Avoiding Hamburg - driving from NL to north Denmark
Discussion
I'm driving from Hook of Holland to north Denmark (on way to Norway) and understand that Hamburg is a real bottleneck - roadworks and lengthy delays. Any suggestions regarding avoiding Hamburg?
I've looked at the ferry at Wischhafen but anecdotal feedback appears to indicate lengthy delays there too. I would be happy to do a longer circuitous route off the A-bahn to the east of Hamburg if the roads were interesting - any ideas here?
I'd be leaving HoH about 9:00 Thursday so would be in Hamburg area ~ 14:00..
Any experience appreciated. Thanks!
I've looked at the ferry at Wischhafen but anecdotal feedback appears to indicate lengthy delays there too. I would be happy to do a longer circuitous route off the A-bahn to the east of Hamburg if the roads were interesting - any ideas here?
I'd be leaving HoH about 9:00 Thursday so would be in Hamburg area ~ 14:00..
Any experience appreciated. Thanks!
I could be wrong as my wife does talk nonsense on the off occasion, but, we have just returned from Swinoujscie in Poland next to the German border, and I am sure she said you can get the ferry from there.
I don’t know the exact route as I blindly followed navigation on the way back but it didn’t take us through Hamburg if that helps?
I don’t know the exact route as I blindly followed navigation on the way back but it didn’t take us through Hamburg if that helps?
We drove from the P&O ferry at Rotterdam (other side of the river from the Harwich ferry) up to Wacken at the start of the month. The Hamburg tunnel north bound was closed completely til midday on the day we were heading up, so we took the ferry.
I wouldnt say it was too much of a hassle.. sure it takes time (think we queued up for about an hour, hour n half in the ferry queue). But it's a pleasant drive up to the ferry. Far nicer than sitting on the autobahn.
When it gets busy they'll run a continuous service..with about 4 or 5 ferry's running at once. Cossing takes about half hour.
Once over there's a short drive to a dual carrageway to take you back the autoroute near itzehoe.
On our way back south we ended up going through the centre of Hamburg as the traffic management away from the festival took us over to the A21 then south.
I wouldnt say it was too much of a hassle.. sure it takes time (think we queued up for about an hour, hour n half in the ferry queue). But it's a pleasant drive up to the ferry. Far nicer than sitting on the autobahn.
When it gets busy they'll run a continuous service..with about 4 or 5 ferry's running at once. Cossing takes about half hour.
Once over there's a short drive to a dual carrageway to take you back the autoroute near itzehoe.
On our way back south we ended up going through the centre of Hamburg as the traffic management away from the festival took us over to the A21 then south.
lord summerisle said:
We drove from the P&O ferry at Rotterdam (other side of the river from the Harwich ferry) up to Wacken at the start of the month. The Hamburg tunnel north bound was closed completely til midday on the day we were heading up, so we took the ferry.
I wouldnt say it was too much of a hassle.. sure it takes time (think we queued up for about an hour, hour n half in the ferry queue). But it's a pleasant drive up to the ferry. Far nicer than sitting on the autobahn.
When it gets busy they'll run a continuous service..with about 4 or 5 ferry's running at once. Cossing takes about half hour.
Once over there's a short drive to a dual carrageway to take you back the autoroute near itzehoe.
On our way back south we ended up going through the centre of Hamburg as the traffic management away from the festival took us over to the A21 then south.
Thanks, the ferry is still looking like a good optionI wouldnt say it was too much of a hassle.. sure it takes time (think we queued up for about an hour, hour n half in the ferry queue). But it's a pleasant drive up to the ferry. Far nicer than sitting on the autobahn.
When it gets busy they'll run a continuous service..with about 4 or 5 ferry's running at once. Cossing takes about half hour.
Once over there's a short drive to a dual carrageway to take you back the autoroute near itzehoe.
On our way back south we ended up going through the centre of Hamburg as the traffic management away from the festival took us over to the A21 then south.
rufmeister said:
I could be wrong as my wife does talk nonsense on the off occasion, but, we have just returned from Swinoujscie in Poland next to the German border, and I am sure she said you can get the ferry from there.
I don’t know the exact route as I blindly followed navigation on the way back but it didn’t take us through Hamburg if that helps?
Looks like you might have taken the A1 to east of Hamburg coming from Swinoujscie. I might be able to use A1, A21 as it avoids most of Hamburg. I'll do a bit more research. thanksI don’t know the exact route as I blindly followed navigation on the way back but it didn’t take us through Hamburg if that helps?
