Once upon a time, the idea of travelling with your pet meant a tearful goodbye at the kennel and a suitcase full of guilt. Fast forward to now, and the pet passport is as essential as the human one. Whether it was the rise of pet influencers or the pandemic-fuelled boom in animal companionship, we’ve arrived at a new golden age of pet-friendly holidays.
Judging by the 60% of global travellers who now holiday with their pets, the jet-setting lifestyle is clearly here to stay.
So, where should the discerning pet parent go next? We’ve sniffed out three pet-friendly destinations in Europe where four-legged travellers are not just tolerated; they’re positively pampered.
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Meet the expert: Lin Linlysa
Travelling with pets can be a real treat when you know a few tricks. For insider tips, we turned to seasoned jet-setter Lin Linlysa, proud paw-rent of Coco the Pomeranian – a globe-trotting floof whose adventures are chronicled faithfully by his hooman on Instagram. For first-time travellers, Lin recommends Europe (Italy in particular) for its ease of getting around and abundance of pet-friendly amenities. In Asia, Thailand is leading the pack, with hotels, restaurants and businesses rolling out the red carpet for furry guests. With the right destination and a little planning, your companion’s tail will be wagging from takeoff to touchdown.
Holidays with pets in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city that knows how to impress fur babies and their parents. Public transport is free for four-legged companions, provided they’re on a lead or in a bag, and many canal boat tours allow pets on board, making it easy to enjoy the city’s watery charms without leaving your child behind.
Where “pupcakes” rival pastries
The Dutch capital’s parks are a canine dream –Vondelpark, in particular, is a leafy haven with off-leash zones and plenty of space for zoomies. Cafés and restaurants are refreshingly relaxed about dogs, and hotels like the storied Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam and youthful nhow Amsterdam Rai offer pet beds, bowls and something delicious on arrival to help with pet jet lag (travelling across time zones disrupts their circadian rhythms too.) Add to that a culture that values outdoor living and a general air of tolerance, and you’ve got a city that’s as chilled as your Labrador after a canal-side nap.
In Amsterdam, where even the dog treats come with a side of design and dietary integrity, a growing number of artisan dog bakeries are crafting treats with the kind of care and quality usually reserved for Michelin-starred menus.
CiaoMilton, for instance, offers freshly baked cookies and “pupcakes” made from gluten-free, human-grade ingredients – no additives, salt, sugar or colouring in sight. Each treat is thoughtfully packaged, often for birthdays, gotcha days, or simply because your dog deserves better than kibble.
Then there’s WafWaf, a local favourite known for its whimsical cakes, donuts and cookies – all designed for canine consumption and made with ingredients fit for human palates. Their creations are so charming and wholesome, you may find yourself reconsidering your own snack drawer.
Culture with a (cat) tail
Far from being left out, feline companions enjoy their own slice of Amsterdam chic. The city boasts dedicated grooming salons that treat cats with the same reverence as their human counterparts. And for something truly singular, there’s De Poezenboot, the world’s only floating cat sanctuary. Moored along the Herengracht canal, this houseboat haven for stray and abandoned cats has become a cult attraction in its own right. While your whiskered companion is being pampered at the spa, you can pay a visit to the Catboat’s resident crew – some permanent, some adoptable – all blissfully indifferent to the irony of living on water.
For an artful take on feline fascination, make time for the KattenKabinet – Amsterdam’s delightfully eccentric museum devoted entirely to cats in art. Housed in a lovingly restored 17th-century canal mansion, the collection features works by the likes of Picasso, Rembrandt, Toulouse-Lautrec and Steinlen, all paying homage to the feline form in brushstroke and bronze. Founded in memory of a red tabby named John Pierpont Morgan, the museum is as much a tribute to artistic whimsy as it is to cat devotion.
