Best pet-friendly rentals to book in Europe
There was a time when booking a trip meant making a heart-wrenching choice: bring the dog and accept that your accommodation options are drastically limited, or leave them behind and spend the whole trip worrying. Then there's the additional cost of checking your pet into a kennels or cattery – and the mental toll of having to drive away without your furry friend.
But things have changed. Europe is now well served with an abundance of pet-friendly stays, with a wave of beautiful spots welcoming in the smallest member of the clan with open arms. Travellers are leaning in. Over the past three years, leading luxury private rental brand Onefinestay has seen a 90 per cent rise in monthly bookings for guests staying with pets, with London, and Paris topping the list of most popular European destinations.
So, whether you’re planning a bouncy city break, rambling rural escape or sun-soaked coastal getaway, we’ve sought out the best pet-friendly rentals the whole family – four-legged members included – will love. Staying closer to home? See all the UK’s best dog-friendly hotels in our guide.
Spacious loft with private terrace, Paris
Inky ceilings, deep berry tones and an opulent mix of soft furnishings in deep tones and sumptuous fabrics have this smart homestay looking straight out of an Abigail Ahern catalogue. In a city so stylish, this particular apartment offers an intimate vibe rarely found elsewhere, just steps from the Louvre and the city’s most wonderful sights. With room for five, it’s a fabulous choice for group getaways – especially given the ping-pong table ready for your next tournament. There’s a garden for sunny afternoon sunbathing sessions and a terrace for leisurely espressos with a view.
Sleeps: Five
Price: From around £2,651 for a five-night stay
Stylish apartment, London
This refined, light-filled London apartment for four is set on a peaceful tree-lined avenue in Notting Hill, one of London’s most beloved (and most well connected) neighbourhoods. The interiors are all polished Victorian-meets-modern elegance – a bright living room, chic dark-grey kitchen and stylish dining space overlooking the suntrap garden. Two serene bedrooms have their own Juliet balconies and, in the bathroom, there’s a luxuriously deep soaking tub for post-sightseeing me-time. You’ve all of the area’s picturesque cafés, boutiques and vibrant Portobello Road Market close by – plus Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park within easy reach – for a true taste of quintessential London.
Sleeps: Four
Price: From £393 per night
Bohemian retreat, Istanbul
Kick your shoes off and head into The Boheme, nestled among the frenetic jumble of antique and vintage boutiques, winding streets and imposing buildings that make up buzzy and historic Cihangir. Inside has charms all of its own, with two airy light-filled floors with great splashes of colour, leafy plants, and textural soft furnishings adding ample flair to the simple whitewashed space. A curving staircase adds something special, as does the chunky handcarved wooden bathtub that sits in the master bedroom – unlike any you’ll have seen elsewhere. There’s a parking spot, a fully-stocked kitchen ready to get cooking, plus a slew of wonderful restaurants and bars just outside your door.
Sleeps: Four
Price: From around £671 for a three-night stay
Lavish apartment, Rome
One for your next big group getaway: this gorgeous apartment deftly mixes Italian contemporary design with beautifully preserved historic features in the swish Campo de’ Fiori neighbourhood, Rome’s elegant heart. Every detail has been carefully considered, from the candy-stripe cushions under striking lattice-beam ceilings, to the gently curved alcoves showcasing Roman objets. The spacious kitchen is ripe for leisurely bowls of pasta shared among friends, while each bedroom has its own personality – three featuring chic ensuites, and the fourth with a luxurious Turkish bath. A sun-filled private patio provides a rare, tranquil outdoor oasis that’s uncommon for the city centre.
Sleeps: Nine
Price: From £501 per night
Dreamy A-frame cabin, Finland
Sunlight pours in through the striking fully-glazed frontage in this cabin, which is straight out of a fairy tale, tucked away in Finland's historical Lempäälä province. It is both understated and imposing, modern yet grounded in history, smart and simple all at once. Impressive double-height spaces weave seamlessly from one element to the next, as you float from the spa-like bathroom over to the cosy log burner and up to the bedroom tucked in the eaves. While the whole place works to provide maximum bliss, all pales in comparison to the views from the windows – look out and it’s nothing but trees and sky, with a boardwalk leading onto an idyllic lake, plumes of steam from the wood-fired hot tub rolling gently over the water. Note that there is a sauna, although only for a steep €100 additional charge.
Sleeps: Four
Price: From around £322 for a two-night stay
Sweet little cottage, Tuscany
Within a sprawling bucolic 3.5-hectare estate, this serene hideaway lies right between Rome and Florence, near to the mineral-rich hot springs that characterise the sleepy towns of Siena and Val d’Orcia. Drive up past olive tree-fringed roadsides and the home’s delights become clear. First, the sweeping views over sublime Tuscan hillsides, then the sheer tranquillity; the soothing birdsong soundtrack interrupted only by the sound of someone diving into the pool. Stay alert and you’ll see some wildlife – deer, foxes, wild boar and porcupines all roam freely throughout the area. There’s a pool bar, barbecue and pizza oven for communal catchups over something homecooked and tasty, and plenty of cosy lounging spaces inviting nothing but sheer restoration for as long as you please. If you’re not being lulled to sleep by the sun on your back, ask your hosts to sort you a trip – cooking lessons, spa trips and wine tastings can all be arranged.
Sleeps: Four
Price: From around £210 per night
Light-filled waterfront home, Copenhagen
In a peaceful pocket of Indre By, just a five-minute stroll from Copenhagen’s iconic Nyhavn waterfront, this bright fourth-floor apartment makes a warm, stylish base for two. Scandi charm abounds, with a tasteful selection of vintage furnishings and sheepskin throws complementing wide windows framing unbeatable rooftop views. Head to the balcony, which overlooks Christiansborg’s spire, for sundowners. Business travellers will appreciate the antique bureau, which is as inviting a space to work as any, and everyone will be wowed by the luxurious Hästens bed. With the glimmering thread of the river within easy walking distance, it’s an ideal crashpad for those wishing to soak up the best Copenhagen has to offer.
Sleeps: Two
Price: From around £206 per night, with a three-night minimum
