A holiday with your dog in Istria

Leaving the dog at home is one of the hardest parts of a holiday. In Istria you often don’t have to. Here is what to know about travelling with a dog to Poreč.

Before you travel

Documents

For dogs travelling within the EU, you need:

• an EU pet passport,
• a microchip, and
• a valid rabies vaccination, given at least 21 days before travel if it is the first one.

Dogs coming from outside the EU face stricter rules, so check the official requirements with your vet well in advance.

The journey

Most guests with dogs drive. Plan stops every couple of hours, carry water, and never leave a dog in a parked car in summer: temperatures inside rise dangerously fast, even in the shade. Our getting to Poreč guide covers the routes.

Dog-friendly Poreč

The local tourist board promotes Poreč as a pet-friendly destination, and it shows:

• Dog beaches: Poreč has 11 beaches where dogs are allowed, most of them near pet-friendly campsites, hotels and apartments. Ask locally for the nearest one, and keep your dog away from the regular beaches, where dogs are generally not allowed in summer.
• Cafés and restaurants: the vast majority accept dogs, and those that don’t usually have a spot outside.
• Vets: Poreč has veterinary clinics and Istria’s only veterinary hospital, with emergency care, a dog hotel, a pet shop and a specialised pharmacy.

Summer heat

July and August afternoons are hot. Walk your dog early in the morning and in the evening, carry water, and check the pavement temperature with the back of your hand. Shade and a cool floor are essential in the middle of the day.

Things to do with a dog

• Walks: the seafront path in Poreč, quiet country lanes inland, and in cooler months the Parenzana trail.
• Hilltop towns: Motovun and Grožnjan are fine for dogs on a lead, and many konobas have gardens.
• Wineries and olive oil producers: many welcome dogs at outdoor tastings; ask first.

Some attractions, including caves and the aquaparks, do not allow dogs, so plan those for days when someone can stay at the villa.

Our dog-friendly villa: Villa Duga

Villa Duga in Špadići, just north of Poreč, welcomes dogs on request for €15 per dog per day. It suits dog owners well:

• a fenced garden, so the dog can be outside safely,
• a covered terrace for shade,
• the beaches at Materada and Laguna about 1.6 km away, and Poreč old town 3.6 km,
• six en-suite bedrooms for up to 12 guests.

Please mention your dog (and how many) when you send your enquiry, and we will tell you the house rules for dogs. Our other two villas, Villa Bina and Villa Cvita Domenica, do not accept pets.