Back in 2004/5 I worked in Aalborg, northern Denmark on a contract. Co-incidentally, five years later I also worked on a contract in Hamburg.
Anyway, finding a furnished apartment in Denmark proved to be very difficult, so I rented an unfurnished one and furnished it myself. And a very happy time I spent there! Anyway, when time came for me to return to the UK, I hired a 7.5T lorry and drove it from Surrey to Harwich, took the overnight ferry to Esbjerg and then on to Aalborg. One week later, having packed all my furniture and belongings into the lorry, I headed home for the reverse route. Unfortunately it was pouring with rain on the way back to Esbjerg and I hadn't taken into account how slow traffic would be. It was getting to the point when the ship should have sailed and I was still 20 minutes away from the port. Thankfully, they called me asking where I was, and when I said I was still 20 minutes, they said they'd alerted security to whisk me through as quickly as possible and that they'd wait for me. Can you imagine that happening today? Not a chance!
That crossing was particularly memorable as I had the most amazing seared foie gras dinner on the ferry (which was odd since its passengers were 99% greasy truck drivers) and sadly that route was canned in 2014. I can't see a realistic way to avoid Hamburg but I ask myself why you'd want to. It's a beautiful city in its own right and I've never had any trouble crossing it north to south. It's a major route into Denmark and the traffic always flowed freely. Looking at Google Maps now, I can see several works zones but the traffic seems to be freely flowing. I wouldn't think twice about making a detour to avoid Hamburg.
Anyway, finding a furnished apartment in Denmark proved to be very difficult, so I rented an unfurnished one and furnished it myself. And a very happy time I spent there! Anyway, when time came for me to return to the UK, I hired a 7.5T lorry and drove it from Surrey to Harwich, took the overnight ferry to Esbjerg and then on to Aalborg. One week later, having packed all my furniture and belongings into the lorry, I headed home for the reverse route. Unfortunately it was pouring with rain on the way back to Esbjerg and I hadn't taken into account how slow traffic would be. It was getting to the point when the ship should have sailed and I was still 20 minutes away from the port. Thankfully, they called me asking where I was, and when I said I was still 20 minutes, they said they'd alerted security to whisk me through as quickly as possible and that they'd wait for me. Can you imagine that happening today? Not a chance!
That crossing was particularly memorable as I had the most amazing seared foie gras dinner on the ferry (which was odd since its passengers were 99% greasy truck drivers) and sadly that route was canned in 2014. I can't see a realistic way to avoid Hamburg but I ask myself why you'd want to. It's a beautiful city in its own right and I've never had any trouble crossing it north to south. It's a major route into Denmark and the traffic always flowed freely. Looking at Google Maps now, I can see several works zones but the traffic seems to be freely flowing. I wouldn't think twice about making a detour to avoid Hamburg.
Having been caught in the traffic around Hamburg several times I tried a number of avoidance options over the years, even on one occasion just diverting off and driving through the middle of the city. Looking at the situation this morning I would have no hesitation diverting to take a ferry.
Can't advise on options there as I was ultimately heading up into Sweden a fair bit north of Stockholm. Therefore this means a completely different situation as it avoided bridge tolls and timings. Guess I'd try going up the 1 to the short crossing to Rødby as first option these days if heading to DK.
Can't advise on options there as I was ultimately heading up into Sweden a fair bit north of Stockholm. Therefore this means a completely different situation as it avoided bridge tolls and timings. Guess I'd try going up the 1 to the short crossing to Rødby as first option these days if heading to DK.
FiF said:
Having been caught in the traffic around Hamburg several times I tried a number of avoidance options over the years, even on one occasion just diverting off and driving through the middle of the city. Looking at the situation this morning I would have no hesitation diverting to take a ferry.
Can't advise on options there as I was ultimately heading up into Sweden a fair bit north of Stockholm. Therefore this means a completely different situation as it avoided bridge tolls and timings. Guess I'd try going up the 1 to the short crossing to Rødby as first option these days if heading to DK.
Yes, I was thinking A1/ A21 might be an option (i'm heading towards Hirtshals), i'll probably just wait till the day and see which of the 3 options looks quickest. I was hoping there might be a nice route off the Autobahn around H'burg but it doesn't look like that kind of area. Anyway, at least I have a few options now. thanks all for suggestions and anecdotes.Can't advise on options there as I was ultimately heading up into Sweden a fair bit north of Stockholm. Therefore this means a completely different situation as it avoided bridge tolls and timings. Guess I'd try going up the 1 to the short crossing to Rødby as first option these days if heading to DK.
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