Go on holiday in Poland with your dog
What are the preparations for a trip to Poland with your dog? Discover the vacation of Evelyne and her dog Darwin in Poland as well as all their advice!
Table of contents
Poland yes! With his dog it's even better! Poland, its hot summers, its cold winters, a small paradise with its mountainous reliefs in the south, its massifs of the Sudetes on the border of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Could you dream of a more ideal destination to go on vacation with your dog?
This is the question that Musher and I asked Evelyne through a rich interview filled with many little anecdotes about their vacation in Poland. This exchange allowed us to learn more about this mysterious destination full of surprises… I am delighted to share this new article with you.
Darwin, Evelyne's dog
At the very beginning of 2015, my husband Sébastien and I were finally ready to adopt a dog, ideally from a shelter. This is how the reciprocal love at first sight took place with Darwin, a 4-year-old setter cross, at the SPA in Quimper. From the first walk to get to know each other, we already knew that we couldn't leave without him. Darwin very quickly made his mark with us, and despite his few “flaws”, in particular the fear of cars and the misunderstanding with cats… he is an extremely gentle and affectionate dog, the perfect dog for us!
Poland: why this destination with your dog?
We live in Brittany and for a few years our family has been scattered all over France so we are used to moving around. We love to travel. For almost 3 years, the family has grown with our little boy who travels with us too. This summer, having family there, we decided to go to Poland. My parents, grandmother, sister, brother-in-law, and their dog Tara were also on the trip and we met during the trip on certain stages.
Preparations for the trip
To travel with your dog in Poland, there are no particular obligations apart from the vaccines already requested in France such as rabies for example. We just needed a certificate indicating that Darwin was up to date on his vaccines and in good health. Of course, don't forget your dog's passport, which can be requested at the border.
Holidays in Poland with my dog
After 1868 km by car between Brest and Wroclaw, we finally arrived in Poland. Darwin was super well received everywhere we went. He even had some success. In restaurants, moreover, he often automatically had to drink before us. In Poland, there is even a small “dog welcome” plaque on the door of dog-friendly establishments. Convenient !
Let me now tell you about our journey during our vacation…
We started with Wroclaw. We have reserved a studio right next to the canal where several parks follow one another: PARK STAROMIEJSKI and PARK JULIUSZA SLOWASKIEGIO among others. The locals let their dogs run around here and it is here that Darwin made his first Polish walking friends along the Oder and on to Sand Island. This walk is superb and allows you to discover this beautiful city while being a little away from the hyper tourist place. The little extra to remember: the bar/restaurant ZLOTY PIES (translation: the golden dog, it can't be invented) on the main square, which indeed welcomes our 4-legged friends very well.
We then continued our journey to Warsaw. Warsaw is a very big city. From the city center it took us about 40 minutes to get to the old town on foot, but there is a lot to see on the way. an example of a nice itinerary: PLAC TRZECH KRZYZY – RONDO DE GAULLE – NOWY SWIAT, pedestrian weekends in summer – KRAKOWSKIE PRZEDMIESCIE – STARE MIASTO.
This great city still has a negative point. Indeed, the largest and most well-known parks are generally forbidden to dogs because other animals have made their residence there, such as deer or peacocks.
However all other places are perfectly suitable. To eat, I will let you discover the Pierogarnia in the old town located next to the ramparts, Barbakan. Delicious and dog friendly!
PARK DOLINKA SZWAJCARSKA in the city center is the landmark of the neighborhood dogs where Darwin and Tara took their daily walks. Not very big but nice, people mostly let their dogs out to play together.
Our journey then took us to Torun, Malbork, then Sopot, Gdansk and Gdynia. Like almost everywhere, the beaches are, for the most part, forbidden to dogs in the summer. In addition they can be crowded and it gets hot quickly so it's not a place where you stay for hours with your dog anyway… However it is quite possible to walk early in the morning before the arrival bathers at Sopot beach. Other masters walk their dogs there and everyone picks up their pet's little gifts of course ;). Downtown Sopot is very popular with vacationers, our HQ, POMARANCZOWA PLAZA, had a large terrace, a great play area in the sand for the kids, and Tara and Darwin were always well received there.
We found a dog park by chance in KARLIKOWO district. And also a super cozy and super nice pub right in the center, LE BLEKINY PUDEL, which clearly displays its dog-friendly badge at the entrance: Tara and Darwin had a good evening there.
Finally, we found a Wow nice beach where dogs are allowed so that Tara and Darwin can also do some sunbathing: the KOLIBKI beach.
After SOPOT, we visited GDANSK. Don't miss: the crossing to the Westerplatte peninsula from GDANSK on pirate ship replicas GALEON LEW and CZARNA PERLA. It's a great attraction for the whole family and dogs are admitted with the purchase of a half-price ticket. The peninsula is quite large, they were able to run and let off steam. Finally, we visited Piotrkow Trybunalski: a medium-sized town in central Poland, perfect for spending a day or two before returning with the whole family.
Evelyne's advice for going on vacation with your dog in Poland
It's all a question of organization and civility! If we know that we are taking our dog, we plan accordingly: we select “pets allowed” on the accommodation sites, we question the restaurants before returning if possible, and of course wherever we are we clean up after doggie if need to give a good image.
The final word from Darwin and Evelyne
We completely validated the experience! We really feel like we enjoyed it and Darwin seemed delighted with his vacation through Europe. Next summer, new destination, new journey: “Darwin in the Highlands”. The four of us hope to leave for Scotland by ferry. We already know that the British are more open than the French when it comes to welcoming animals, so I'm not too worried. To be continued…
-
Thanks again to Evelyne and Darwin for this feedback that makes you want to take a few weeks vacation! If you want to contact Evelyne about this destination, you can contact her via her facebook account: Evelyne Couprie. And, to find many other trips and destinations, go to the Mag: Spend a weekend in Geneva with your dog, visit London with your dog, discover Florence and Italy with your dog…