My current home country deserves its place among Europe's best destinations for pet owners thanks to its warm climate, outdoor dining culture, a huge raft of natural landscapes, and growing number of pet-friendly accommodations. In addition, Madrid offers designated dog areas in parks such as El Retiro Park (above), Casa del Campo, and Madrid Río, along with numerous restaurants and cafés that welcome dogs. Barcelona provides similar opportunities, including dog-friendly sections of beaches and extensive walking routes along the waterfront.

For beach vacations, Catalonia's Platja de la Rubina near Empuriabrava and Valencia's Playa Can in Gandía are established options for dogs. In northern Spain, Asturias and Cantabria offer doggos and their humans cooler summers, coastal walks, rural guesthouses, and beautiful mountain scenery. Next-door Euskadi (Basque Country) is another excellent choice, particularly for travelers interested in combining the region´s fantastic culinary offerings with outdoor activities.

Spain's transportation options have also improved significantly. In July 2026, national rail operator Renfe expanded travel for dogs weighing up to 40 kilos (88 pounds) without carriers to nearly its entire network, including eligible high-speed services.

A few practical consideration: Dogs' access to beaches, restaurants, and public transportation varies by municipality and establishment. Many beaches prohibit dogs during peak summer months (we face this issue with our guys when we travel in summer to our place in the beach city of Torremolinos, Málaga province, but not in winter), while larger dogs traveling by train face additional requirements.

Read more in my post Traveling the World with Pets, and the 6 Best Countries for Doing So.

José Balido