Holiday with dog
Traveling with your dog is a wonderful experience. You can spend time together and thus build a deep relationship and at the same time create an intimate bond through shared new experiences. If you are planning a holiday with your dog, you will probably travel by car. We have in the article Tips for long car journeys with a dog We have compiled recommendations for you on how a long car journey can be pleasant for you and your dog. You can also download our free packing list for dogs in this article.
We personally travel a lot with our Bulli within Europe. We always have to research new entry regulations. For list dogs, like our dog breeds, separate or even stricter regulations sometimes apply. Some breeds are not allowed to enter some countries at all.
With this blog we will help you to find the right entry requirements for Sweden in a nutshell.
By the way: The shortest route by car usually leads via Denmark. In our blog about the Entry and transit regulations for Denmark you can read everything in detail. If passing through Denmark is too delicate for you, you can also choose the ferry to Sweden without having to cross Denmark.
Entry requirements for Sweden with a dog / listed dogSweden is a beautiful country made up of 52% forest land, 11% mountains, 8% agricultural land and 9% lakes and rivers. Looking at the area of the country, Sweden is only sparsely populated and the probability of quiet and natural holiday experiences is quite high. The landscapes of Sweden are very diverse and can be admired in their own way at any time of the year. Whether you opt for a city break with your dog in Sweden's charming towns, or for the great outdoors, Sweden has something for everyone. The north of Sweden, known as Swedish Lapland, is particularly impressive. Icy temperatures in winter, endless days in summer and last but not least, the spectacular natural phenomenon of the Northern Lights attract many tourists to Swedish Lapland. Sounds like Sweden is the perfect vacation spot for any dog person who wants to travel with their dog, right? Yes, we think so too! |
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Dogs are welcome on holiday in Sweden – all dogs! On the Department of Agriculture's website you will find a guide to help you determine what regulations apply to your dog on holiday in Sweden. With the help of five questions you will receive all the measures that you have to fulfill for entry. It is important for you to know that before entering Sweden, every dog must be registered online via the agricultural office (this is very quick) or directly at the customs office at the border. To register your dog directly at the border, you can follow the red line ("Red Point"). Otherwise, the form can be filled out quickly online and you will receive an e-mail confirming your registration.
Dogs must be kept on a leash when walking (also in parks). Exceptions are special open-air areas. Dogs are also allowed to run free in the country and on manageable green spaces outside of the city. For dogs from EU member states, the dog must be at least 15 weeks old and have an EU pet ID card with a microchip number. In addition, as everywhere in the EU, a valid rabies vaccination is required. Dogs who want to go on holiday from Switzerland to Sweden also need verifiable pet owner insurance, which is usually covered by liability insurance in Switzerland (tip: to be on the safe side, ask your insurance company if you are traveling from Switzerland).
Entry requirements checklist
✅ Valid EU pet passport
✅ Microchip with transponder number in the EU pet passport
✅ Valid rabies vaccination (no later than 21 days before entry)
✅ No puppies younger than 15 weeks (first vaccination against rabies at the age of 12 weeks at the earliest, then another 21 days until the development of an effective vaccination protection)
✅ Registration of the dog upon entry (via the website or at the customs office at the border)
✅ Dogs from Switzerland require pet owner insurance or a completed form (see conclusion)
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Our personal experiencewe traveled via Denmark with our two dogs on our trip to Sweden. From our own experience, we can describe transit through Denmark as unproblematic. Alternatively, if Denmark is too tricky for you, choose the ferry to Sweden. Sweden was in many ways a dream holiday with a dog for us. The extensive nature, the responsible handling of dog people and pleasant dog encounters surprised us positively. In a big city like Stockholm, as well as in Swedish Lapland, we easily found green areas and beautiful walking routes. The general leash requirement in Sweden is very pleasant, because strange dogs almost never run into you or press on you. Our very personal highlight is and remains Swedish Lapland. The freezing cold with temperatures down to -30 °C was a shock at first, but with the right equipment you get used to it. For our dogs we bought Oxford cloth shoes from a local dog boutique and ours were dog coats brought from home. The experiences and the time we had in Swedish Lapland with our dogs are unforgettable. |
If you ever want to travel to Swedish Lapland, we are happy to share our personal favorites with you here:
- Authentic experience with the indigenous people of the Sámi, who were originally a nomadic people of northern Scandinavia and the Kola Island of Russia. The Sámi are one of the oldest indigenous peoples on earth and the oldest in Europe. They once made a living from fishing and reindeer herding. Nowadays they have had to settle down, but are considered a minority with their own rights and tasks in Sweden. You can learn a lot about their way of life, reindeer husbandry, language and attitude towards nature. You can also take a wonderful reindeer sleigh ride and experience the beautiful animals. We're done with our tour Golapland made and can highly recommend the family.
- Northern Lights can be admired in Swedish Lapland between the beginning of September and the end of March. The northern lights are also called "Aurora Borealis" and can be admired especially on very cold, clear and dark nights. Aurora are a natural phenomenon caused by electrically charged particles from the sun colliding in the Earth's atmosphere. The colors depend on the gas particles. Most of the time, however, the northern lights are green. You can see them particularly well at the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko.
- One Husky sled ride is part of the experience in the Arctic. We were fortunate to meet a very capable family that works year-round with their Alaskan Huskies, has a permanent team, and encourages a very balanced spirit in the dogs. You learn a lot, you learn how to massage the dogs to minimize muscle problems and you can experience the dogs very closely. We have our tour at Husky Home made and would recommend Ylva, her methodology and approach again and again.
- A hike through the National Park in Absiko is free and very exciting. With a bit of luck you can even see moose. We caught a glimpse from a distance and were intrigued.
In general, Sweden is not a cheap country, but worth every tour and experience.
