section
A lift between the car deck and the passenger decks, alongside two staircases
A children’s play area, which counts on a crossing of 90 min with small children

The children's play area on board with a painted mural and low wooden seating — The play area. On a crossing of 90 min with small children it makes a difference.

Which of the three Express catamarans you get is not published in advance, so if the lounge matters, buy the ticket rather than hope for the right one. What each fare costs is on prices, and the deadline for boarding at all is on the timetable.

Questions people ask

Which ships sail between Aarhus and Odden?

Three high-speed catamarans: Express 2, Express 3 and Express 4. Which one you get is not published in advance.

How fast do they go?

Express 2 has a maximum of 40 knots, about 74 km/h, and 36 knots fully laden. It is 112.6 m long and 30.5 m wide, built by Incat in Tasmania.

Is there food on board?

Yes. A restaurant, Molly's Diner, Barista's Coffee Shop and a snack shop. There is also a waste sorting station, which on a crossing of 90 min says something about the quantities.

What is BlueClass?

DKK 950 with a car, DKK 499 as a foot passenger. It includes the Business Lounge with a water and the day's newspaper, priority on and off the car deck, a refund option, and check-in up to 5 min before departure. It stays valid for any departure within 12 months of purchase.

Is there wifi?

Yes, free wifi, along with charging points, clean toilets, a children's play area and a lift between decks.