France with pets: dining like Parisians
France is also highly regarded as a pet-friendly holiday destination. It’s an open secret that Parisians generally prefer cats over dogs. Cats have quietly claimed the crown in Paris, with over 320,000 registered felines in the city as of 2023, making it the top cat-loving department in France. This is partly about square footage (Parisian apartments tend to be compact) – but also about a shared aesthetic and lifestyle. Cats are famously aloof, elegant and selective with their affections – traits that some say align with the Parisian personality.
A bone to pick
While cats are adored, dogs are positively revered – and often spotted dining alfresco with their owners. France’s famously laissez-faire attitude toward dogs means that in Paris, it’s not uncommon to see a poodle perched on a café chair, casting a judgmental glance at your attempt to cut a croissant with a knife.
Dogs are welcome in most restaurants, especially on terraces. Some popular café options include the iconic Café de Flore, where lap dogs lounge where literary giants once supped; the elegant Angelina, which graciously welcomes small dogs indoors; and the stylish Café Kitsuné, nestled in the Palais Royal Gardens, where pups are permitted both inside and out.
For something more whimsical, the wonderfully named Le Bone Appart is Paris’s first dedicated dog café, offering puppuccinos, croissant-shaped biscuits and even berets for your furry companion.
For a restaurant-style experience with your pet in Paris, head to Le Train Bleu, the gilded Belle Époque gem inside Gare de Lyon; Bistro Loulou, a relaxed Latin Quarter spot with a sunny terrace and gluten-free options; or Bistrot Paul Bert, beloved for its steak frites and dog-friendly ambiance. Le Grand Véfour, a Michelin-starred marvel overlooking the Palais Royal Gardens, not only allows dogs but has been known to offer them a bespoke meal, should they arrive with sufficient charm.
Beyond the capital, the Loire Valley’s châteaux and Provence’s lavender fields offer ample space for fragrant adventures and gentle tumbles. To show off your pet’s designer threads, check into Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel, just a frisbee’s throw from the iconic Promenade des Anglais. For quality beach time in Nice, Lenval and La Lanterne offer dog-friendly amenities, while Castel des Deux Rois Park invites leisurely strolls across shaded lawns with sweeping views of the city.
The French may not always smile at strangers, but they’ll definitely coo at your dog.
Cat-astrophe avoided: how to entertain your feline in Paris
With a touch of creativity, entertaining whiskered aristocrats who prefer velvet cushions to café chairs in the City of Light is a walk in the park.
Choose a cat-friendly hotel with plush bedding, quiet rooms and cosy window perches for birdwatching and naps. For cat-themed charm and a purr-fect Parisian perch, Hôtel Le Chat Noir in Montmartre offers rooms with Eiffel Tower views and a whimsical nod to its cabaret past.
If you stay in the central arrondissements (1st through 4th) – the historic and geographic heart of the city – you will enjoy direct access to top sights and shopping. Stroll through the Terrace at Galeries Lafayette, where you can snap skyline selfies while your cat lounges in a carrier with panoramic views. As for visiting the Eiffel Tower together, pets aren’t permitted inside – so your best workaround is a cosy view of the Iron Lady from your hotel room.
While most Parisian parks are dog-centric, some quieter green spaces – like the Jardin des Plantes, Champ de Mars or Trocadéro Gardens – offer peaceful strolls for leash-trained cats or carrier-bound explorers. Early mornings are best for avoiding crowds and curious canines sniffing around your picnic basket.
In Paris, even the most discerning feline can find their joie de vivre. After all, what better city for a creature who already believes they’re royalty?
Italy: la dolce vita for pets
If your pet has a taste for the finer things – truffles in their kibble, lakeside villas and long walks through ancient ruins – Italy is the place. From the hill towns of Tuscany to the beaches of Sardinia, Italy is remarkably accommodating to pets.
The pet ownership tradition goes back to ancient Rome, with dogs being the clear favourites – by a long stretch. They were seen as loyal companions and were used for hunting, guarding property and even warfare. Smaller breeds like the Melitan (a lap dog) were especially popular among elite women and often depicted in art and sculpture.
