Guide
Travelling to Sweden with your dog
All ferry routes compared for dog owners: cabins, costs, rules & entry requirements
- 7 ferry routes compared: Stena Line, TT-Line, Finnlines & Scandlines
- Pet cabins, costs & rules, everything for travelling with a four-legged friend
- Direct ferries to Sweden, dogs travel free on some routes
Entry requirements
What your dog needs for Sweden
Sweden is one of the more dog-friendly Scandinavian countries. No tapeworm treatment required.
EU pet passport
ISO microchip
Rabies vaccination
No tapeworm treatment
Detailed comparison
All routes at a glance
Three tables compare the key differences between the routes at a glance.
Bringing your dog & costs
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Cabins & rules on board
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Route, crossing time & price
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Guide
Your dog on board
Table of Contents
Which route suits your dog?
How relaxed the crossing is with a dog depends above all on the route. Operators handle cabin requirements, exercise areas and deck access differently. Three routes cover the most common trips. The comparison above shows in detail what applies to your dog on each route.
Most dog-friendly: TT-Line
TT-Line is the only operator that lets dogs into all public areas, including designated dog zones in the restaurants. The modern Green Ships (built 2022 and 2023) have their own dog toilets on the outer decks. A per-animal fee applies during the day, while on night sailings it's included in the cabin price. Restricted breeds must wear a muzzle on board. A pet cabin is recommended but not required on the roughly seven-to-nine-hour crossing.
A relaxed overnight trip: Stena Line Kiel - Gothenburg
On the 14.5-hour night crossing, your dog sleeps in the pet cabin while you sleep through the crossing. Here, a pet cabin is mandatory: without one, no dog is allowed on board. In return, there's an exercise area on deck, and the cost is already included in the cabin price. Especially in peak season from June to August, book the limited pet cabins as early as you can.
The cheapest option: Scandlines via Denmark
On the short Scandlines ferries, dogs travel free and there's no cabin available. The Puttgarden - Rødby crossing takes just 45 minutes, after which the Öresund Bridge (a toll bridge) takes you on into Sweden. Bear in mind: this route goes through Denmark, where a breed ban list applies to dogs. If you have a restricted breed, take a direct ferry to Sweden instead.
On every route except the short Scandlines ferries, the car deck stays closed during the crossing: your dog travels in the cabin or on the pet deck, not in the vehicle.
Travel checklist for Sweden
Before you set off, it's worth going through these points:
- EU pet passport: fully completed with microchip number, valid vaccination and vet confirmation.
- Microchip: ISO standard 11784/11785 identification present and implanted before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination: valid vaccination entered, with the first dose at least 21 days old.
- Ferry booking: dog added correctly to your ticket, usually under "Extras".
- Pet cabin: booked wherever it's mandatory (Stena Line Kiel - Gothenburg and Finnlines).
- Customs declaration: dog declared to Swedish customs, conveniently done online in advance at tullverket.se.
- Transit through Denmark: breed ban list checked, if you're travelling via Denmark.
- Onward travel to Norway or Finland: have the tapeworm treatment done by a vet 24 to 120 hours before entry.
Sweden itself requires no tapeworm treatment and has no breed bans, other than for wolf hybrids.
FAQ: everything you need to know
The most frequently asked questions about travelling to Sweden with a dog, answered concisely.
What documents does my dog need to enter Sweden? +
Entering from Germany, you need three things: a valid EU pet passport (issued by an authorised vet), a microchip to ISO standard 11784/11785, and a rabies vaccination that's at least 21 days old. Important: the chip must be implanted before or at the same time as the vaccination, otherwise the vaccination doesn't count. Your dog also needs to be declared to Swedish customs (Tullverket), ideally online in advance.
Does my dog need worming before entering Sweden? +
No, not since 2012. Sweden scrapped the mandatory tapeworm treatment once the fox tapeworm became established there too. Sweden's Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) still recommends worming, but it's now voluntary. Note: if you're continuing on from Sweden to Norway or Finland, you'll need to have the treatment done 24-120 hours before entry, as those countries still require it.
Do I have to book a pet cabin? +
That depends on the route. On Stena Line Kiel - Gothenburg and Finnlines, a pet cabin is mandatory: without one, dogs aren't allowed on board at all. On Stena Line Rostock - Trelleborg and TT-Line, it's recommended but not required. Scandlines doesn't offer cabins at all, as the crossings are short enough that dogs can stay in the car or in the passenger areas.
Can my dog stay in the car during the crossing? +
With most operators, no. The car deck is closed to passengers during the crossing for safety reasons; that applies to Stena Line, TT-Line and Finnlines. The only exception is the short Scandlines ferries (Puttgarden - Rødby, Rostock - Gedser): dogs can stay in the vehicle there, though access to the car deck during the crossing still isn't permitted.
I have a restricted breed. Which route is safe? +
Take a direct ferry to Sweden and avoid the overland route through Denmark. Denmark bans 13 dog breeds (for dogs acquired after 17 March 2010), and passing through can cause problems. Sweden itself has no breed bans; only wolf hybrids are excluded. Suitable direct routes: Stena Line (Kiel - Gothenburg or Rostock - Trelleborg), TT-Line or Finnlines. On TT-Line, restricted breeds must wear a muzzle on board.
Which route is the cheapest? +
The Scandlines route via Puttgarden - Rødby is the cheapest option: dogs travel completely free, and there's no cabin requirement. All you pay extra is the Öresund Bridge toll. By comparison, the Rostock - Trelleborg direct ferry is the cheapest direct route (plus a dog fee), while Kiel - Gothenburg, with its mandatory cabin, is the most expensive option. Current prices are shown in the comparison table above and at the booking step.
Which operator is the most dog-friendly? +
TT-Line clearly stands out here: it's the only operator that lets dogs access all public areas, including designated dog zones in the restaurants. No other ferry company offers this. The modern Green Ships (built 2022/2023) also have dog toilets with a distinctive "birch trunk" on the outer decks. For the most freedom to move around on board, TT-Line is the first choice.
My dog doesn't cope well with long ferry crossings. What can I do? +
The best option is the overland route via Denmark: the Scandlines Puttgarden - Rødby ferry takes just 45 minutes, then it's on across the Öresund Bridge (10-15 minutes by car) into Sweden. Total travel time from Hamburg is only around 5 hours. Alternatively, the Kiel - Gothenburg night ferry is surprisingly low-stress: your dog sleeps in the pet cabin, and you'll both quite literally sleep through the 14.5 hours.
What happens if all the pet cabins are booked up? +
On TT-Line, you can switch to a regular cabin instead, for an extra cleaning and service fee. On Stena Line (Kiel - Gothenburg) and Finnlines, where a pet cabin is mandatory, "fully booked" unfortunately means that departure isn't an option for you. Tip: especially in peak season (June-August), book pet cabins as early as possible.
What happens if my documents aren't complete? +
This can have serious consequences: at best, you'll be refused entry and have to turn back. In worse cases, you could face quarantine at your own expense. In extreme cases, the animal could even be ordered to be put down. Failing to declare your pet at customs can also be treated as a breach of smuggling law. It's worth thoroughly checking all your paperwork before you travel.
Can I bring my pet on the ferry? +
Yes, dogs and cats are welcome on ferries to Sweden. Stena Line, TT-Line and Finnlines have their own pet cabins with easy-clean floors, plus a dog exercise area on the outer deck.
Important: register your pet when you book. Pet cabins are limited in number, sell out early during school holidays, and are mandatory on the longer routes. A surcharge applies, and with TT-Line no more than two animals are allowed per cabin. Dogs must stay on a lead on board.