Travel to Italy with pets: 10 destinations to discover

Year after year, pet-friendly destinations in Italy are multiplying in order to satisfy those who can't part with their little companion even in their getaways from everyday life. 

Do you love art cities and small villages to be discovered? Do you dream of the blue sea or green mountain paths? In any case, use this guide to choose the perfect destination for you and your four-legged friend among many options.

The number of accommodation that welcome travelers with pets is growing in our country, and there are now dozens of pet-friendly cities and dog friendly tourist resorts that offer special spaces where you can relax and have fun. 

This trend goes together with the gradual but radical changing of Italians' (but not only) sensitivity towards animals, who over time have become more aware and concerned about their rights and therefore wish to travel with them.

This trend parallels the gradual but radical change in the sensibility of Italians (but not only) with respect to animals, who over time have become more aware and attentive to their rights and therefore wish to travel with them; families with dogs and cats, who are considered actual members, are increasing, and automatically the number of accommodations that take a special care of them is increasing as well.

From north to south, from the sea to the mountains, not forgetting art cities, in this article we suggest 10 pet friendly destinations in Italy to have the best accommodation even when you are accompanied by your furry pet: let's find out together which ones they are and in which facilities you could stay during your stay

Capital of Sicily and a wonderful city of art and culture on the shores of a sea that will make you dream, Palermo is a place for all tastes, even if you are traveling with your dog and looking for a pet-friendly destionation in Italy.  

Its incredible Norman and Arab architecture make it an open-air museum where you can walk undisturbed, even in the company of your dog. There are also many accommodation facilities that allow pets as well, including an original playground for dogs only, a dedicated training area (by reservation) with qualified personnel. 

Although there is not a beach club that hosts pets, just outside the city there is the wonderful Balestrate free beach, where you can enjoy the warm Sicilian sun with your furry friend.

And now a fun fact: Palermo was also the first city in Southern Italy to host a Cat Cafe, a very popular concept in Japan, which is a bar where you can have a coffee or a cake cuddling lovely cats, who basically live there.

If you're looking for a pet-friendly hotel in Palermo Ai Tre Mercati is the right choice for you.

Asolo is a village near Treviso, a hidden jewel in the heart of Veneto and it is perfect for making your furry friend feel welcome. In this dog friendly city, for example, many shops are equipped with bowls of fresh water for a break during a walk and the Tourist Office does it to - a small but meaningful detail that makes this delightful town a perfect pet-friendly destination in Italy. 

Asolo is a magical place, ideal for those who love outdoor holidays; you can walk a path that leads to the top of the Medieval Fortress, from which you can enjoy a magnificent view. Furthermore, around there, several green beauties can be explored, such as hills, springs, woods: breathing fresh air here will be a very appreciated gift by your beloved pets.

And what about accomodations? Hotel Villa Cipriani has everything you may drem of for an incredible pet-friendly holiday in Asolo.

If you are dreaming a pet-friendly destination in Italy with a faboulous sea, the north coast of Sardinia can be just right for you. Many of the most famous places of the island are located right here, in the large coastline that is included in the province of Sassari.

For several years the whole island has been making huge progress to offer the best to four-legged guests as well. As for the beaches, Arzachena, on the famous Emerlad Coast, has several locations equipped for dogs and the same goes for Porto Rotondo. Furthermore, in Santa Teresa di Gallura and Badesi there are even beaches where the access is allowed to tourists with dogs only.

Reaching Sardinia with ferries admitting pets in the cabin as well is easy and the number of structures that also welcome animals is growing more and more. One example? Locanda Casa Manna is a great pet-friendly hotel in Sassari's center.

Lake Como, in Lombardy, is one of the most famous and beautiful lakes in Italy. Fortunately, there are many possibilities to visit it together with your beloved furry friends.

A chilling atmosphere, incredibly fascinating landscapes and architectural beauties are often accessible even for those who travel with pets.

Along its coasts there are many beautiful villages, one of the most famous is Bellagio, which hosts for example Villa Melzi and its enchanting gardens, where dogs are welcome, as long as they are on a leash. The same goes for the equally famous Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, or for Villa Monastero in Varenna.

From here you can also reach another of the gems of Lake Como, the Comacina island. The ferry, of course, is dog-friendly.

The capital certainly needs no introduction, but perhaps not everyone knows that Rome boasts a large number of dedicated accommodations if you are traveling with a dog in Italy.

The Eternal City, anyway, claims another record that animal lovers will appreciate: the magnificent ruins of its glorious past are home to some of the most impressive cat colonies in the entire nation, like the one in the famous Non-catholic Cemetery in Piramide neighborhood. 

After admiring the countless wonders of the city, in Rome you will also find several parks where you'll get the chance to relax in the greenery with your dog. For example, the garden of Villa Doria Pamphili has reserved areas, but pets are also welcome in the famous park of Villa Borghese or at the Pincio, with its suggestive panoramic terrace.

With a bit of luck you'll also come across the best dog friendly pastry shops and ice cream parlors, offering specifically designed products for your furry friends, such as dog cookie ice cream.

Furthermore, in January, Sant'Antonio Abate, patron saint of animals, is celebrated. On this occasion, many pets are blessed in Sant'Eusebio church and at San Pietro square a special mass for animals is celebrated, too. 

Navona Queen Rooftop is a great hotel with beautiful views, where your pets are always welcome.

