Thinking about bringing your dog on holiday from Ireland or Northern Ireland to Europe? Last year, we brought our chihuahua Vito along on a family trip to the south of France and while it took a bit of planning, it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. From swimming in the villa pool to sunbathing at beach clubs in Cannes, Vito loved every second of his Euro Summer.
If you’re considering doing something similar, here’s exactly what we did, what worked, and what we’ll be doing again this summer when we take him to Portugal!
✈️ Choosing to Fly with a Dog
We knew we wanted to fly, but only if Vito could travel with us in the cabin — no way was he going in the hold. After some digging, we discovered that only KLM and Air France allow pets in the cabin on flights from Ireland to France.
KLM worked out cheaper for us, but it meant a layover. Our full route was:
- Dublin → Amsterdam (approx. 1hr 45min)
- Amsterdam → Nice (approx. 2hrs)
No direct cabin-friendly flights were available, but the transfers were manageable and Vito coped brilliantly.
📏 Airline Requirements: What You’ll Need
KLM had specific requirements for dogs flying in the cabin:
- Carrier size: 46 x 28 x 24 cm (18 x 11 x 9.5 inches)
- Combined weight (carrier + dog): 8kg (about 17.5lbs) max
Vito was around 7lbs at the time, so we were cutting it fine (time for a holiday diet!). After some trial and error, we found a carrier that fit the dimensions and was comfortable for him we got ours from Amazon (link it here when publishing!).
Hot tip: always check the airline’s most up-to-date requirements before you book, and weigh your dog in the carrier beforehand just to be safe.
🐾 Pet Passport & Rabies Vaccine
To travel, your dog needs:
- A microchip
- A valid rabies vaccination (administered at least 21 days before travel)
- A European Pet Passport
We got Vito’s passport from Garden Lodge Vets in Holywood, not all vets offer this service so it’s worth calling around.
🧳 Dublin Airport & KLM Check-In
On the day of travel, we arrived at Dublin Airport and headed to the KLM desk. The staff couldn’t have been nicer! They fussed over Vito (he lapped it up) and gave his pet passport a quick once-over. Surprisingly, they didn’t weigh him or the carrier.
Vito stayed in his carrier as we moved through the airport, but we let him out briefly to share a bit of Burger King. At the gate, there were a few other dogs waiting to board, so he got another stretch before the flight.
🛬 Layover in Amsterdam
The first flight from Dublin to Amsterdam went off without a hitch, Vito sat quietly at my feet the whole time. You genuinely wouldn’t have known he was there. Of course I had to get a sneaky picture of him looking out of the airplane window but apart from that we were asked to keep him in his carrier at my feet the whole time.
In Amsterdam, we had a fairly quick turnaround. While there were no designated animal toilet areas, the airport itself felt more pet-friendly we saw several people walking dogs on leads, so we did the same to let him stretch his legs.
🛫 Amsterdam to Nice
The second flight to Nice was just over two hours, and again, Vito was good as gold. No barking, no fussing, just snoozing by our feet the whole time.
🏡 Staying in a Pet-Friendly Airbnb
We stayed in a pet-friendly Airbnb villa, which made things a lot easier. When you’re searching for accommodation, make sure to set the “pet-friendly” filter so it helps you avoid any awkward surprises when you arrive.
The villa was perfect! Vito had plenty of space to roam, a pool to dip into (yes, he swam… okay, we got him his own lilo), and sun loungers to claim as his own. If you’re travelling with a dog, having your own space really takes the pressure off.
🇫🇷 Life as a Bougie French Dog
Vito settled into French life quickly:
- Morning naps by the pool
- Digging up sand at beach clubs in Cannes
- Little tastes of cheese, saucisson, and croissant crumbs
- Exploring hilltop villages like a true tourist
- & trying the local cuisine at nearby restaurants
He honestly had the best time. Even the locals fell in love with him.
🩺 Vet Visit Before Flying Home
Before flying back to Ireland, we needed to get another rabies vaccination from a French vet to meet re-entry requirements. We found a lovely local clinic who were more than happy to help (though the vet did call Vito fat… too much French cheese and saucisson obviously!)
🧳 The Journey Home
The trip home followed the same route in reverse: Nice → Amsterdam → Dublin. No one weighed him, and no one checked his documents, but we were glad we had everything sorted just in case.
🐶 Would We Do It Again?
Absolutely. Travelling with Vito made the trip so much more special and despite the prep, it was all very doable once we had the info.
If you’re thinking of taking your dog to Europe from Northern Ireland or Ireland, hopefully this helps demystify the process. And if you’re curious about what it’s like to bring your dog to Portugal check back soon. We’re off again this summer and will be sharing the whole experience here on Best Bark.
Want a full checklist or link to the carrier we used? Let us know and we’ll add one. And if your pup has racked up their own air miles, tag us in their travels over on TikTok and Instagram @wearebestbark we love seeing your adventures too!
