Think your pup is a permanent “plus one”? In Spain, it’s not that simple. While the country is becoming increasingly pet-friendly, hopping on a train, bus, or metro with your dog can feel like solving a high-stakes puzzle. For many expats and travelers, the assumption that pets are either “all in” or “all out” leads to a rude awakening at the turnstile.

From Madrid’s strict rush-hour bans to the “no-paws-on-the-floor” rule in Bilbao, the regulations are a patchwork of local laws that could leave you stranded, or facing a surprise fine. Before you grab the leash, here is the essential breakdown of how to move around Spain without the headache.

Train travel tends to be the most pet-friendly

Rail travel is generally one of the easiest ways to move around Spain with a pet. On services operated by Renfe, small animals such as dogs, cats and ferrets are usually allowed on many trains if they travel inside an approved carrier.

For high-speed AVE and long-distance routes, pets typically must weigh under around 10 kilograms and remain inside the carrier for the duration of the trip. Some routes also allow larger dogs to travel under specific conditions, including a leash, muzzle and an additional pet ticket.

Commuter rail services tend to be more flexible. On many local trains, dogs may travel without a carrier, although they must remain on a leash and may be required to wear a muzzle depending on the operator’s rules.

Metro systems vary widely across Spanish cities

Metro networks in Spain often allow dogs, but conditions can differ significantly depending on the city.

On Metro de Madrid, for example, dogs are permitted but cannot travel during weekday rush hours. They must be kept on a short leash and wear a muzzle while inside the system.

In Barcelona Metro, dogs can travel outside peak weekday hours provided they are on a lead and wearing a muzzle. Animals inside a carrier are generally allowed without time restrictions.

Meanwhile, Metro de Bilbao applies stricter rules in some cases, requiring dogs to be carried in arms or transported inside a carrier so they do not touch the train floor.

These differences mean passengers travelling between cities should always check the local transport operator’s rules before boarding with a pet.

Buses are usually the strictest option

Bus travel tends to be the most restrictive form of public transport for animals in Spain. Many long-distance coach companies only allow small pets, and often only if they remain inside a carrier.

Operators such as ALSA generally permit animals under specific conditions, usually limiting travel to small pets and requiring advance booking. In many cases the animal must remain in an approved transport box throughout the journey. Larger dogs are rarely accepted on long-distance buses, although assistance dogs are always allowed under national accessibility rules.

Mallorca shows how rules can change within the same island

Mallorca offers a good example of how pet rules can change depending on the transport network.

In Palma, city buses operated by EMT allow dogs to travel under certain conditions, typically requiring a leash and muzzle if the animal is not inside a carrier. Rail and metro services on the island also permit dogs with similar restrictions.

However, the situation is different on the island’s interurban bus network, which connects towns outside the capital. These buses generally allow assistance dogs but do not accept ordinary pets in the passenger area. As a result, travellers may find that a dog can accompany them on one part of a journey but not on the next.

Common questions travellers ask about pets on public transport

Do dogs need their own ticket on trains in Spain?
On many long-distance train services, pets require a small additional ticket. Rules vary depending on the type of train and the size of the animal.

Are muzzles required on public transport?
Many metro systems and trains require dogs to wear a muzzle if they are travelling outside a carrier.

Can large dogs travel on public transport?
Large dogs are sometimes allowed on trains but are rarely permitted on buses unless they are assistance animals.

What travellers should check before bringing a pet on board

Because regulations vary so widely across Spain, passengers travelling with pets should always check the rules of the specific operator before starting a journey. While trains and metro networks often allow dogs with certain restrictions, buses remain far more limited.

Understanding these differences in advance can make travelling with a pet much easier and help avoid unpleasant surprises at the station or bus stop.

British indie rock star, the sixty-six-year-old former Smiths frontman, Morrissey arrived to his hotel and banged on the walls in frustration at the racket outside. To his distaste the row from the yearly Las Fallas event was keeping him awake, and so he decided to cancel his shows there. Instead of moving hotel, and in what has been reported of a “strop”, the popular singer, cancelled his events in the city during Spain’s noisiest street party in Spain.

