Ferry between Gryllefjord (Senja) and Andenes in the Vesterålen Islands

Northern Norway is all about islands and fjords. Stretches of sea, gorgeous but sometimes endless drives because of this coastline cut up like a jigsaw puzzle. But luckily, there are ferries that save quite a bit of time, both in the fjords region and up north, for example the famous ferry between Bodo and Moskenes in the Lofoten, which saves about fifteen hours of driving (no less!).

For example, one of the most popular and enjoyable ferries is the one that links the island of Senja to the Vesterålen Islands. And more precisely the adorable little village of Gryllefjord and Andenes.

This ferry is only open for a few months in summer, isn’t very big and requires a bit of planning. I’m going to explain all of that to you.

But if you’re looking for quick info, then here are the essentials:

• When does the ferry run: from 13 May to 27 September
• How many crossings per day: between 2 and 3
• Can you book in advance: no
• Do you need to arrive well in advance: a big yes, especially in July and August (the evening before)
• How much does the crossing cost: a car + its driver = 925NOK
• Can you pay with Autopass and badges: yes

There you go, you can read the article for more detail on prices, schedules and other information 🙂

The ferry’s next departures

Why take the ferry between Gryllefjord and Andenes

Well, it’s simple: because it saves a crazy amount of time. Getting from Gryllefjord to Andenes by car easily takes 7h non-stop. The road is beautiful, sure, but you might as well do it by boat in 1h40. Because either way, to come down from the Vesterålen you’ll have to make the journey by road.

So you get a huge time saving, that’s already great.

But on top of that you get the scenery! Because you set off from the island of Senja, especially western Senja which is truly spectacular with its big mountains. So the boat trip will be a feast for your eyes.

To begin with, you set off from Gryllefjord, my favourite fjord on my favourite island. So things are off to a pretty good start. And you head towards another spectacular spot. So yes, the journey is superb!

In terms of cost, it’s roughly equivalent. The price of the ticket will cost you the same as the petrol, that is around €80 give or take (925NOK for a car and its driver).

When does the ferry run

This ferry runs from mid-May to late September (in 2026, from 13 May to 27 September). So only 4 and a half months a year. It doesn’t run all year round, for two main reasons:

• the weather. Outside summer, conditions can be tricky on Senja and in the Vesterålen. There can be a lot of wind, storms. So navigation is very difficult and often cancelled. Especially on such a long crossing. We’re not talking about 20-minute trips like other ferries.
• there are far fewer people and tourists outside summer. There’s a little bit of traffic on Senja, but really no one in the Vesterålen. So it would simply be pointless. And if on top of that you run boats

What are the schedules for the ferry between Senja (Gryllefjord) and the Vesterålen Islands (Andenes)

As I just told you, it only runs 4 and a half months a year. I’m giving you the schedules below but you can also download them here.

It doesn’t run in winter because there are many, many fewer tourists on Senja and in the Vesterålen, and weather conditions are tougher.

The crossing takes 1h40. 2026 schedules (season from 13 May to 27 September):

• GRYLLEFJORD –> ANDENES
  • From 13 May to 14 June: 11:00 / 19:00
  • From 15 June to 23 August: 11:00 / 15:00 / 19:00
  • From 24 August to 27 September: 11:00 / 19:00
• ANDENES –> GRYLLEFJORD
  • From 13 May to 14 June: 8:45 / 17:00
  • From 15 June to 23 August: 8:45 / 13:00 / 17:00
  • From 24 August to 27 September: 8:45 / 17:00

One important thing: the ideal website / app to plan your journeys is Entur.no, which of course includes the ferry schedules. Super handy!

