Driving Across the Great Belt Bridge
We had been itching to drive across Denmark's iconic Great Belt Bridge, finally, it was happening!
Cruising across the Great Belt Bridge was the simplest way to get from Funen to Zealand. Here's a report from our journey.
The Great Belt Bridge( Storebæltsbroen), stretching 18 kilometers between Zealand and Funen, was supposed to be one of the coolest parts of our Denmark road trip. And since we brought our car for this trip to the southernmost Scandinavian country, it meant we could enjoy this stretch of the journey right from the front seats.
I have to admit, I'd been really looking forward to that drive. I knew it was just a bridge, but given that it's one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, and we don't have anything close to it in Czechia, this was definitely not just another crossing.
We've always believed that spotting iconic landmarks is a key part of any memorable road trip. Lucie was excited too, though maybe not quite as much as I was since I got to drive while she had to settle for snapping photos.
We did a little homework before the trip and discovered that crossing the Great Belt Bridge wasn't going to be anything tricky, pretty much the same as any regular road with a toll.
The one thing we were slightly nervous about was dealing with the toll (this bridge isn't free, after all). We hadn't brought much cash and were relying on our credit card, but mostly, we had no idea what the process would be like since it was all new to us. You know, typical first-time worries.
Funny enough, we actually crossed the Great Belt Bridge twice, once heading to Zealand and again on our way back home. Lucie suggested taking a ferry from a southern port to Germany instead, but since we were in a hurry, sticking to the bridge was the quicker choice. So, here's what we learned along the way(s).
The view of Storebæltsbroen from Hallskov Odde was absolutely breathtaking.
Why We Drove Across the Great Belt Bridge
Well, the short answer is that there's really no other choice. But if you're up for the long version, we've got that too. With so many islands, we initially wondered how we were supposed to get around in Denmark. But that concern disappeared fast when we saw how road bridges connect all the main ones.
The Great Belt Bridge is probably the best proof of that. And let's be honest, the word 'great' in its name makes it pretty clear this isn't just any old bridge. With the big stretch of water between Zealand and Funen, we were relieved there was a bridge, and we didn't need to figure out a ferry ride and everything that comes to it (schedules, navigating to the port, etc.).
The sun was just about to set as we drove back across the Great Belt Bridge - talk about great views!
We were totally fine hopping on a ferry to North Jutlandic Island to reach Thy National Park, but that was just a quick 10-minute ride. But this? Yeah, this would be a whole different story.
The 18-kilometer link was completed in 1998 and named the Great Belt Bridge, just like the strait beneath it. Its construction cut the travel time between the islands from about an hour down to just over 10 minutes, which must have been an absolute game-changer for the locals back then (and still is today).
One of the fun facts we discovered about the Great Belt Bridge is that it's split into two parts: a suspension bridge and a box girder bridge that connect at Sprogo, a small island right at the midpoint. But we'll get to that in just a bit.
Our Drive Across the Storebæltsbroen Began in Nyborg
Since we started our Denmark adventure in Jutland and gradually made our way to Funen, our drive over the Great Belt started in the charming seaside town of Nyborg.
We began our trip across Storebæltsbroen from Nyborg, right on Funen Island.
We actually kicked off our day in Svendborg, where we had spent the night. In the days before, we explored Funen's must-see spots, like, Odense, with its amazing H.C. Andersen Museum, or the legendary Egeskov Castle (which, fun fact, was the cover photo on our Lonely Planet guide). Since we were looking for somewhere quiet, Svendborg was the perfect choice.
So, the next morning, we woke up early, treated ourselves to an awesome buffet breakfast at Hotel Christiansminde, and then hit the road for Nyborg. We made a stop there to kill some time so we wouldn't reach Trelleborg's museum before it opened. Maybe a little overcomplicated, but hey, that was the plan.
Crossing the Box Girder Bridge
So, after a quick stop in Nyborg, we jumped back into the car and finally hit the road across the Great Belt Bridge. From the harbor car park, we just followed Storebæltsvej for about 1.5 kilometers before turning right onto the E20.
Starting from the Nyborg side, the first part of our drive took us over the box girder bridge. The strait is pretty shallow here, so they went with this type of bridge since it was the most cost-effective and reliable option.
The landscape on this side of Funen is flat as can be (if you've seen our post on Denmark's highest points, you'll know it's not an exception), so when we drove onto the bridge, it didn't feel like crossing one at all. If we couldn't see water on both sides, we wouldn't have been able to tell at all.
Lucie pointed out that the drive felt a lot like when we headed to Romo Island a few days ago on our way through Wadden Sea National Park. She was spot on since the island is connected to the mainland by a causeway, and the experience felt pretty much the same.
The weather was playing nice, which meant we could cruise at 110 km/h.
