Going to Barcelona with your dog
What to visit in Barcelona with your dog? What activities to do with your dog in Barcelona? When is the best time to go to Barcelona with your dog? How to organize yourself to take the car with your dog in a hot country? I answer all these questions!
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Hola los Wouafer's! What? Yes, hablo español… finally solo un poquito haha. You will have understood it today I take you to discover Spain with your dog and more particularly the city of Barcelona, in Catalonia. So if you've always dreamed of walking past the Sagrada Familia with your dog, passing under Barcelona's triumphal arch or strolling through the old town and discovering the most beautiful parks in Barcelona, including Parc Güell with your dog, you'll love Jerry and Laura's interview.
Really, visiting Spain with your dog is Wow Good. Thanks to Laura and her dog Jerry, in this new article I take you to Barcelona with your dog. Together they will show you all the places that accept dogs in Barcelona. During her trip with Jerry, Laura was able to do lots of dog-friendly walks in Barcelona with her dog, check them out.
Thank you Laura for agreeing to share your experience with your dog and you, I'll let you speak!
Going to Barcelona with your dog
Hello fellow dog lovers, I'm Laura! My partner and I have decided to go on holiday to Barcelona with our dog. Why Barcelona? It's a destination not too far from home – we live in Toulouse – and it seemed like a great place to spend a few days abroad, especially with the sunshine.
Our choice fell on Barcelona, because we wanted to visit this city where life is good! I had seen before, during some research, that this city was apparently very dog-friendly! It's a big city of course, but there are lots of green spaces and parks, a positive point for our doggies. So, ok, we packed our bags and headed to Barcelona with our dog.
Musher and Sophie : “A quick aside: if you're looking for a place to stop for a few days with your dog between the South of France and Barcelona, I recommend the beautiful city of Girona! For a few days' stay near Girona in L'Escala, there's only one place to go: Villa Valérie ! A magnificent villa with a swimming pool, nestled on the edge of the forest and right on the seafront, with a warm welcome from Valérie and her dog. The best part? Valérie also offers canine massages! The villa is located in L'Escala in northeastern Spain, in Catalonia, right on the route between the South of France and Barcelona. A strategic location for a stopover of one or more nights.”
What to visit in Barcelona with your dog
Barcelona is a very large city, so naturally, when you go on a short holiday, you have to make choices about what to see. We explored the city center from end to end; the old town is very beautiful, by the way. Unsurprisingly, dogs must be kept on a leash; with all the stimuli they have to deal with, it's probably the wiser thing to do.
We took Jerry to several super dog-friendly and often very large parks:
The Montjuïc fountain and park : located on the heights of Barcelona, this park offers breathtaking views of the city. It's a great escape to reconnect with nature, as it's very wooded and somewhat removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Ciutadella Park : This park is great because it's very large and has plenty of green space. Plus, there's even a fenced area where dogs can run free.
Tibidabo Park : This is one of the highest points in Barcelona, we loved walking around there with Jerry.
Park Güell : Gaudí greatly influenced Barcelona's architecture, so Park Güell is a must-see. We could also visit Park Güell with our dog, but we couldn't bring it inside Güell's little house within the park.
We also saw the triumphal arch, which is majestic: Jerry, so small in front of this giant, was impressed. Incidentally, the park right next to it ( Parque de la Estació del Nord ) is also very nice for dogs.
Of course, we visited the major must-sees like the Sagrada Familia . The artist Gaudí seems to be everywhere in this city of wonders! Unfortunately, as a religious site, the Sagrada Familia does not allow animals inside.
As soon as it was possible, we shared visits and strolls in Barcelona with our dog. When visiting the Sagrada Familia and the Little House in Park Güell, Jerry stayed in our accommodation. Some afternoons, when it was too hot for him, we also preferred to leave him cool at home.
As you know, Barcelona is a port city, so we did not miss to visit the port and the beach. Please note that dogs are not allowed on the beach in summer (between April and October). That said, there are way too many people anyway! Don't panic, to refresh the doggies, there are fountains in most parks.
We didn't have the chance to really leave the city, but there's a large dog park about forty kilometers from Barcelona, a real attraction for dogs!
Musher and Sophie: I visited Barcelona myself with Musher. It is indeed a very beautiful city. I loved exploring the old town and the port of Barcelona with my dog. That said, as Laura mentioned, it can get very hot very quickly in this lovely Spanish city. Be careful of heatstroke for your dog and also watch out for burns on their paw pads! It gets very hot on the sidewalks. Be careful!
👋 Musher's great deal
Dog food, supplies, grooming, vacations… the cost of a dog can quickly add up. So, with Musher, we created the Advantage Card : the very first card that brings together useful discounts to save you money all year round, on everyday expenses or vacations. 💸 See the 34 available discounts
What to bring to Barcelona with your pooch
When traveling to Spain, or any other foreign destination, we always take his vaccination book. Inside, there are our dog's identification documents. Of course, we also bring his passport and up-to-date vaccination record, Woof of course! This way, we cross customs legally and without any problems. Our furry friend's vaccinations include: distemper , hepatitis, parvovirus , leptospirosis , and rabies. To travel to Spain with your dog, it is absolutely essential that he be microchipped, or have a clearly visible tattoo identification (dated before 2011).
