Ferry operator · Norway
Fredrikstad kommune
- Routes
- 16
- Terminals
- 11
- Regions
- 1
- Avg crossing
- 5 min
Authority and ship operator
Fredrikstad's city ferries are owned and run by the municipality, and they are free — bicycles included. Every boat is named after a woman who mattered to the town, and every name begins with Go'vakker.
Official site: www.fredrikstad.kommune.no — always confirm the current timetable there before travelling.
Timetables
Routes operated by Fredrikstad kommune
Showing the 1 most-searched of the 16 routes Fredrikstad kommune runs.
| Route | Crossing | Sailings/day | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gamlebyen fergeleie → Smertu fergeleie | 5 min | 83 | Østfold |
Free, including the bike, and dogs are welcome
Fredrikstad kommune owns and operates the city ferries through its parking and transport department, and the fare policy is simple: using the ferries is free. So is taking a bicycle. Dogs are permitted on board. Each boat carries up to 50 passengers.
Three routes run across and along the Glomma. The main one links Gamlebyen–Smertu–Sentrum–Værste–Gressvik–Ålekilen. A second crosses straight over the river between Cicignon and Gamlebyen, and a third runs Lisleby–Sellebakk. Timetables are published through Entur and as printable PDFs.
If the ferry sails past your quay, it is full
The municipality states this plainly, and it is the single most useful thing to know here: when a ferry does not stop, it means the boat is full and cannot take more passengers — so it passes the landing without calling. There is no signalling system to argue with; you wait for the next one.
The same constraint shapes what the municipality calls the elvecruise. Plenty of passengers ride the ferry as a mini cruise — out from Gamlebyen to Ålekilene and back, say. That is explicitly fine, but everyone must leave the boat and rejoin the queue at each terminus (Gamlebyen and Ålekilene). In summer and on holidays you should expect your cruise to be interrupted, because the ferry you arrived on will fill with people already waiting.
Every boat is named after a woman from the town's history
Fredrikstad's city ferries are traditionally named after women who have meant something to Fredrikstad, and every name begins with Go'vakker — the municipality's way of honouring women who made a contribution to or in the town through their life and work.
The Gamlebyen–Ålekilene route is worked by Go'vakker Maren, Go'vakker Grethe, Go'vakker Marcia and Go'vakker Asta. The Cicignon–Gamlebyen crossing is Go'vakker Karen, with Go'vakker Thora in reserve. Sellebakk–Lisleby is Go'vakker Elen, and Go'vakker Vivi II serves as a reserve and relief boat.
The names carry real biographies. Go'vakker Marcia is Sister Marcia — born Marcia Lutjann (1911–1987), a sister at St. Joseph hospital who worked as a midwife and went on to lead the maternity ward for close to 40 years, remembered for the warmth she spread around her.
You can hire one with its captain
Outside scheduled service the ferries can be chartered with a captain — for conferences, for example — at 2,170 kroner per hour including VAT. School classes and kindergartens planning a trip are asked to contact the transport department in advance rather than simply turning up with a group.
The network
Where Fredrikstad kommune sails
Paying aboard
Fares with Fredrikstad kommune
Driving with Fredrikstad kommune? Its road-ferry fares use AutoPASS for Ferries — vehicles are billed automatically by length and foot passengers usually travel free. There is normally no ticket to buy in advance.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do Fredrikstad's city ferries cost anything?
No. Using the ferries is free, and so is taking a bicycle. Dogs are also allowed on board.
Why did the ferry sail past without stopping?
Because it was full. The municipality states that when a ferry cannot take more passengers it passes the landing without calling — so the answer is simply to wait for the next one. Each boat takes up to 50 passengers.
Can I stay on board and ride it as a cruise?
Yes, and the municipality expects it — but you must leave the boat and rejoin the queue at each terminus, Gamlebyen and Ålekilene. In summer and on holidays expect the cruise to be interrupted, since the ferry will fill with passengers already waiting there.
Why are the ferries all called Go'vakker something?
It is a Fredrikstad tradition: the city ferries are named after women who have meant something to the town, honouring their life and work. Every name begins with Go'vakker — Maren, Grethe, Marcia, Asta, Karen, Thora, Elen and Vivi II.
Who was Go'vakker Marcia named after?
Sister Marcia, born Marcia Lutjann (1911–1987). She was a sister at St. Joseph hospital, worked as a midwife and led the maternity ward there for close to 40 years.
Which routes do the city ferries run?
Three. Gamlebyen–Smertu–Sentrum–Værste–Gressvik–Ålekilen along the river, Cicignon–Gamlebyen straight across it, and Lisleby–Sellebakk. Timetables are in Entur and as printable PDFs.
Can I hire a city ferry?
Yes, with a captain and outside scheduled service — for conferences, for instance — at 2,170 kroner per hour including VAT. School classes and kindergartens are asked to contact the transport department in advance.