Puttgarden

is a ferry harbour and a village on the German island of Fehmarn. It lies on an important route between Germany and Denmark known as the Vogelfluglinie which crosses the 18 km strait, the Fehmarnbelt, to Rødby on the island of Lolland.

Overview
From 1945 to 1963, the ferry route from West Germany to Denmark had run between Großenbrode and Gedser. A train ferry terminal was built in Puttgarden in 1961-63 and at the same time Fehmarn was connected to the mainland by bridge. Since the completion of the Great Belt Fixed Link in Denmark, the route via Puttgarden became less used by trains and Puttgarden station closed in 2022. The harbour is still used by Scandlines ferries, with a fleet of four ferries giving one connection every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day.

Tunnel to Denmark
A tunnel connection is under construction across the Fehmarn Belt. Originally planned as a bridge, the solution eventually chosen was an immersed tunnel comprising both a road and a rail link. The Danish government is financing construction. The fixed link will have road fees comparable to the ferry fees. It is planned to be completed in 2029.