Crossing guide
What the Paldiski to Kapellskär crossing is like
The DFDS schedule has late-evening departures from Paldiski on several nights a week, arriving in Kapellskär early the next morning, plus daytime sailings on a couple of days. The clocks go back an hour on the way to Sweden. DFDS gives the journey as about 10 hours, with around six sailings a week, and every traveller needs a vehicle — a bicycle counts.
Leaving Paldiski
Sailings leave from Paldiski Northern Port on Peetri street, about 50 kilometres from Tallinn by road. DFDS closes check-in one hour before departure. Paldiski is a working port, so exercise a dog before you reach it rather than in the vehicle lanes.
Arriving in Kapellskär
You land at Kapellskär, roughly 90 kilometres north of Stockholm. Every traveller on this route has a vehicle, so the onward leg is a drive, either south towards the capital or west towards Uppsala. Leave time for unloading after the long approach through the archipelago.
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
Sailing to Sweden, the dog shares a pet-friendly cabin with you: DFDS offers no kennels on Sirena Seaways and pets may not remain in vehicles. On the night sailings that simply means booking the right cabin; on the daytime crossings, remember that pets are not allowed on deck tickets.
- 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 Sweden. Pets living outside the EU follow different rules.
- Booking
- Reserve a pet-friendly cabin, or one of the newer pet-friendly Commodore cabins, and add the dog. Paldiski check-in closes one hour before departure.
- On board
- A lead and muzzle, or a travel kennel, are required while you take the dog to the cabin. Assistance dogs apart, pets are not allowed in the public areas.
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 Paldiski to Kapellskär?
DFDS puts it at about 10 hours. Most departures from Paldiski are late-evening sailings that land early the next morning in Sweden; a few run by day.
Which ships sail from Paldiski to Kapellskär?
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 Paldiski to Kapellskär ferry?
Yes, in a pet-friendly cabin booked with the crossing. Sirena Seaways has no kennels, pets cannot stay in cars or travel on deck tickets, and foot passengers are not carried.
What paperwork does my dog need for Kapellskär?
An EU pet passport, a microchip and a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days after the primary course. Sweden 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 Paldiski to Kapellskär 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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