The Hot List: Top Pet-Friendly Cities

7 minutes read

May 15, 2023

[Welcome]
Woof woof! That’s pet-speak for hello! Welcome to this week’s Hot List by Hotala!

In normal discourse, whenever we talk about travel, we’re usually referring to heading out on a journey with other people, be they our friends, family, or total strangers. But here at Hotala, we got ourselves wondering: what about traveling with man’s greatest friend?

According to recent studies, pet ownership levels have seen a massive increase since the pandemic’s stay-at-home order of 2020. In the absence of their human friends, many people sought companionship with their furry friends instead. Yet despite spending over a year alone at home with their animals, a growing number of people don’t quite seem ready to let go of them just yet.

According to UK-based travel agency PBS, dogs are by far the most popular travel companion, making up 58% of all pet travel journeys. So in light of this growing pet travel trend, today we give you: our top 3 cities for traveling with pets!

two dogs next to a lake in Vancouver, Canada

This article has been written by The Hot List staff writer, highlighting the top pet-friendly cities in the world.

dog and man sitting on a bench in Netherlands

This article has been written by The Hot List staff writer, highlighting the top pet-friendly cities in the world.

row of houses in San Francisco, California

This article has been written by The Hot List staff writer, highlighting the top pet-friendly cities in the world.

[Welcome]

[Hot]

Hot

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Leash up for walkies on the Capilano Suspension Bridge!

The wonderful city of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, is a metropolitan melting pot. It is home to people from all over the world—plus all of their zany pets! In fact, with more than 27 000 registered dogs, Vancouver often ranks as one of the most dog-friendly cities in all of North America! The city’s unique geography—with the Pacific Ocean to its west and the North Shore mountains to its northeast—makes it a gorgeous place to scope out with your doggy friends. In Vancouver, you’ll find lots of dog-friendly beaches, stunning hiking trails, and even restaurants and bars for a lunch date with your pup!

Here are some ideas of what to do with your dog while in lovely Vancouver:

Dog-friendly beaches and off-leash parks: There are a total of 8 off-leash beaches in Vancouver; our favorite is probably Hadden Park in Kitsilano, where tide pools on the bay are a great place for happy dogs to run around. But if you’d rather take your dog out for a walk on dry land, might we suggest the world-famous Stanley Park? This lush green oasis in the middle of Vancouver’s urban landscape hosts kilometers of natural rainforest, mountains, beaches, and historical landmarks.

Vancouver Beach (Photo Credit: @nourinraja)

Dog posing at the Capilano Suspension Bridge

See the city sights: No holiday trip can ever be complete without a trip to the local landmarks. Lucky for you, Vancouver’s full of great things to see—many of which are happy to have your pups come along! Visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which hangs over the Capilano River in North Vancouver and is one of the city’s most popular attractions. The best time to visit Capilano is during the holiday season when the Canyon Lights are on for a light show you won’t be likely to forget!

Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver (Photo Credit: @biscuitsbigworld)

A cat sitting in the snow at Cypress national park

Go hiking: Cypress National Park on the North Shore of the Metro Vancouver Regional District is great for outdoor enthusiasts and their dogs. We promise you’ll love the Black Mountain and Hollyburn Mountain trails—just make sure to keep your dog on a leash and clean up any excrement as you go.

Cypress National Park, Vancouver (Photo Credit: @theoretically.teddy)

[Hot]

[Hotter]

Hotter

Amsterdam, Netherlands

What’s prettier than a pup with flowers in her hair?

Hello from the “Venice of the North”! This land of meandering canals, slanted houses, and tulips galore may seem like it’s straight out of a European fairy tale, but what really secured Amsterdam’s spot on this list were its progressive laws around animal cruelty. As a real dog lover’s paradise, most hotels, restaurants, and squares in Amsterdam welcome dogs, but we always recommend double-checking the requirements of your specific destination before you arrive.