Cats were also present in Roman households, mostly as pest controllers, and were respected for their independence and associated with the goddess Diana. Wealthy Romans also kept parrots, peacocks and nightingales, while aristocrats preferred monkeys, snakes and even lions.
Roman holidays
In modern-day Rome, dogs are more than welcome – they’re practically part of the city’s social fabric. From trattorias to archaeological treasures, four-legged companions are greeted with a nod and a bowl. Public transport is pet-friendly, and many hotels offer thoughtful extras such as dog beds, water bowls and even pet-sitting services for those moments when humans need a solo museum fix.
For those seeking a stylish base, NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento offers pet-friendly rooms just steps from ancient ruins and leafy parks. Housed in a historic building beside Termini Station, the hotel provides bowls, welcome kits and concierge recommendations for dog-friendly cafés and walking routes through the Eternal City. The palatial Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Hotel is purrfectly pet-friendly too, with both small dogs and cats on the VIP list.
In recent years, many top attractions have become dog-friendly. At the
Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, small dogs (5–10 kg) are permitted in open areas if carried in a pet carrier.
Villa d’Este welcomes leashed dogs into its Renaissance gardens and, surprisingly, inside the villa itself – provided you come prepared with what its website charmingly refers to as a “manure collection kit.” Meanwhile,
Villa Adriana offers expansive open-air ruins ideal for a leisurely stroll. And at
Villa Borghese, manicured paths and a designated dog zone near the zoo make it a favourite among both locals and visiting canines.
If you prefer feline company, then Largo di Torre Argentina is your destination. This historic piazza – home to ancient temples and the site of Julius Caesar’s assassination – is also a beloved cat sanctuary. Run by volunteers, the sanctuary cares for over 150 resident cats who roam the ruins with quiet authority. Visitors are welcome to meet the whiskered locals, browse the gift shop, or adopt a cat from afar through the shelter’s distance adoption programme.
Florence: six legs, one city
Start your day in Florence the way locals do – quietly stylishly, and with a four-legged friend in tow. The Six Legs Walking Tour, led by a licensed guide, offers an early-morning amble through the cobbled streets of the historic centre, before the crowds descend and the espresso machines hit full steam.
It’s a serene, sensory experience: your dog gets to sniff out Renaissance marvels stress-free, while you soak up the soft morning light and architectural splendour. The tour winds past icons like the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio, ending with a proper Italian espresso – and perhaps a bowl of Acqua Panna for your companion. After all, when in Rome...
Need some solo time? Drop your companion off at Bau – Il Circolo delle Coccole, Florence’s chicest dog club. With no cages and no chains, puppies get to lounge on plush cushions, meeting new playmates and enjoying a curated schedule of cuddles and activities. They’ll even pick up and drop off your pup via their bespoke dog-bus service, so you can explore museums or indulge in aperitivo hour worry-free.
And for the fashion-forward pet parent, Emma Firenze offers a curated collection of luxury dog accessories handmade in Italy – from monogrammed blankets and bathrobes to silk scarves and leather collars. Because in Florence, everyone deserves a touch of couture.
No list of Europe’s pet-loving cities is complete without mentioning Berlin and Vienna. At nhow Berlin, your travel buddy enjoys VIP status, complete with a cosy dog bed, blanket, food and water bowls, and a special menu featuring locally sourced, chemical-free fare. Over in the Austrian capital, Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel goes as far as offering dog beds in three different sizes to ensure quality snooze time, along with toys and thoughtful welcome amenities. For long-stay guests, the hotel partners with HelloBello – a Vienna-based PetTech start-up – to provide freshly cooked, human-grade meals tailored to each dog’s nutritional needs.
From plush suites to pampered paws, the world is increasingly your pet’s oyster. And if you’re still worried about flying with your furry friend, just remember: somewhere over the Arabian Peninsula, a falcon is probably enjoying a better in-flight meal than you.
For seamless stays during your pet friendly holidays in Europe, take a look at our collection of hotels in Amsterdam, hotels in France and top accommodation in Italy.
