Rostock ⇄ Gedser · 2 hours · 52 km
Taking your dog on the Rostock Gedser ferry: leave it in the car or bring it upstairs?
Both are allowed. Your dog can stay in the car for the two hours or come with you on a lead into the passenger areas without carpet. Good to know: you cannot go back to the car deck during the crossing, so you make the decision before you get out. Here are the Scandlines rules, what we saw on board the ferry Berlin and what Denmark requires when you enter the country.
Check prices and book Car Standard: online from €82.70 · at the harbour from €147See the price example
The Scandlines rules at a glance
Checked on scandlines.com on 18 September 2026. Scandlines does not give a price for dogs on that page; in the car the dog does not count as a passenger anyway.
- Pets are allowed in all areas without carpet
- Always on a lead or in a closed carrier
- At least two metres away from buffets and food counters
- The dog may stay in the vehicle, but you cannot visit it while at sea
- You can borrow a water bowl at the Food Express
- There is no dog toilet on board
The Scandlines page says nothing about a muzzle requirement, a limit on the number of dogs or special rules for foot passengers with a dog. If that matters to you, for example with a breed that is on a restricted list, ask customer service before you book. Denmark also bans certain breeds from entering the country, see below.
Car or deck: how to decide
Leaving the dog in the car
This works for calm dogs that are used to car travel and stay relaxed for two hours on their own. The car deck is enclosed, cool and noisy: engines during loading and unloading, car alarms, chains. In summer it is cooler there than in a car park in the sun, in winter it is no colder than outside. Leave a window open a crack, put out water and switch off the car alarm. Keep in mind: if the dog gets restless, you cannot get to it.
Bringing the dog upstairs
The better choice for most dogs. On the ferry Berlin we saw plenty of floor space without carpet: the lounge with the colourful tiled floor, the area by the Food Express and the entire outside deck around the funnels and the rotor sail. In calm weather the outside deck with its benches is the best spot, sheltered from the wind behind the superstructure. Carpeted areas such as parts of the restaurant and the shop are off limits.
Plan the last walk before boarding. In Gedser there is enough green space between the terminal and the village, ten minutes on foot. In Rostock the port area is bare; it is better to stop once more beforehand, for example along the A19.
Entering Denmark with a dog
- EU pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination. Scandlines points this out explicitly, and there are spot checks at the border.
- Microchip that matches the passport.
- Breed ban: Denmark bans keeping and importing certain dog breeds. The current list is kept by the Danish veterinary authority (foedevarestyrelsen.dk). Check this before you travel, the ban also applies to holidaymakers.
- Leads required: On Danish beaches dogs must be on a lead from 1 April to 30 September, in forests all year round.
- The same papers apply for the journey back to Germany.
In practice: two hours on board with a dog
Take the lead, water, a blanket and poo bags upstairs with you before you lock the car. Find a spot along the side early on, not in the passage to the shop. In rough seas it is calmest midships and low down, which goes for dogs as much as for people; there is more on this on our page about weather and sea conditions. When the ferry docks, the stairwell gets crowded and loud: wait until the first rush has gone down.
It also works without a car: foot passengers in Gedser reach the gangway by stairs or lift, and the lift is big enough for a dog and luggage. We describe how it works on the page about travelling without a car and by bike.
FAQ: ferry with a dog
Can my dog come up on deck on the Rostock Gedser ferry?
Yes, on a lead or in a carrier, in all areas without carpet and two metres away from buffets.
Can the dog stay in the car?
Yes. But you cannot visit it during the crossing, because the car deck is closed while at sea.
Does a dog cost extra?
Scandlines does not give a price on its page about animals on board. In the car, the dog is included in the vehicle ticket. As a foot passenger, check what the booking says.
Does my dog need a muzzle?
The Scandlines page says nothing about it; what is required is a lead or a carrier. With large dogs or restricted breeds, ask customer service beforehand.
Which papers does the dog need for Denmark?
EU pet passport, microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. Also bear in mind the Danish ban on certain breeds.
Is there a dog toilet on board?
No. Go for one more walk before boarding; in Gedser there is more room for that than in the port of Rostock.
Bringing the dog? In the car it travels at no extra charge. You will see the price for your departure in the booking.
Check prices and book Car Standard: online from €82.70 · at the harbour from €147