Would you like a vacation in the beautiful countryside of Umbria? If you are traveling with your dog to Italy and want to discover this region, Bevagna is the right destination. This tiny village in the province of Perugia is a gem that you really need to know, and also the perfect choice if you are looking for a pet friendly destination, for several reasons.

The wide open spaces, for example, are a real paradise for nature lovers and offer endless possibilities for unforgettable walks with our four-legged friends.

Even the path surrounding the ancient walls and leading from the village to the small Clitunno waterfall is a really nice opportunity for some easy six-legged trekking!

Not far away is Lake Aiso, another small paradise worth discovering with our best friends.

Finally, although it is a town with only 5,000 inhabitants, Bevagna has a good number of accommodations to choose from, including, for example, Monastero di Bevagna, which has been restored and converted into a fantastic pet-friendly hotel.

This area in the northern Apulia is famous for its postcard-like sea, but it offers much more, thanks to the different varieties of its landscapes. From forests to cliffs, from mountains to the beautiful villages, you'll have countless chances to get to know the charming local traditions.

And getting to know the Gargano together with your pets is really simple.

Inside the Umbra Forest, for example, there is the Sfilzi Woods with some of the most important beech grove in the area. Walking with pets offers endless possibilities, but keep them on a leash, since in the depth of the woods you may run into wild animals.

Among the various towns and seaside villages to be found in Gragano, Vieste is definitely worth a visit: the center is perfect for a stroll and there are also pet-friendly beach club. The same goes for the other villages, such as Peschici and Rodi Garganico, where you'll find an unforgettable atmosphere and impeccable hospitality for campsites, hotels and beaches ready to accommodate your pet friends, too.

Furthermore, from both ports, you can reach the Tremiti islands. Pets are welcome on the ferries and on the islands, where wonderful walks to stay in touch with nature await you, together with several restaurants, hotels and B&Bs ready to welcome human and non-human tourists. Al Castello Relais is definitely one of the best.

Jesolo, a well-known seaside town in Veneto, is definitely well equipped if you want to enjoy the sea with your furry friends. Among hotels, farmhouses and many beaches where pets are welcome, the choice is really wide. There are equipped areas to let your dog run around freely, but also showers, agility paths and access points to the sea.

Here you'll experience a wild nightlife, but you could enjoy the city parks during the day, with their green spaces dedicated to people traveling with dogs.

At Jesolo Hotel Ivana is a great choice for you pet-friendly holiday.

Remember that Venice is very close and should be considered among the best pet-friendly destinations in Italy: a trip with pets to one of the most popular cities of art in the world is certainly possible. All animals are allowed on the ferries with a leash or at least a carrier, while a bag and a shovel are necessary when walking through the calli.

Let's move on to a destination for mountain lovers. Aosta Valley in general and Courmayeur in particular will certainly make pets and their human friends, who prefer mountain paths to beaches, happy. In the Alps, right on the border with France and Switzerland, you'll find the purest air, naturalistic scenarios of incomparable beauty and the possibility of climbing to high altitudes with your dog thanks to the cable cars that will make your pet holiday in Italy truly unforgettable.

Courmayeur is probably best known as a winter destination, but it's actually wonderful all year round. Pets are always welcome even on public transport, including the famous Skyway cable car that leads to Mont Blanc, up to almost 3,500 meters above sea level.

In this area, which is one of the most beautiful in Italy for mountain lovers, there are many itineraries for all-level trekking and hiking, where you can give yourself and your furry friends a full immersion in nature.

Moreover, as for accommodation, there is a wide range of choices for all tastes, from campsites in the wilderness to extra-luxury hotels. Maison Altea, for example, is a lovely and welcoming hotel for everyone.

A famous summer destination in Romagna, Riccione is known for its very long sandy beaches, but perhaps not everyone knows that it is also a highlight among pet-friendly destinations in Italy for the summer.

There are many hotels and facilities where four-legged friends are routinely welcomed, some even offering a welcome kit in each room especially for them.

Riccione also has many beaches where dogs have dedicated areas or time slots for them to bathe, play areas, bowls with water and kibble especially for them, and so on.

Themed parks, aquariums and many other attractions in the area are also in many cases considered a pet friendly area. In fact, the city has long been committed to increasing the number of opportunities for welcoming people traveling with animals. There is even a consortium that brings together accommodations, stores and attractions of all kinds for the very purpose of making Riccione the most dog-friendly destination in Italy.

Hotel de la Ville is a great starting point to enjoy a hassle-free vacation with your four-legged friends.

And so, is Italy a dog-friendly country? Absolutely! In addition to the locations we have mentioned, you should know that there are many other beaches dedicated to our little friends, and their number is about to grow.

Indeed, in order to contrast the very sad phenomenon of animal abandonment in the summertime, many beach resorts along the peninsula are preparing to create idyllic places for a coexistence of human and four-legged tourists. So if you are looking for a pet-friendly destination for your summer vacation at the seaside, we suggest to consider not only a free beach but also to look among the dog-friendly beach clubs in Italy to accommodate our furry companions.

These locations include, for example, Albissola Marina in Liguria, Maccarese in Latium, Bibione in Veneto, Lignano Sabbiadoro in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Rimini in Romagna, San Vincenzo in Tuscany and Torre Canne in Apulia.

Find the perfect beach for your needs and give your furry fellow a well-deserved a funny and relaxing summer by your side.