Is Porto Pet-Friendly?

Moving anywhere on your own is difficult enough, but when your four-legged friends are involved, it can be a lot more complicated. Whether you have a cat, a dog, or even a rodent, moving to Portugal will have some extra steps. However, once you get to Porto, you will find out that it is a very pet-friendly city, especially in cities like Lisbon. So for that reason, we wanted to pull together some info on how Porto caters to pets and what you can look forward to.

How to bring your pet to Porto?

Portugal has been changing its policy regarding pets recently and has implemented the use of pet passports. Your pet first needs to be examined by a doctor, then chipped, vaccinated for rabies, and then have a pet passport issued on top of it.

But once your beloved friend has gone through these hoops, the transit from and to Portugal tends to be pretty straightforward, as long as you are from the European Union. If you are travelling to Portugal with a cat or a dog from outside the EU, you need to notify the authorities 48 hours before arrival.

You will also be asked to pay €40 for one four-legged friend and €80 for two or more. But afterwards, the process works the same way - you need a medical examination, rabies vaccination, chip, and a passport.

Find the perfect accommodation in Porto

Pet-friendly accommodation in Porto

If you’re afraid that you and your pet won’t find a place to live, we have good news for you. Porto is very pet friendly when it comes to accommodation. Not only are there pet-friendly hotels such as Crowne Plaza Porto, Hotel Grande Rio, or Vale71 House but the state of Portugal has made it illegal to refuse the renting of a property based only on the ownership of pets.

And some mid-term rentals are better suited for you and your friend. You can find these on Flatio, along with reviews and detailed descriptions and affordances of the given apartment.

Public spaces and pets in Porto

Unlike its larger counterpart, Lisbon, Porto has been making significant changes in recent years to make its public spaces more pet friendly. It is normal across Portugal to sit in a cafe or a restaurant with a pet as long as you are outside and your pet isn’t bothering anyone. But with the new 2018 city law, pets can also enter the insides of some establishments.

Many places have since made themselves pet friendly, like Sandwich (that boasts a diverse menu for a whole family, even your pet), Boa-Boa (with a delicious Asian cuisine), or the Zenith cafeteria. Porto has also opened some public parks to dogs, namely the Paula Vallada Garden, which has sand pits for digging, sections for puppies, and even a fountain specifically for dogs.

It is a small paradise for all doggies and their owners. But Porto hasn’t stopped at parks or cafes and restaurants. It also has the Mira Maia Shopping centre where you can walk the isles with your dog right next to you. With all these options, it should be clear that Porto is very pet-friendly.