What are your pets really doing when you’re not at home? Illumination’s “The Secret Life of Pets 2,” the sequel to the 2016 blockbuster, answers this question that has long intrigued every pet owner. Packed with Illumination’s signature irreverent and subversive humor, this new chapter explores the emotional lives of our pets, the deep bonds between them and the families that love them.
And what about your pet? Playtime awaits when you vacation together in Europe – arguably the most pet-friendly continent of them all. From a dog swimming pool in Madrid to luxe pet “parking spots” at a Munich mall, we know where to get in touch with the secret life of your pets in spots that welcome animals as heartily as their humans.
This article is presented in partnership with “The Secret Life of Pets 2” – Only In Cinemas (TM & © Universal Studios).
Paris
As pet-friendly as the French are, a surprising number of Paris parks are strictly interdit to dogs. That said, playtime awaits with your pet when you know where to go. Among our favorite Parisian spots where leashed dogs are welcome is the east side of the Jardin du Luxembourg, in the 6th arrondissement.
An authorized zone for dogs butts up near the duck pond where people rent little sailboats to navigate around the basin. In the east of Paris, dogs are allowed off their leashes in the forest locale of the Bois de Vincennes.
And for further glimpses of the secret life of Parisian pets, hit the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, a hilly area northeast of the city where you can take in views of Montmartre during impromptu doggie play dates. When it’s time to bed down, pets can share your room at Le Méridien Etoile, one of the largest hotels in central Paris.
Secret pick: Leashed pets are welcome inside La Niche, a pet store in the trendy Marais district selling chewy treats and doggie sweaters guaranteed to give your pet a certain je ne sais quoi.
Barcelona
In addition to the legendary food scene, Barcelona’s beaches are its main calling card. And while dogs aren’t welcome for sandy playtime everywhere, there are a few key playas where they can roam as free as the wind.
A quick half-hour train ride (dogs welcome onboard!) north of Barcelona from Plaça de Catalunya lands you in Montgat, with its dog-friendly beach. About an hour south of Barcelona, in the pretty beach town of Sitges, Cala Vallcarca is a stretch where dogs are welcome to frolic in the surf and on the sand.
Closer to Barcelona’s city center, in the hip ‘hood of Poblenou, Llevant is the easternmost beach in the city and the place to go with Fido.
Plan a stay at W Barcelona, which rolls out the red carpet with pet beds and an in-room dining menu for dogs, with pâté among the offerings.
Secret pick: If your pet’s more of a landlubber than a beach fiend, Parc de la Guineueta offers shady trails where you can stroll together.
Rome
Your pet is as fitting an accessory as a Vespa in the Eternal City. And you’ll find dogs welcome everywhere, from the iconic Trevi Fountain and historic sites like Villa Adriana (an archaeological complex east of Rome in Tivoli) to sidewalk trattorias and one particularly awesome doggie spiaggia (that’s Italian for “beach”).
Bau Beach, near the airport, was especially designed for “free and happy” dogs, with calm waters where they can wade, a freshwater pond to slurp from and doggie rinse stations, too.
Continue playtime back at your hotel — requests like doggie bowls, toys and pet beds can all be granted at The Westin Excelsior, Rome.
Secret pick: A 15-minute stroll east of the Trevi Fountain, Gelateria CamBio Vita Roma is known for its vegan gelato, perfect for lactose-intolerant pets.
Munich
Easily one of the most dog-friendly cities in the world, Munich welcome pets on public transportation, nearly any restaurant with an outdoor dining space, and city parks, too. Even the Aloft Munich welcomes pets with their own bed and chewy toys.
Start your explorations in the green lung of a city that’s already pretty verdant to begin with. Bisected by the Isar River, the entire English Garden is pet-friendly and brimming with smells and sights they’ll love.
In Marienplatz, Galeria Kaufhof is an upscale shopping center with a “doggie parking area” kitted out with fresh pooch-level water fountains. And while you can count on almost every Munich restaurant with a terrace to welcome leashed pets as you dine, there’s something great about digging into typical dishes like grilled sausages and pork knuckle at the foot of the Frauenkirche at Augustiner Klosterwirt, open till midnight daily.
Secret pick: Cafe Lotti is a sweet, pet-friendly spot with outdoor tables and great kaffee und kuchen (cake and coffee), which is about as German as an eating pastime as exists.
Madrid
In Madrid, too, dogs are man’s best amigo, and you’ll likely find them gushed over with as much gusto as children are. A prime place to let your pet roam free is the lakeside setting of El Retiro Park, with off-leash hours during non-rush times in the evenings and early mornings.
Home to an amusement park and zoo, Madrid’s largest park, Casa de Campo, offers similar off-leash hours (with leashed pets always welcome). And for a stylish canine-themed café you’ll want to Instagram for all your doggie friends, hit El Perro y La Galleta, known for its dog-friendly atmosphere and decadent desserts (try the hot cookie with ice cream).
Bed down at The Westin Palace Madrid, which rolls out cozy pet beds for your four-legged friends.
Secret pick: Campus Perruno is a dog park complete with a swimming pool about 45 minutes west of central Madrid.
Costa Navarino
If beaching it with your dog is “vacation goals,” then you’ve got to get to Greece, where leashed dogs are allowed on all of the country’s divine beaches. There’s no island-hopping necessary to get some of the best beaches along the Costa Navarino, roughly three hours by car west of Athens.
A couple of Marriott properties here welcome pets and are close to fabulous beaches, so plan to settle in and stay awhile at The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino and The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa Navarino.
Secret pick: If your pet likes sporty playtime, the hike to the 13th-century Old Navarino Castle, near Messinia, takes you past two beautiful and pet-friendly beaches.
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