With the arrival of fine weather and the Easter break around the corner, dog owners might be dreaming up ways to turn their daily walk into a more adventurous trip.
Plenty of rail and cruise companies now accept pets, meaning you can zip to Milan or sail to the Netherlands without worrying about crates or cargo holds – or the much higher carbon footprint of flying over other forms of transport.
To help dog-owners, flight-free travel pioneer Byway and dog-friendly travel expert Lottie Gross have teamed up to share advice on navigating Europe’s railways with a furry friend in tow.
Which European rail companies are best for travelling with a dog?
Travelling with a dog comes with a host of extra factors to consider, from avoiding rush hour to local leash laws.
If you choose to travel by train, some operators offer better services for passengers with four-legged companions than others.
“I’m a big of the Netherlands’ rail operator, NS, as they have very few restrictions for dogs and pets aren’t required to wear a muzzle, which is always a more pleasant experience for the animal,” says Gross, who has travelled around Europe with her pooch Arty.
In her research for her upcoming book, Dog-Friendly Europe, she took the Austrian Federal Railways-owned Nightjet from Stuttgart to Venice, which allows dogs in its private cabins.
“It was a really exciting experience, and the dog got to share my breakfast in the cabin the following morning,” she says.
Gross also flags the French operator SNCF as a great choice: “There are some restrictions for dogs (mainly around wearing muzzles), but their routes are so extensive so you can really get far through France and even into Spain on their trains.”
Consider the time of day and time of year when travelling with a dog
Gross has collaborated with Byway to create easily bookable itineraries for travellers with dogs. One key consideration when choosing the routes was avoiding stressful train changes.
“It’s less about specific routes or stations being stressful and more about the number of changes and when you’re travelling,” explains Gross.
“Dogs need space and so travelling through Gare du Nord at rush hour, for example, or on a commuter train first thing in the morning, is really less than ideal and unpleasant for the dog.”
Having to change trains several times within just a few hours is also disruptive for a dog, she says. They need plenty of rest and often need time to get used to new surroundings, so sticking to routes with fewer changes is always best for their welfare.
Gross says it’s also really important to consider the time of year you’re travelling with your dog.
“If you’re going to Milan by rail with a dog in the height of summer, you might be putting them at risk of heat stroke,” she says.
“It’s essential to carry water with you on trains when travelling with a dog, but sometimes it’s best to avoid travelling at all during the hottest parts of the year – especially for dogs with black coats or thick fur, which can overheat very quickly and cause fatal heatstroke.”
A dog-friendly rail adventure through France
Byway has created three different options for dog-friendly travel itineraries departing from London this spring.
For a trip through France, travel by train from the Opal Coast to the Loire Valley, with accommodations and attractions happy to welcome your furry friend along the way.
In Calais, Byway suggests dining at Le Grand Bleu, where dogs are welcomed with water while you feast on exceptional local catches, while in Tours, you can take a riverside walk ending at the dog-friendly Art is an Ale brewery.
Dogs are allowed on all trains in France, but there are a few rules to follow. Most importantly, dogs must have their own ticket, which you need to purchase manually at the train station for each leg of your journey.
If your dog is under 6kg, they can travel in a carrier on your lap or under the seat (carriers should be no more than 45 cm x 30 cm x 25 cm). If over 6kg, they must be leashed and muzzled.
In France, dogs are required to be on a lead from 15 April through to 30 June every year in forests, meadows and riverbanks unless they are on an official path.
Exploring Northern Italy with a four-legged friend
Another itinerary takes passengers from London to Milan and Venice by train, with stops in Paris and Geneva.
In cosmopolitan Milan, Byway recommends visiting the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a dog-friendly shopping centre, and elegant parks and gardens, such as Parco Sempione with fenced-in areas for dogs to run off the lead.
In Venice, dog owners should head to the Lido island and its long, sandy beach.
At the northern end, you’ll find the Pachuka Beach club, where dogs are warmly welcomed to play in the surf, snooze on the sand beneath an umbrella and receive fuss from the lifeguard all year round.
The island has plenty of dog-friendly hotels, or you can splash out for a private-island experience at JW Marriott, where pups get free reign over a vast parkland.
When in Italy, remember that most regions have made it an offence to leave dog mess, so be vigilant and always carry bags to clean up.
Some regions have even gone as far as DNA testing for local dogs in order to hand out fines to the correct people where rules are not obeyed, so don’t assume it’s a law rarely enforced.
The Italian Ministry of Health has stated that all dog owners must have a muzzle to hand at all times when in public with their dog, and they must use it when instructed by officials such as train conductors or police officers.
Italy doesn’t ban any specific dog breeds, but the city of Venice prohibits entry to Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers.
Sail to the Netherlands in a dog-friendly cabin
The third itinerary starts from the ferry terminal at Harwich in the UK, where you can sail to Hoek van Holland on an overnight boat.
You can board from around 8.30pm to have dinner on the ship, but be aware that dogs aren’t allowed in the public spaces on the ferry, so they will have to stay in your cabin.
You can ask to have your meal as a takeaway and eat in the cabin if you wish to keep your dog company. There is also a pet deck for toilet breaks.
From Hoek van Holland, a 30-minute metro ride takes you to Rotterdam. Byway recommends dog-friendly dinner at Rotterdam Markthal, where Asian, Mediterranean and Caribbean food vendors cook up a feast. There are also dog-friendly harbour tours available in the city with Spido.
Head on to Haarlem, a less crowded canal city than Amsterdam, and enjoy French crêpes and galettes at pooch-friendly Ti Bisou Crêpes Boutique.
In the Hague, take advantage of huge parks like the hundred-hectare Haagse Bos, where your dog can run off the lead through thick forest.
The city’s coastal neighbourhood Scheveningen enjoys a vast, sandy beach that has dog-friendly sections in summer (look out for the signage on the waterfront around the pier); the entire beach is dog-friendly throughout the period between October 1 and May 15.
The Pier and enormous Ferris Wheel are both dog-friendly here, too, and dog-friendly cargo bike hire is available from Black Bikes.
When travelling by train in the Netherlands, you need to purchase a dog ticket (or ‘dagkaart hond’) at approximately €3.30 for each travel day. These must be purchased at the train station or online.
