Do you love dogs? We do! We actually have a dog, her name is Tajga, she is a rescue dog. 60kg (132lbs) of fluffy love! If you love dogs as much as we do, you’d like your dog to accompany you on your European trip. It’s actually super easy to travel with a dog in Europe and this post is to explain how to do it safely and in line with European regulations. But first things first – let’s start from getting to Europe with your dog.
How to get to the EU with a dog?
Not a lot of creative options here – the best way is off course by plane. Most European airlines accepts dogs in cabin provided that, together with the container, they weight less than 8kg. If your dog is bigger, the you will need to purchase a travel container that is line with the airline specification and inform the airline with sufficient time in advance, that you’re traveling with your dog. It is off course very stressful for most dogs, and the flight is quite long so make sure your dog is used to it’s cage. You also have to make sure your dog meets all the entry requirements with regards to vaccinations, documents – like European dog passport that can be issues by your vet, microchip, etc. Before you book your flight, also make sure that your dog will actually be allowed to enter the EU. Some breeds, considered as dangerous, are banned in some of the EU countries therefore do your research to avoid surprises. Especially important if you’re planning to go to France.
The best getting to Europe with a dog option is, to fly with a private jet, but that comes to be super expensive. There are however opportunities to look for so called “empty leg” flights, for a fraction of regular price. That way your dog can travel with you. But this options requires tons of research and determination to find a reasonable deal. If you’re interested in how to fly private jet for cheap, read my post about it: https://europeloving.com/empty-leg-flights-how-to-fly-with-private-jet-for-cheap/
Getting around Europe with a dog
You can off course rent a car and just drive around yourself but you can also use public transport. There should be no problems with dogs in trains or cities public transport in most of the EU countries. Traveling between the EU member states will also be easy since most of them belong to Schengen area, meaning there are no borders so you can travel easily. Let’s have a look at how to travel with your dog by public transport in some of the more popular destinations:
France
In France dogs are allowed on TGV INOUI, INTERCITÉS and TER trains. Meaning you can travel, on most routes, with your dog. They are not allowed on Eurostar (Eurostar goes to London, UK for example). Each passenger can take up to two dogs with them. The dog must have European dog passport, microchip, must be vaccinated for rabies, and must have up to health certificate. When you book your French train ticket, you should book a ticket for your dog as well. Your dog, depending on it’s size either must travel in a dog carrier or on leash and must have a muzzle. Last time I checked, dog train ticket in France was 7 EUR but check it yourself while booking since tariffs can change anytime. During the journey, your dog should not interrupt other passengers and you should stay with your dog at all times. Your dog is 100% your responsibility. You should have no problems with finding dog friendly accommodation but it’s always good to ask before you book, just to avoid surprises. I, for example, always call or email the place I want to book to confirm if they actually accept dogs. Since Tajga is 60kg and really big, we had issues couple of times – hotel was accepting dogs but only up to 20kg. That’s why I recommend you always doublecheck with them before booking.
Trip to France would not ne complete without visiting Paris. Paris might be a bit more tricky with finding dog friendly accommodation but it’s perfectly doable. Just double check with your hotel, or your host that they are ok with your dog. Sometimes they might charge you with extra cleaning fee. Normally that should not be more than 20-50 EUR per stay but again – double check with the place of your choosing. Public transport in Paris, in particular the Metro is very convenient. How about taking your dog to the Metro? Yes! For small dogs, traveling in a container, you don’t even need a ticket for your dog. Large dogs are also allowed but they need to be on leash and wear a muzzle. You also need a ticket for Metro and RER trains for them. You can check the tariffs at Paris Metro website, those tickers are normally just couple of Euros.
The Netherlands
If you are in Europe, you should definitely visit The Netherlands – Amsterdam (psst…read about my favorite things to do in Amsterdam, tulip fields, wild horses, beaches and much more. In The Netherlands, you can travel with your dogs with no issues. Small dogs that fit into a small carriage don’t need tickets, also you can keep your small dog on your lap, then it doesn’t need a ticket. There are no specific guidelines regarding the size of the carrier. Bigger dogs need a special dog ticket (dagkaart-hond). Last time I checked it was 3,30 EUR. Worth noticing – dogs need to be kept on leash but muzzle is not mandatory. The Netherlands is a very dog friendly country. Dogs are not allowed to occupy a seat though. So either your lap, carrier on the floor. You should have absolutely no problem on trains, busses, trams or restaurants, hotels, etc.
Germany
Germany is a dog friendly country and so is the public transport. Similarly to The Netherlands, Germany’s Deutsche Bahn accepts dogs and small dogs don’t need to pay the ticket. Big dogs however are required to have dog ticket. Small dogs should be transported in a container while large dogs should be on leash and wearing a muzzle. Funny enough, for a long distance train, if you have a big dog, you need to pay child’s fare. You need to book dog’s ticket at least 3-5 days in advance and you have the option to pick up the ticket at the station (you can’t just print them from online). Another funny thing is – when you book dog’s ticket, you should book it as unaccompanied child between the age of 6 and 13. Suddenly I feel like my “pawrenting” is official in Germany 😊Dog cannot on seats therefore you don’t need a seat reservation for the dog. It’s a bit different on local trains – there your large dog counts as adult passenger 😊 Regarding accommodation, I’d suggest to confirm with the hotel that they will welcome your dog. But I would not expect any issues. One day when we went to Baden-Baden with Tajga, we stayed in this amazing b&b. They were 100% dog friendly and Tajga got her hotel provided dog bed, bowls and some treats!
Italy
Very similar to other EU countries – small dogs travel free in most situations. The only exception might be during rush hours on specific route. When purchasing a ticket for your dog you will be asked to provide dog passport, certificate that the dog healthy and that it has been vaccinated. Dog needs to behave well and cannot sit on passenger seats. Bigger dogs need leash and muzzle. Italian railway emphasize that you can be asked to leave the train and get a fine if your dog misbehaves, so you know, get those treats with you! If you get hungry when on an Italian train – bad news, your dog will not be allowed with you to the restaurant wagon. So …sandwiches! Don’t be scared though, Italy is really a dog friendly country. When we visited Ligurian coast with Tajga (the 60kg little monster), every other person we passed by on the street wanted to pet her, hug her or play with her or even give her food 😊
Conclusion – it’s super easy to travel across Europe with your dog.
Most EU countries follow the same rules for dogs traveling on public transport so the best way to proceed is to plan your travel in advance, book your tickets and dogs tickets and double check that the accommodation you’re choosing will actually welcome your dog.