On the day we crossed the Great Belt Bridge, the speed limit was set at 110 km/h, which is pretty much the standard when traffic and weather conditions are good. It felt a bit breezy while we were walking around Nyborg, but not enough to prompt a speed reduction, so the limit remained consistent across the entire bridge. I didn't bother setting cruise control at that speed and instead drove a little slower to enjoy the ride.
I made sure to stay in the right lane whenever I could so we'd have uninterrupted views of the strait. The left side didn't offer much besides just traffic heading the other way and the overhead lines marking the train tracks.
The only real difference we spotted when driving Storebæltsbroen from Zealand versus Funen was the tollbooth - it's located only on the Zealand side. So heading to Zealand, we paid at the end of the bridge, but coming back, the toll was the first thing we had to deal with.
The weather was perfect and we got treated to some stunning views of the Great Belt Strait.
Reaching Sprogø Island - The Midway Point
About halfway through the drive, Sprogo Island came into view, signaling the end of the first stretch. This little island in the middle of the Great Belt is now a protected natural area and even has a charming lighthouse. We would've loved to stop there, but we found out it's closed to the public (we later learned limited guided tours might be available, though), so we just passed by.
As we reached the second half of the island, we noticed the overhead lines on our left had suddenly vanished. That's because the train tracks don't continue above ground, but they run into a tunnel between Zealand and Sprogo instead.
Halfway through our journey across the bridge, we passed by Sprogø Island.
While Sprogø is now a peaceful, green island with a picturesque lighthouse, it also hides a pretty grim chapter of Denmark's history. Between 1923 and 1961, this place was used to institutionalize women who were seen by authorities at the time in need of moral rehabilitation.
As grim as it sounds, the reality was even worse. It may not have been an official prison, but the harsh rules, dreadful conditions, and total lack of freedom on an island completely cut off from the mainland made it a truly terrifying place.
Crossing the Suspension Bridge
With Sprogo Island in the rearview mirror, we finally reached the suspension bridge. The first part was cool, no doubt, but this stretch, with its 1.6-kilometer span and towering 254-meter-high pillars, was something else entirely.
The suspension bridge part was definitely a drive to remember.
They went with a suspension design here because of the deeper waters and to make room for maritime traffic beneath it. The experience from the road was awesome, but our view was mostly limited to the towering pillars and sweeping cables. That's why we were really glad we took the time to visit a fantastic viewpoint in Halsskov (which we'll talk about shortly) to truly take in the full grandeur of this massive structure.
The bridge has a vertical clearance of 65 meters, allowing even massive ocean liners to pass beneath it without a problem. For some perspective, we hiked up Isbjerg earlier, the highest point in Thy National Park at 56 meters, which could easily fit under the bridge.
Paying the Toll at the Great Belt Bridge
Once we were on the other side of the bridge, we followed the signage indicating which lane we should pick. There were three toll lanes, each clearly marked by a color and name suggesting who it was.
Storebaeltsbroen's toll system was simple, so getting through was no problem at all.
The green Express lanes (Ekspress) on the left and in the middle scan the license plates or transponders, so they are for vehicles with a Bizz or registered for number plate payments. There's no barrier, so this is simply a fast lane used mostly by locals and transit.
So we moved into the blue Card Payment lane (Kort) since we didn't prepay nor register anything. This lane is used by pretty much everybody else, like locals who don't pass through here too often or tourists like us.
Interestingly, there was still present a yellow Cash Payment (Kontant) lane all the way to the right, which is meant to be used by those who simply prefer cash over card payments.
From our own experience, there's really no need to bring cash to Denmark. While we withdrew a small amount of money in Aarhus, we haven't in those roughly two weeks we were there needed it in a single situation, which even topped our experience from our Iceland road trip where we needed coins for a shower in a camp.
When it came to paying, the process was surprisingly straightforward. When we stopped before the barrier, I didn't have to do much. Since it's their electronic system that does the height and the total length measurements) the toll station automatically charged me and showed me the final price, 275 DKK.
We went through the credit card lane, and the toll price was calculated automatically.
So, my only job was to tap my smartwatch on the terminal and wait a few seconds before the payment was processed. Since I did my job splendidly, the barrier lifted, and we could easily merge once again into one of the lanes of E20. One of the great features of the toll payment machine was the three separate terminals at different heights, making it easy to tap no matter whether you're in a small sedan or a large motorhome with a much higher seating position.
Paying the toll with my watch wasn't as smooth as I'd hoped, and I had to stretch a little more.
This super short drive wasn't definitely a cheap experience, and for comparison, the whole trip across the Great Belt Bridge cost us almost the same as we paid in LEGO House or twice as much as we paid in Hanstholm Fortress. Admittedly, that's a completely different type of expense, so the comparison is not completely fair.