Ferry price and payment

To pay, it’s better to have AUTOPASS. That means having registered your car’s licence plate to go through Norway’s ferries, tunnels and tolls:

• If you rent a car in Tromso, Autopass is necessarily included.
• With AUTOPASS, you don’t pay anything directly, the AUTOPASS account is linked to a bank account and you pay afterwards, directly by direct debit.
• With a simple AutoPASS account, you get a 10% discount; with a prepaid AutoPASS account (the most advantageous for private individuals), you benefit from a 50% discount

Here are the 2026 prices without discount:

• standard vehicle (under 6m): 925 NOK (around €82)
• after that it depends on size, you’ll find the details below, but the prices climb fast!
• Electric vehicles (under 6m): 648 NOK
• motorbike / scooter: 272 NOK
• With a prepaid AutoPASS account (-50%), a car comes to around 462 NOK.
• Note, new for 2026: this vehicle fare includes the driver, but no longer all the passengers. Since 15 June 2026, each passenger in the car aged 30 to 66 must pay an extra 100 NOK (free for children, 18-29 year-olds and seniors with an honnør card).

Pedestrians, cyclists and passengers:

• Before 15 June: it’s free for pedestrians, cyclists and all passengers.
• From 15 June 2026, new rule: every adult aged 30 to 66 must have a 100 NOK ticket (around €9), whether they are a pedestrian, cyclist or passenger in a vehicle. The driver, however, is already included in the vehicle payment (AutoPASS / FerryPay) and doesn’t pay this supplement.
• Still free in all cases: children, young people aged 18 to 29 and seniors (honnør card).
• The passenger ticket is bought on the Svipper app, the Entur app, on Entur.no or on board.

You can download the file with the various fares here.

NOTE: to benefit from the discounts on Norwegian ferries, order your Autopass badge.

if you don’t have Autopass (rare, but possible):

• you can use the FerryPay website to pay for the various ferries in Norway
• if you don’t have that either, then an agent will come and ask you to pay by bank card, but only contactless. Why? I have no idea 😀

4 recommended places to stay in Senja

Find your dream accommodationin Senja!

Can you book the ferry / how long in advance do you need to arrive

No, you can’t book in advance.

In July and August, you MUST arrive early. If you want to catch the first ferry, then you need to arrive at Gryllefjord late in the day the evening before and already put your car in the queue. If you’re in a camper van, you can sleep there. Otherwise you’ll have to take a hotel nearby (for example Kaikanten)

If you arrive in the morning, then you’ll have room for the 3rd ferry.

In July and August, the crossing is VERY popular.

In low season, you’ll get a spot much more easily.

The boat can take around 30 vehicles per crossing.

In summary:

• the ferry runs from mid-May to late September (in 2026: from 13 May to 27 September; it varies by a few days each year)
• the price is around €82 for a car (925 NOK)
• the crossing takes 1h40
• there are 2 daily connections, 3 from mid-June to late August

Other resources for your trip to Norway

PRACTICAL INFO ON NORWAY

• All the information to plan your holiday in Norway
• Where to go in Norway in summer for the first time
• Paying for ferries and tolls with Autopass
• Schedule of closed roads in Norway

TROMSO AND ITS REGION

• All the information on a stay in Tromso
• Where to stay in Tromso: find the most affordable and most convenient accommodation
• What is the best time to go to Tromso
• The best map of Tromso with all the most beautiful spots
• Schedules and fares for the ferry between Tromso and Senja
• Schedules and fares for the ferry between Tromso and the Lyngen Alps
• ALL the activities to do in Tromso, summer and winter!

LOFOTEN ISLANDS

• how to organise your trip to the Lofoten Islands
• The must-do activities in the Lofoten Islands
• The best fishermen’s cabins to stay in the Lofoten Islands
• Info and booking for the ferry between Bodo and the Lofoten Islands (Moskenes) + Vaeroy

SENJA

• How to organise your trip to Senja!
• Info and booking for the ferry between Senja and Tromso
• Where to stay in Senja, the best hotels
• The map of Senja with all the most beautiful spots

BERGEN AND THE FJORDS

• Discovering Bergen in 2 or 3 days
• What to do in the Norwegian fjords region

OSLO

• What to do in Oslo in 2 or 3 days
• The hotels at Oslo Gardermoen airport
• How to get from Oslo Gardermoen airport to the city centre