If your canine (or other animal) friend is also your loyal companion on trips and travels, check out some practical information and adventure options if you choose Slovenia for your next vacation.
Slovenia is a member of the European Union. If you wish to bring your pet from an EU Member State to Slovenia, you should carefully check the rules and recommendations laid down by the EU and the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection.
Among other things, your pet must have:
Valid animal identification document
You must inform the airline carrier that you want your animal to travel with you when you buy your ticket. You must reserve a space for the animal and pay extra for the transport. You must present the relevant documents when you check in for your flight. Before travelling, check the rules and recommendations of each airline carrier, as well as the EU border veterinary posts, regulations and provisions of the competent authorities.
To enter Slovenia, an animal with a European passport must have:
If you're not travelling around Slovenia in your own car and transporting your pet in the recommended pet carrier, you can check out public transport options.
Pets are welcome on Slovenian Railways trains. Small domesticated animals can be transported free of charge, enclosed in cages or baskets that can be placed as personal luggage. The same applies to smaller dogs, which can be held on your lap. Larger dogs must wear a muzzle, be attached to a leash and lie on the floor so as not to disturb other passengers. The owner pays half the ticket price for their dog. The exception for larger dogs is ICS tilting trains.
In the capital Ljubljana, animals are allowed on the city bus under special conditions. Dogs may be transported outside rush hours (between 6.30 and 9.30 a.m. and between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.), provided that the dog is clean, healthy, on a leash, wears a muzzle and has proof of rabies vaccination. Birds, cats and other small animals may be transported on public transport only in cages or in any other suitable way that does not disturb or interfere with other passengers, in compliance with the hygiene and sanitation rules, and free of charge.
For intercity and regional buses, please check in advance with the individual operator, such as Arriva, Nomago and others, about the possibility of travelling with your pet.
And what to do if you decide to explore Slovenia with your puppy on a leash? Here are some destinations and experiences where your four-legged friends can keep you company.
The Slovenian Museum Association, in cooperation with the Cynological Association of Slovenia, has created special labels that museums can obtain to inform visitors about the possibility of visiting with their dog.
A dog-friendly museum is a museum where dogs are not allowed to enter or are only allowed in certain areas, but there is a place where they can safely wait for their owners and quench their thirst.
A museum accessible to dogs is a museum where dogs are allowed to accompany their owners on a tour of all the exhibits and there is a place where they can wait and quench their thirst.
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Check which museums and galleries in Slovenia allow you to visit with a dog, and which have made sure that your pet will wait for you in a safe place.
Please note the Museum Etiquette for Dog Owners.
Only dogs accompanied by an adult who pays the admission fee may enter.
Only properly trained, obedient dogs are welcome.
Dogs must be kept on a leash.
The owner assumes all responsibility. This includes for any damages.
Dogs are not allowed on public tours or other activities attended by large crowds. The museum may also restrict entry to dogs in other exceptional circumstances, including when other visitors to the museum request it.
The museum may restrict entry to dangerous animals. This refers to those animals that pose a threat to their surrounding because they are uncontrollable or exhibit aggressive behaviour towards humans.
Assistance dogs may enter the museum at any time, regardless of exceptional circumstances.
Museums also recommend that the owner of the dog ensures that the dog is well fed, well exercised and has had its needs attended to before the visit.
There's nothing better than walking your dog in the fresh air. Slovenia, with its natural beauty, is also an inviting backdrop for exploration, but it is important that dog owners put responsible behaviour, care for nature and wildlife, and other visitors to forests, parks, hiking and walking trails first.
Particular care should be taken to prepare for respectful visits to nature parks and protected areas. The Triglav National Park, an extremely popular destination for nature lovers, has summarised the rules of behaviour for dog owners and their pets in three brief points:
Dogs also enjoy a refreshing dip in cool water, especially on hot summer days. But swimming is not allowed everywhere. We have already mentioned that swimming and bathing in high-mountain lakes and streams is forbidden, but stagnant fresh water (such as ponds and lakes) can potentially be harmful to puppies because of algae and bacteria. Elsewhere, choose less populated areas to refresh your puppies.
At the popular Lake Bohinj, dogs are only allowed to swim in areas designated as bathing waters – especially in the Ukanc and Fužine Bay areas. Dogs are also allowed on boat trips on the lake. They can go free of charge.
Bled with Lake Bled is also a popular destination, where you can visit the island with pletna, the outer area of the castle estate, and the famous Bled Vintgar in the company of your dog. Your dog can refresh itself in the water of Lake Bled, but only outside the arranged bathing areas.
The Slovenian coastline is just over 40 kilometres long, but there are a few spots where bathing is allowed for dogs. Only in Izola can you find a separate and specially arranged dog beach where dog bathers can swim without worry. The exact location of the dog beach is near the former Delamaris factory. Enter Sončno nabrežje 28, Izola in the navigation.
Dog beaches, or areas with access to the sea for dogs, can be found in Ankaran, Koper, Strunjan and Portorož. Also respect the signs and do not take dogs to the beaches, where entry with puppies is not desirable.
Dog parks are particularly valuable in many Slovenian cities, such as Ljubljana, Maribor, Koper, Radovljica and others. These are specially designed and fenced areas where puppies can run and play freely without a leash, even in the restricted city areas.
Slovenia is a land of many comfortable and unique types of accommodation. Visitors can stay in campsites or glamping sites surrounded by nature, as well as in five-star or boutique hotels. Each accommodation has its own rules when it comes to staying with pets.
When searching for accommodation, most online booking systems allow you to see accommodation that allows pets. This information is also available on the websites of individual properties. We encourage you to check with the providers beforehand.
Popular accommodation among dog and other animal owners is mainly to be found in those places in direct contact with nature – campsites, glamping sites and camper stops. Here are some of the locations where holidays with pets are allowed.
Discover the right accommodation for you anywhere in Slovenia, with a tent, caravan, motorhome or only your personal luggage, in an organised but completely natural environment! In the publication full of practical information and ideas for exploring Slovenia you can find out more about camps, glamping sites and motorhome rest areas in Slovenia.
Holidays on tourist farms are also popular. There are quite a few that allow guests to bring their pets with them – these are marked with a "puppy" label.
This catalogue provides you with ideas and tips for visiting tourist farms all around Slovenia. It enables you to book your holiday at a selected tourist farm yourself and it helps you plan trips, family celebrations, business meetings, etc.
Did you know that there are a few dog hotels in Slovenia? What makes them special is that they allow dog owners to leave their dog in the care of experienced guardians for a short or slightly longer period of time. Many also offer day care if you want to explore sites where puppies are not allowed. You can find them online.
Want to see and experience even more? Head to different parts of Slovenia and you'll discover an extremely diverse country where unforgettable experiences await you.
Discover some of the most interesting trails with beautiful views.
The countryside – in the middle of nature, with locals, and enjoying local food.
You can get to Slovenia in different ways – by car or train, by air, bicycle or boat.
Feel the beneficial effects of the green natural environment in Slovenia.
Museums and galleries in Slovenia – a treasure trove of art from prehistoric times until today.
Create your own unforgettable holiday in nature by enjoying the pleasant environment of Slovenia’s camping and glamping sites.
Slovenia is the perfect destination for all camping lovers.
Learn about the people of Slovenia and their customs and traditions.
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