Since we made this trip in a regular car, we didn't exactly dig deep into the rules for RVs and campervans crossing the Great Belt Bridge. But from our quick search, it looks like there aren't any special restrictions, just a higher toll for motorhomes over 6 meters long and up to 3,500 kg.
At the beginning of the post, we shared our worries about passing through a toll booth, but it wasn't in the most serious sense because we simply assumed that we wouldn't have any problems. And we didn't. Everything went smoothly for us.
But the reason why we mentioned it is that on our second journey across the bridge, we arrived at the toll booth, and the car in front of us got stuck there. Whatever the reason was, they just weren't able to complete the payment, and by the time they realized it, there were already, together with us, three cars behind them.
Then the lady jumped out of the car and started to gesticulate that it would take some time before they figured it out and apologized for the situation and the little jam they caused. So we had to back out of this lane and move to the adjacent one. Luckily, it wasn't a big deal; apart from that, we all had to watch for the incoming cars.
So, as usual, our only practical tip for these types of situations we follow ourselves is to bring more than one credit card (we always bring cards issued by different banks) and have some emergency cash for similar situations.
All in all, we wrapped up the 18-kilometer journey in about 12-13 minutes, including the toll payment. There were no slowdowns and no holdups, so it was an easy, hassle-free ride. If you use the fast lane at the toll and stick to 110 km/h, a 10-minute drive sounds perfectly realistic.
It was definitely breezy, as the windsock hinted, but the speed limit stayed steady at 110 km/h the whole way.
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Best Viewpoints of Great Belt Bridge
Once we reached Zealand, we weren't done with the Great Belt experience just yet. Since we still had time to spare, we took a quick detour to take some great photos of the bridge. That's why, once we reached Halsskov, we left the E20, took the first exit at the next roundabout, and drove about 2.5 kilometers back along Storebæltsvej to Halsskov Odde.
Though this small isthmus is a popular recreational spot for locals, we were here for one thing - the panoramic views of the Great Belt Bridge. Since we were near the suspension part, the sights were pretty spectacular.
As soon as we arrived at Halsskov Odde, Martin was off taking photos of the Great Belt Bridge.
Besides the scenic viewpoint, there's a small iceboat museum (Isbådsmuseet), which is free to enter. At first, we went strolling along the beach and soaking in the views, but when I started hunting for the perfect photo spots for the Great Belt Bridge, Lucie wasn't feeling my excitement and soon after headed into the museum instead.
The wind was pretty strong, so I waited for a tanker to pass under the bridge, snapped a photo, and then followed Lucie into the museum's sheltered area. It was a tiny museum with some interesting info and even a few boats,
Once inside, I spotted her reading up on the icebreakers that powered through the frozen Storebælt Strait before the bridge was built. It looked super interesting, but I was immediately more drawn to the boats on display. It didn't take long to check everything out, so we were back on the road in no time.
Isbaadsmuseet may be small, but it's packed with fascinating Storebæltsbroen history.
Our next stop was the Trelleborg Viking Fortress, where we spent the rest of the morning before continuing on. In the afternoon, we made our way to another island, Mon, which is linked to Zealand by a bridge, ready to hike along the stunning Mons Klint.
You can definitely catch views of the Great Belt Bridge from Funen, too. Unsurprisingly, the area around Nyborg has some solid vantage points. Just keep in mind that this side features the box girder bridge, while the more scenic suspension bridge section is a bit farther away.
If you love photography like I do, a good telephoto lens is a must here (120-150mm worked perfectly for me from the Zealand side). We also brought binoculars to Denmark, but not for the bridge. We had them for birdwatching during the Black Sun Tour. That said, they might come in handy here as well.
Hotels Near Great Belt Bridge
If you're thinking about staying near the Great Belt Bridge, you've got two options: Korsor or Nyborg. Honestly, there's not a huge difference between them, so it all comes down to your budget and what kind of vibe you're looking for.
In Nyborg, Hotel Villa Gulle puts you right in the town center. But if a beachfront stay is more your thing, Storebælt Sinatur is the way to go, especially since it's on a Blue Flag Beach.
Comwell Klarskovgaard sits just outside Korsor, making it a great spot if you want to stay nearby. But if being as close to the bridge as possible is your priority, Storebælt Camping is the way to go. It even offers cottages for travelers arriving by car or bike, besides the usual campground facilities.
Taking a Train Across the Great Belt Bridge
While we think that driving across the Great Belt Bridge is hands-down the best way to experience it, it's not the only way to get across. Copenhagen and Odense are connected by rail, so you can always hop on a train instead of taking the wheel.
Mind you, the train journey isn't nearly as scenic. The tracks stick to the box girder bridge only, and the suspension bridge stretch is completely underground in a tunnel, meaning no ocean views at all.
If you're all about the driving experience, here's where you can find rental car deals.
The train tracks kept us company on the left while we were on the box girder bridge, until they they vanished into a tunnel.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
