Taking your dog on trains in Europe

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

Most European railways happily carry dogs, but the rules for small vs large dogs, whether you need a ticket for them, and whether a muzzle is required vary a surprising amount from one country — sometimes one operator — to the next. There is no single European standard, so the short answer is: small dogs in a carrier usually travel free and unmuzzled; larger dogs usually need a lead, often a muzzle, and often a half or full-price ticket. Always confirm the specific operator's current policy before you travel.

The general pattern across Europe

Almost every national railway splits dogs into two categories:

• Small dogs in an enclosed carrier that fits under a seat or on your lap, treated like hand luggage — typically free or a nominal fee, no muzzle required.
• Larger dogs travelling on a lead beside you — usually require a ticket (often a discounted "dog fare" or the price of a second-class seat), a fixed lead, and in a growing number of countries, a muzzle.

Guide dogs and other certified assistance dogs are a separate category almost everywhere: they travel free, are exempt from muzzle rules, and are permitted in any class, including on trains that otherwise restrict pets.

Country by country

France (SNCF)

Small dogs under about 6 kg in a carrier travel for a small flat fee. Larger dogs need a lead and muzzle and pay a set dog fare (roughly half the price of a standard second-class ticket on many routes). On the high-speed TGV network, only one dog per passenger is generally allowed and space can be limited, so it's worth checking at booking rather than assuming there's room.

Germany (DB)

Small dogs in a carrier travel free. Larger dogs need a ticket (usually the child or discounted fare) and must be kept on a lead; a muzzle is recommended and required on some services, particularly long-distance ICE trains, though enforcement and exact wording can vary. Germany's dense regional network is generally very dog-friendly.

Switzerland (SBB)

Switzerland is one of the more structured systems: small dogs travel free in a bag or carrier, while larger dogs need a half-fare "dog ticket" (or are covered under a Swiss Travel Pass in some cases) and must be leashed. Muzzles aren't universally mandatory but are expected in busy areas and on some services.

Italy (Trenitalia / Italo)

Small dogs (roughly under 10 kg) in a carrier travel free. Larger dogs need a lead and muzzle and a ticket, generally priced similarly to a second-class fare, though exact rules differ slightly between Trenitalia and Italo — see our comparison of Trenitalia vs Italo for the operators' other differences too.

Spain (Renfe)

Renfe allows small dogs in an approved carrier (with maximum combined weight limits for the dog and carrier together) to travel free in the cabin. Larger dogs are generally not permitted in ordinary seating on many Renfe long-distance and AVE high-speed services, which is stricter than in France or Germany — always check the specific service before assuming a large dog can travel.

United Kingdom

British operators are notably relaxed: most UK train companies allow dogs to travel free, unmuzzled, with no size limit, provided they're kept under control and don't occupy a seat. Guide dogs, of course, always travel free everywhere in Britain.

Austria (ÖBB)

Small dogs in a carrier travel free. Larger dogs need a lead, a muzzle is generally required, and a discounted dog ticket applies. This includes ÖBB's Nightjet sleeper services, where dog policies for cabins are worth checking directly, as space in sleeper compartments is limited.

Netherlands and Belgium

Both allow small dogs free in a carrier. Larger dogs need a ticket (often a reduced child or dog fare) and a lead; muzzles are recommended rather than strictly enforced in most everyday situations, though this can change on specific routes.

Crossing borders with a dog by train

Rail rules for the dog's ticket and behaviour are set by the operator, but crossing an international border with a pet is governed separately by EU pet travel rules: a microchip, an EU pet passport or animal health certificate, and up-to-date rabies vaccination are generally required for dogs travelling between EU countries, and requirements can be stricter for entering from outside the EU. This is separate from — and in addition to — the train operator's own pet policy. Check current requirements with the European Commission and, if travelling from outside the EU, your destination country's government before you go.

Practical tips

• Book ahead on high-speed and cross-border trains like Eurostar, TGV and AVE — some limit the number of dogs per carriage and space can fill up.
• Carry the paperwork — vaccination records and any pet passport — even for domestic journeys, since staff may ask.
• Bring a lightweight muzzle for larger dogs even where it's only "recommended," since policies do change and conductors sometimes apply the stricter reading.
• Check carrier size limits carefully — several operators cap combined dog-plus-carrier weight, not just the dog's weight.
• Avoid the busiest peak trains where possible; a calmer carriage is kinder to your dog and to other passengers.

Combining dog travel with the rest of your trip

If a dog's onward paperwork or a delay affects your journey, the same rules that apply to any other passenger apply to you — see our guides to train delay compensation and what happens if you have a missed connection, since a stressed or tired dog makes a tight connection considerably harder to manage. Travellers planning a longer multi-country rail trip with a dog should factor in that pet rules reset at every border, so what worked on one leg may not apply on the next.

Frequently asked questions

Do small dogs always travel free on European trains?

Usually, if they're inside an enclosed carrier that fits under a seat or on your lap — most major operators treat this as hand luggage. Weight limits for what counts as "small" vary by country, so check the specific limit.

Is a muzzle always required for larger dogs?

No. Some countries, like Austria, generally require it; others, like the UK, don't require one at all. Several countries sit in between, recommending but not strictly enforcing it. When unsure, bring one anyway.

Do guide dogs need a ticket?

No. Certified assistance dogs travel free and are exempt from muzzle and carrier rules on essentially every European railway, including on trains that otherwise restrict pets.

Can I take my dog on the Eurostar?

Eurostar has historically not permitted pets (other than assistance dogs) on its passenger services, which is stricter than most domestic European railways — always check the operator's current pet policy directly before planning a cross-Channel trip with a dog.