Of course, traveling with your dog also means packing a few extra accessories. For our trip to Barcelona with our dog, we had everything planned. To help him settle in, we brought his bed , his favorite toys , his food bowl , and his kibble and treats . For our walks, we chose to take his harness , collar , and leash , as well as poop bags to keep the area clean. Remember to bring water with you, as it's strongly advised against drinking tap water.
Musher and Sophie: Oh dear, yes, Spanish water isn't always very drinkable, that's true. I'd also add that you should always take your dog's first-aid kit with you. I always have Mush's with me. If you don't know what to put in it, read my article on your dog's first-aid kit.
Take the car with your dog to go to a hot country
We drove all the way to Barcelona with our dog . When we travel like that, Jerry is often very excited in the car. We went in the summer, so we had air conditioning for Jerry. To prevent heatstroke , we made sure to offer him water regularly, and we went for walks early in the morning so we weren't in the heat with him.
To ensure a smooth journey, we always put his basket in the back and secure him with a dog seatbelt . We also made sure to have water and kibble nearby and planned stops so he could stretch his legs and get some fresh air.
Find QUALIDOG accommodation with your dog
Do you want to fly to Spain for a Wow holiday with your dog? Here is a selection of QUALIDOG-certified accommodation in Spain!
Camping Natura Village Castello Mar
The dogs have their own pool... 💦
Camping Sea Green Cala Llevado
With direct access to the Sea
The best time to visit Barcelona with your dog
If you want to visit Barcelona with your dog, I think the best time is in spring or autumn when the weather is nice. In this way, you can enjoy it without being too hot as in summer. In summer, you have to adapt to the heat and visit differently; very early in the morning for example. You have to get on “Spanish time”. We went out with our cuddly toy in the mornings and at the end of the day. We thus took a break at the accommodation in the early afternoon to cool off and rest. Anyway, in the afternoon the Spaniards take a siesta so only the tourist areas are open and you will mostly come across tourists in the streets.
Barcelona, a dog-friendly city
I had already noticed through testimonials that the city seemed to be dog-friendly. I was eager to form my own opinion. Well, we've never had a problem with our pooch. The city provides gloves and waste bags in the streets.
In terms of traveling with a dog, the city of Barcelona still has it all: during our stay, we traveled by metro. Our doggie is small, we could bring him in transport without any problem!
Musher and Sophie: Good point, Laura. Even though the Barcelona metro is dog-friendly, there are a few rules to follow. First, only one dog per person is normally allowed. Dogs must be kept on a leash and wear a muzzle for the entire journey. Outside of peak season (September to June), dogs are not allowed on the metro during rush hour. All the necessary information can be found on the dedicated page of the Barcelona City Council website.
As for accommodation, we found a hotel in Barcelona itself. It was a little bit outside the city center. We paid extra, but we never had any problems whatsoever because of our dog.
Regarding restaurants, having a small dog, we've never had any problems going to restaurants with him . In fact, the waiters often brought us water for Jerry; when they didn't, we just asked and they were always happy to provide it!
Musher and Sophie: Indeed, depending on the size of your dog, you may find it more or less difficult to find dog-friendly places in France and abroad. This was actually one of my motivations when I created EmmèneTonChien.com. The number one website for holidays WITH your dog now lists thousands of fantastic dog-friendly places in France and Europe. Every day, dog lovers share the accommodations, activities, and restaurants they've tried with their canine companions, enriching the site! So do as they do, keep sharing your favorite dog-friendly places online . It's free, easy, takes 3 minutes, and allows thousands of dog lovers to travel WITH their furry friends.
Laura and Jerry, his poodle love
So Wouafer's, did you like our trip to Barcelona? Do you want to know a little more about us? I'm Laura, I'm 26 and I'm an executive assistant. I love travelling, decoration and fashion, hiking, reading… and of course animals!
I've been sharing my life with my partner for over four years, and we have our cat Tom, who's a year and a half old, and our dog Jerry, who's over seven. Jerry, also known as Doudou, has been my companion since he was two months old. He's a purebred toy poodle . He melts everyone's heart, even those who aren't usually dog lovers… He's simply a sweetheart: loyal, playful, food-motivated, athletic, very affectionate, and obedient.
You wonder why this nickname Doudou? It's because since he was 2 months old, he clings to me like a security blanket as soon as I get into bed. He also has the cute facial expressions of someone who hugs you as soon as you pamper him. It's my comforter to me what!
Jerry came to fill my heart with love unexpectedly at a sad time in my life. After the death of Lucky, the dog that accompanied me during my childhood and my adolescence, my parents immediately adopted Jerry to surprise me. However, I was so sad to have lost my Lucky that my first reaction was: “I don't want it, it won't replace it”. Finally, his little puppy face consoled my tears over time. Him and me, it was obvious from the start.
I take my Jerry everywhere! On all my trips and travels, I've always brought him with us (except for one trip to Africa). We've been to lots of places together: France , Spain , Portugal … in fact, we're writing to you today from our little seaside holiday!
Thank you very much Laura for taking the time to tell us about your vacation with your dog in Barcelona. I'm sure this will give ideas to more than one Wouafer's. Me, in any case, I really want to go back to eat a tortilla on the terrace with Musher and to go for a walk in the streets of Barcelona with my dog!
Barcelona is a pleasant city to visit with your dog, although you need to choose the season carefully and be mindful of the sometimes high temperatures to avoid heatstroke.
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Thank you for all this useful information, our dog accompanies us everywhere.