It was after a 2-day drive on a tour bus from Milan that he came to the end of his tether after he is said to have been kept awake all night by the rhythmic thud of techno music and firecrackers. Loud singing and megaphone announcements, typical at any big outdoor Spanish festival, but especially so in Valencia. His official website states what he described as leaving him in a “catatonic state”. Bold text clarified the situation plainly: circumstances render the show impossible, though promoters issued no formal cancellation notice.

First Spanish date in four decades hits trouble

Huge anticipation surrounded this opening night at Valencia’s Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía. Nearly 1,500 tickets vanished within minutes of going on sale months earlier. Fans viewed the event as a rare milestone, marking Morrissey’s debut appearance in the city across his 40-year career. Organisers currently offer no confirmed solutions for refunds or rescheduling. Ticket prices started at €103 each.

Panic on the streets of Valencia during Las Fallas

Valencia’s eastern Mediterranean location hosts the UNESCO-listed Las Fallas each March. Street parties, fireworks and round-the-clock announcements define the festivities, which climax on 19 March with the burning of giant papier-mâché sculptures. Cultural experts interpret this ritual as purification and social renewal. Morrissey, long outspoken on animal rights and critical of Spanish bullfighting through songs such as The Bullfighter Dies, now finds himself directly affected by the same city’s traditions.

New album tour faces immediate setback

Promotion for his latest album Make-up Is a Lie, the Manchester icon’s first release in six years and fourteenth solo album overall, continues with planned tour stops in Zaragoza on Saturday and Seville next Monday. Supporters wonder whether remaining Spanish dates will proceed smoothly with the singer’s well-documented temperamental reputation and changeable political stances. Ticket holders await further updates from the promoter while social media buzz grows around the dramatic withdrawal.

Explosive tradition: Why Valencia sets massive artworks ablaze every March at Las Fallas

Living in Mallorca means discovering that even the island’s most famous landmarks can still surprise you. Now, one of Palma’s most spectacular viewpoints is accessible again, as the terraces of the iconic cathedral have officially reopened for visitors this season.

Perched high above the historic centre, the terraces of Palma’s cathedral offer a perspective of the city that few people ever experience. For expats and residents alike, it’s a rare opportunity to see the island’s capital from a completely different angle.

A unique view over Palma and the bay

Climbing up to the terraces reveals sweeping views across Palma’s skyline and the Mediterranean beyond. From this elevated position, visitors can admire the city’s rooftops, the marina and the curve of Palma Bay stretching into the distance.

The route also provides a closer look at some of the cathedral’s most remarkable architectural features, including its bell tower, flying buttresses and the enormous Gothic rose window that dominates the building’s façade.

Palma Cathedral — often called La Seu — is one of Mallorca’s most recognisable landmarks. Construction began in the 13th century after the Christian reconquest of the island, and the Gothic structure still dominates the seafront skyline today.

Seeing it from the terraces allows visitors to appreciate details of the architecture that are impossible to spot from the ground.

Opening hours and how to visit

The terrace tours have reopened for the 2026 season and will remain available until November. Visits run Monday to Friday from 10am to 4.30pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 1.30pm.

Entry slots operate every 30 minutes, with each tour lasting around an hour. Tickets can be purchased online through the cathedral’s official website or at the ticket office on site.

A standard ticket costs €25 and includes access to the cathedral itself as well as the Museum of Sacred Art of Mallorca, making it a worthwhile cultural outing even for those who have lived on the island for years.

Visitors can also choose to add an audio guide, which provides historical insights into the building and highlights the landmarks visible from the terraces.

Discounts and perks for Mallorca residents

One of the biggest advantages for residents is the discounted entry. Those living in the Balearics can visit the terraces free of charge on Fridays, provided they collect their ticket from the cathedral’s ticket office and show proof of residency.

On other days, residents benefit from a reduced rate of €8 for access to the cathedral, terraces and museum.

For expats who now call Mallorca home, this makes it one of the island’s most affordable cultural experiences — and one that rivals the views from many of Palma’s rooftop bars.

Important things to know before you go

Because of the narrow passages and height involved, the terrace route has some restrictions. Access is limited to visitors over the age of nine and is not recommended for people with vertigo, mobility issues or certain heart and respiratory conditions.

The route includes steep stairs and elevated walkways, but those who make the climb are rewarded with one of the most memorable panoramas in Palma.

For many residents, it’s a reminder that even after years on the island, Mallorca still has new perspectives waiting to be discovered.