Visit Europe With a Dog – Some Great City Breaks & Places

My guide to exploring Europe with a dog, including some popular places and options for city breaks. Most European countries have great options for dog-friendly holiday destinations. This includes some of the most popular cities to visit in the world, like Rome, Vienna, Venice and Prague.

Europe is a great place to visit and explore by train with a dog. In the main, most places are dog-friendly. When looking for a place to visit, Booking.com has a feature that filters for dog-friendly places to stay, which makes life very easy. Europe has so many countries to visit – 45, in fact. Most of these are dog-friendly, and with a bit of planning, you and your pet can have a glorious trip.

Dog-Friendly Places & Cities I’ve Visited in Europe

The countries we have been lucky enough to visit in Europe with a dog. This includes many city breaks and some fun in smaller towns, as well as in the countryside, near lakes or on the coast.

Germany With Many Options For City Breaks

The German cities of Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Munich and Dresden, featured on this blog, are delightful. Frankfurt is the country’s commercial centre and has a distinctive skyline with many skyscrapers.

Nuremberg is a pretty city with a castle and stunning churches and is home to a legendary Christmas market. Dresden is a city that was rebuilt after the Second World War. They did a good job; the city’s historical centre looks stunning. The city of Munich in the Bavaria region of Germany is also a fantastic place for a weekend away. This is especially so if you enjoy good German beer.

One of the easiest cities to visit is Frankfurt, a rather unique place in Germany. This is because its airport is very well connected with the rest of Europe and the world. On the whole, it is a great country to visit with a dog.

The Netherlands: Some Pretty Places For a Weekend Away

The Netherlands is a marvellous, clean, and friendly country, from my observations. I found that many parks are dog-friendly with a bit of research. Den Haag, or The Hague, is a very interesting city with palaces, galleries and museums to visit.

To the south of the country, near Belgium and Germany, is the Limburg area. This region is the only hilly part of the Netherlands. The impressive city of Maastricht is a very historical place, from medieval times to modern history and its famous EU treaty. For classical music lovers, it is a fantastic city break, especially when André Rieu is performing.

Slovakia: A Stunning Country to Visit With a Dog

Slovakia is the other half of the former country of Czechoslovakia, whose capital is Bratislava. It is a beautiful country bordering the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Austria, and Hungary. The key cities in Slovakia are the capital, Bratislava, and Košice and Bardejov. There are lots of things to do in Bratislava, and it is a fantastic place for a city break, especially if you stay in the old town. My favourite attractions on my visit were Bratislava Castle and the Blue Church. The beer locally is great, including many pilsners.

Czech Republic With Some Rather Historic Places To Visit

The Czech Republic is a lovely country to visit and was formerly part of Czechoslovakia. It is a popular tourist destination with a rich history and fascinating attractions. Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, is a beautiful place to visit. The dog walks in the city are sublime, and we found options for dog-friendly places to stay and dine out.

Other great destinations include the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Český Krumlov. Český Krumlov is a rather special place with a fantastic old town, a castle and fantastic countryside for dog walks. The nearby city of České Budějovice is also a pretty nice place to take a break in the Bohemian region of the country.

Brno is the second-largest city in the country and a top destination for a city break. We enjoyed many of the top Brno attractions and enjoyed some great meals out. On my visits to the country, I have found it to be very dog-friendly. Many places to stay and eateries allow pets. Travelling by public transport is pretty straightforward too.

Austria

The Republic of Austria is a landlocked Alpine country in Central Europe. Its capital city is Vienna, and it is famous for its mountains, especially for winter sports enthusiasts. We found Vienna, Graz and Linz to be great cities to visit with a dog.

Vienna is a top destination for a city break in Austria. It has a bit of everything, including palaces, churches, and plenty to do. There are also options for free activities in the city for those on a tight budget.

We also briefly visited the city of Linz with the dog and found pet-friendly places to dine. On our visit to Graz, we enjoyed various attractions and visited some lovely bars. There are quite a few rules to follow in Austria compared to other European countries we visited.

Romania With Some Fascinating Places to Visit

Romania is a marvellous place to visit. The country has mountains, historic sites, and a coastline along the Black Sea. The capital city is Bucharest. However, many places in Transylvania are fantastic tourist magnets.

