10 Pet-Friendly Travel Destinations in Spain

If there’s anything better than travel, it’s travel with your favorite furry friend. Now more than ever, cities are following the example of Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam in declaring themselves pet-friendly travel destinations. Pets can enjoy being just another tourist! At Civitatis, we love to travel with friends, so we’ve selected the 10 best pet-friendly destinations in Spain.

Valencia

Beautiful and coastal Valencia was the first city in Spain to go pet-friendly in 2019. The local government launched its Viajar Juntos es Mejor (‘Traveling Together Is Better’) campaign. Simultaneously they launched the Valencia Pet-Friendly webpage. The goal being to highlight alternative entertainment and accommodation options in the city for visitors traveling with pets. Here, you’ll find all the hotels, restaurants, means of transportation, and other places in Valencia where animals are welcome.

Ponferrada

According to a report by Holidu, Ponferrada is the best Spanish city to visit with your pet. 35% of tourist rentals allow pets, and the city has the third-highest ratio of dogs per resident in Spain. Ponferrada offers lots of options for plans with your furry friend. Enjoy museum visits, routes through El Bierzo, historical site of Las Médulas, all with your furry bestie alongside you. There won’t be time to be bored!

Gijón

Thanks to the #GijonYesMiCan campaign, the Asturian city of Gijón has become one of the most pet-friendly places in Spain. Gijón boasts over 40 green spaces for animals to run and play. In the summertime, you can even have a fun beach day with your canine companion at El Rinconín Beach. Best of all? Gijón has a pet-friendly bar or store for every 1918 residents!

Madrid

Madrid has the highest number of hotels and establishments that allow pets in Spain. Between hotel chains like NH and Petit Palace and a multitude of bars, cafés, and restaurants, the options are endless.

The Spanish capital provides visitors with loads of ways to have fun with their pets. First and foremost, pets are allowed on public transport, which makes life much easier. You can even take your pet shopping! There are countless commercial establishments in Madrid where you can go with your dog, including bookstores and clothing shops. Check out the City Council of Madrid’s webpage, Dog-Friendly Madrid, where you can find more information.

Lugo

The city of Lugo has one of the most dog-friendly initiatives there are. Dubbed ‘perriturismo,’ (‘dog tourism’) this campaign is run by a company that organizes fun plans for pups and their humans. The goal: have a great time with your four-legged best friend!

Perriturismo organizes all-inclusive doggy weekends, hiking routes, bodega visits, wine tastings and other fun activities throughout the province of Lugo. All alongside your pet! What better way to spend a day?

Barcelona

In Barcelona, there are over 1,300 accommodation options that allow pets. Not to mention a pet-friendly leisure area for every 2,585 residents. There are even art galleries that you can visit with dogs. This undoubtedly puts the ‘City of Counts’ on the map as one of the best places to travel with Fido. Year-round, you can stroll through Paseo de Gracia, La Rambla, and the entire city center of Barcelona. Or take a seat at one of the countless pet-friendly bars and restaurants. Plus, in summer, you can take your furry friend to the dog-friendly Llevant Beach! During the off-season, dogs are allowed at the rest of Barcelona’s beaches, too.

Palma de Mallorca

The capital of Mallorca isn’t just a great option for traveling with pets. It’s a dog city par excellence. In fact, Palma de Mallorca is the city with the most dogs per resident in Spain. It comes as no surprise that our four-legged friends are welcome on the island.

The City Council and local businesses promote the idea of national and international pet tourism. So naturally, there’s been an expansion of options for accommodation and entertainment. For example, in Palma, you can take your dog to Es Carnatge Dog Beach. However, you can also take Fido to explore other beaches on the island. Try Llenaire in Pollensa, Na Patana in Santa Margalida, and Cala Blanca in Andratx to name a few.

La Coruña

La Coruña is one of the most recent cities to join the pet tourism revolution. They joined in March 2020 after its launch of the Somos Pet-Friendly campaign (‘We’re Pet Friendly’). Dogs can enjoy green spaces, walk through the park at the Tower of Hercules, the beaches of Ares, Arenal and Riazor (the latter only during the off-season) for example. Or relax at one of the many establishments that allow pets (there’s one for every 2,635 residents). An endless array of possibilities for a fun-filled day with your dog!

Oviedo

The capital of Asturias has no established regulations in place as far as pet tourism goes, unlike other Asturian cities. Its love for dogs, however, is undeniable. In fact, one of the most beloved and remembered citizens of Ovideo is Rufo. The town’s favorite stray dog that fellow residents fed and cared for during the 80s and 90s. Now, Rufo forms a part of the city’s history, thanks to a commemorative statue in the city center.

More than 28% of Oviedo‘s hotels consider themselves pet-friendly. There are loads of plans that you can do with pets. Take a stroll through the historic center and visit green spaces like San Francisco Park…your dog will be one happy camper!

León

There’s a wide range of tourist accommodation options in León that allow pets: 24% of the total. But that’s not all. Well-behaved dogs are also welcome in monuments and museums like the Royal Pantheon and the Egyptian Lyceum Museum. If your dog is fond of nature and the outdoors, the province of León offers many plans for you. Take on routes through El Bierzo and Las Médulas, and boat rides on the Riaño Reservoir.