Crossing guide
What the Kapellskär to Paldiski crossing is like
DFDS puts the crossing at about 10 hours. Its schedule has overnight departures from Kapellskär on some evenings and morning sailings on others that arrive in Paldiski in the evening, with around six sailings a week. Estonia is an hour ahead of Sweden. Foot passengers are not carried: a car, van, motorcycle, camper or even a bicycle counts as the vehicle you need.
Leaving Kapellskär
Kapellskär is a harbour, not a town: Ports of Stockholm places it about 90 kilometres north of Stockholm and 20 kilometres east of Norrtälje, so plan the drive rather than public transport. DFDS’s check-in desk keeps limited, day-dependent opening hours that follow the sailing pattern, so check them for your date.
Arriving in Paldiski
The ship berths at Paldiski Northern Port, about 50 kilometres from Tallinn. The coast road runs east to the capital and on to the main routes south through Estonia and into Latvia. An early-morning landfall after the overnight sailing leaves most of the day for the drive.
Vessels
Ships commonly used on this route
Sirena Seaways
Typical route vessel; assignment is not guaranteed. Check your booking for the ship actually operating.
DFDS lists Sirena Seaways as the ship on this route.
Dogs aboard
Travelling with a dog on DFDS
On Sirena Seaways the dog travels with you in a pet-friendly cabin; DFDS lists no kennels on this route and does not let pets stay in cars on its Baltic crossings. That matters most on the daytime sailings, where a deck ticket is tempting: DFDS says you cannot travel with a pet on a deck ticket.
- Documents
- Between EU countries a dog needs an EU pet passport, a microchip and a rabies vaccination; after the first vaccination the dog must wait at least 21 days before travelling.
- Tapeworm
- The EU tapeworm treatment rule applies to dogs entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland, so it is not needed for Estonia. Pets living outside the EU follow different rules.
- Booking
- Book a pet-friendly cabin — DFDS has also introduced pet-friendly Commodore cabins here — and add each pet. If the pet cabins are gone, DFDS asks you not to book another cabin type.
- On board
- Keep the dog on a lead and muzzled, or in a travel kennel, from the car deck to the cabin. Pets stay out of public areas apart from assistance dogs.
Carrier and border rules change. Confirm every item with DFDS, the official sources below and your vet before you travel.
Cabin alerts
What SailSoon watches on this route
DFDS monitoring currently covers the next 180 days. Dates further ahead are checked on a rotating schedule. Checks are made for two adults travelling with a car, so other party sizes or foot passengers may see different results. Prices we show are for the cabin or option only, not the full fare, and nothing is reserved for you: book and confirm the total price and pet terms with DFDS.
- Pet-friendly cabins
- Cabins DFDS marks as pet-friendly, when it offers them on the sailing. Check the pet rules and any pet charge on the booking page.
- Premium cabins
- The operator’s premium or deluxe cabin categories, including pet-friendly premium cabins where they exist.
- Standard cabins
- Ordinary private cabins for at least two people, inside or with a window.
- Not monitored
- Kennels, seats, shared berths, deck options and the full fare. Check those directly with DFDS.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from Kapellskär to Paldiski?
About 10 hours, according to DFDS. Some departures from Kapellskär sail overnight and others in the morning, so check which pattern your date follows.
Which ships sail from Kapellskär to Paldiski?
Sirena Seaways is the usual ship for this crossing. DFDS lists Sirena Seaways as the ship on this route. The ship on your booking is the one whose cabins and pet facilities apply.
Can I take my dog on the Kapellskär to Paldiski ferry?
Yes, but only in a pet-friendly cabin with you: there are no kennels on this route, pets cannot stay in the car, and DFDS does not allow pets on deck tickets. You must also travel with a vehicle.
What paperwork does my dog need for Paldiski?
An EU pet passport, a microchip and a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days after the primary course. Estonia is not one of the countries that require the EU tapeworm treatment. Check the official guidance before you travel, as rules change.
Does SailSoon alert me to kennels on this route?
No. On DFDS we watch pet-friendly, premium and standard cabins only. Kennel space is not monitored, so check and book kennels directly with DFDS.
Sources
Where these facts come from
- DFDS: Kapellskär to Paldiski (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: Paldiski to Kapellskär (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: pet-friendly cabins, Paldiski–Kapellskär (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: deck tickets, Paldiski–Kapellskär (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- Ports of Stockholm: Kapellskär (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: pet travel (Baltic Sea routes) (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: travelling with pets (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- Your Europe: travelling with pets in the EU (reviewed 2026-09-11)
Member alerts
Get told when a Kapellskär to Paldiski cabin appears
Create a free account, then set the dates and cabin types you need on this route. We email you when a matching cabin shows up in DFDS’s booking system.
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