The Danube Delta is an area of natural beauty and is also home to many species of wildlife. Also, in the Carpathian Mountains, there is an abundance of wildlife, including bears and other species. Braşov is a historic city in the mountains and is well worth visiting.

The countryside is great for walking, and many of the cities are somewhat dog-friendly. We have visited many places with Henry, and the only downside is the number of stray dogs in smaller villages; they can sometimes be aggressive toward pets. There are options for pet-friendly hotels throughout the country. Also, travelling between cities by train with a dog is pretty straightforward with a dog ticket.

France

For excellent reasons, France is one of the most visited countries in the world. It is a beautiful and diverse country with plenty to see and do. Normandy is a lovely region that produces good food and ciders. Normandy’s capital, Rouen, is a historic city with fascinating tourist attractions. Dieppe is a lovely town on the north coast. It was the first-ever seaside resort in the country.

The Alsace region is famous for its wine production and beautiful towns and villages. This includes the fairytale-like town of Colmar and the equally stunning Kaysersberg.

Hungary: A Fascinating and Dog-Friendly Place With Picturesque Cities

Hungary is a lovely country in Central Europe and a great place to visit. Its capital, Budapest, is a fantastic destination for a city break with a dog. There are pet-friendly options for places to stay or dine out. The city is beautiful and great for sightseeing and dog walks.

The cities outside the capital are also fantastic for a dog-friendly break. Keszthely is a beautiful city on the banks of Lake Balaton, the Hungarian seaside. Another lovely place to visit in Hungary is Pécs. Pécs is a pretty place with many interesting things to see. A short train ride from the capital is Győr, a picturesque city with many sights. Another top place to visit with a dog is Visegrád Castle and Palace.

Croatia: A Fantastic Place With Coast, Mountains & Cities

Another fantastic country to visit is Croatia, including travelling with a dog. The country has a rich history and has many interesting things to see and do. Croatia has both inland and coastal attractions, including the Dalmatian coast. The capital, Zagreb, is a lovely city with plenty to see. There are many interesting buildings to see and parks to explore.

Split is a city on the Croatian coast that has a rich history dating back to Roman times. The city has many interesting attractions and nearby beaches. Seafood is on the menu at most restaurants in Split, and it is caught daily and served fresh. Other fantastic places near the sea include the islands of Lošinj and Cres.

Slovenia: A Laid-Back and Dog-Friendly Country

Slovenia is a beautiful, small country in the Balkans and a great place to visit with a dog. There is lots of beautiful countryside to visit or see from train windows while crossing the country. Slovenia’s capital is Ljubljana, a beautiful city with many pleasant buildings.

Another nice place to visit is Maribor, a fascinating city in the country’s wine region and great for walking. Other options for a dog-friendly city break include Ptuj, the country’s oldest city, and Celje, which has a fantastic dog-friendly castle and great hiking.

Italy For City Breaks

Italy is a fantastic country to visit with a dog, and there are many places to explore. It is a superb country to visit for a city break, with some great options. Bologna is a northern city famous for its food and red-brick city centre. Rome is a fantastic city to visit with lots of world-class tourist attractions.

Italy is pretty easy to get around, with a fantastic train and public transport system. Pets can travel on many trains and buses across the country. Italy is famous for its cuisine, and it’s lovely to try dishes in their home. Many eateries in the country, especially those in Bologna, are pet-friendly.

Pompeii in southern Italy is a popular destination for seeing Roman ruins and Mount Vesuvius. We found this to be one of the more dog-friendly countries in Europe.

Bulgaria: For Cheap Holidays

Bulgaria is a fascinating country in Southeast Europe, offering options for city breaks. The country is not the most dog-friendly; however, it is passable for visiting with a dog. Sofia, the capital, is a vibrant city with plenty of sightseeing and activities.

Outside of the capital, Ruse is a city on the River Danube with a laid-back vibe. Another fantastic place to visit is Plovdiv, which is one of the oldest inhabited cities in Europe. We found Plovdiv to be the most dog-friendly of all the Bulgarian cities we visited. You can also visit the former capital city, Veliko Tarnovo, which has some rather impressive fortresses.