Here are some of Amsterdam’s most well-loved attractions for you to explore:

A dog having a walk at a Dutch Park in Amsterdam

Walkies in a Dutch park: No compilation list of dog-friendly travel would be complete without a visit to the park! Despite being quite densely populated, Amsterdam is a city of parks, gardens, and green spaces galore. We recommend a visit to one of the Netherlands’ most famous city parks: Vondelpark, which has been a favorite of Dutch dogs and their owners since the park’s establishment in 1865.

Vondel Park, Amsterdam (Photo Credit: @my_life_in_the_big_city)

A bull terrier dog striking a pose behind in the pet-friendly city Amsterdam

Checking out the city: For sightseeing in Amsterdam, cycle over to the 200-meter-wide Dam Square, originally built as a dam on the Amstel River. The square is home to the 17th-century Royal Palace, the former home of the Dutch royal family. Once you’ve done that, hop on a canal boat tour to check out the city’s iconic ancient, tilted houses from Amsterdam’s Golden Age.

Karpata, Bonaire (Photo Credit: @nalatheminibullterrier)

A dog walking on a patch of tulips in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Flowers, flowers, everywhere: A trip to the Netherlands can certainly never be complete without a trip to a flower field or florist. Amsterdam in spring is certainly a sight to behold, with tulips, wisteria, and daffodils lining every street. Trot over to a local flower market for some cheap blooms that will make your pup and your Instagram feed very happy indeed.

Amsterdam, Netherlands (Photo Credit: @life_of_dolly_the_dog)
[Hotter]

[Hottest]

Hottest

San Francisco, California, USA

Bask in the light coming off the Golden Gate Bridge

Good ol’ San Francisco! For a city that’s only 49 square miles large, it’s absolutely packed to the brim with dog parks, open space reserves, urban hikes, and dog-friendly beaches galore! With balmy weather throughout the year, it’s very likely you’ll see most Frisco locals out and about at their local restaurant patio with a dog or two in tow.

And so, at last, we present our hottest doggy spots for San Francisco!

a dog at the Mt. Davidson Park

Strollin’ through Frisco: Being on vacation doesn’t mean your doggy has to forego its walks! Our favorite places to take your dog out for a walk in San Francisco include the beautiful hiking trail in Mt. Davidson Park and Sutra open space reserve hiking trails in Cole Valley.

Mt. Davidson Park (Photo Credit: @lilymogthecattledog)

a dog posing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge: Another place to take your dog out for a walk is on the dog-friendly Baker Beach in Presidio, with gorgeous views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge that you certainly won’t want to miss! Also, visit Fisherman’s Wharf to check out the sea lions at Pier 39.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (Photo Credit: @dani.fischnach)

Dog in front of the famous Painted Ladies in San Francisco

Have a photoshoot at the Painted Ladies: This iconic row of colorful Victorian houses was featured in the opening title sequence of the famous 90’s hit show Full House. Snap a few quick photos for the ‘gram before heading on over to Alamo Square Park opposite for a freeing off-leash experience to round off your day!

Painted Ladies, San Francisco (Photo Credit: @stefanietu)

More Featured Photos

A puppy smiling and behind him is Chimney Beach in San Francisco

(Photo Credit: @soda.0312)

A french bulldog standing in front of the San Francisco bridge

(Photo Credit: @gordon_thefrenchie)

A dog smiling sitting in a park bench in Canada

(Photo Credit: @everybodylovescocoofficial)

A dog smiling sitting in a grass with flower petals on the ground

(Photo Credit: @miniaussiemylo)

(Photo Credit: @e.wouters)

(Photo Credit: @amandapartypoison)

(Photo Credit: @biscuitsbigworld)

(Photo Credit: @mini_noah_)

(Photo Credit: @my_life_in_the_big_city)

[Hottest]
[Footer]

And that sums up our top picks for Cities for Traveling with Pets!

We sincerely hope this week’s Hot List has something special for you and your doggy friends! If you read anything that caught your fancy this week, please consider forwarding this newsletter to friends and family. After all, dreams are always better when they are shared.

Until next week, enjoy and safe travels,

Team Hotala