Madrid with a Dog: Metro, Buses, Terraces and Parks

Yes, you can visit Madrid with a dog, but with precise rules: on the metro you need a muzzle, a lead of 50 cm at most and the last carriage, and access is banned at weekday rush hours; on buses the dog must be in a carrier; in parks it must stay on a lead outside the permitted hours and areas. Terraces often accept dogs, but each venue decides. Rules checked in October 2026 on the Madrid tourist office website; they may change, so check with the operator.

Metro

The Retiro's large pond, a walk to take with a dog

Dogs are admitted on the Madrid metro under conditions:

Banned hours: 7.30am to 9.30am, 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm (weekday rush hours). During these periods access is refused.
Free access in July and August, at weekends and on public holidays (see public holidays in Madrid).
One dog per traveller, muzzle compulsory, lead of 50 cm at most.
In the last carriage, without taking a seat, and no escalators or moving walkways.

For the rest of the network, see transport in Madrid.

Buses, trains and taxis

Buses: the dog must travel in a suitable carrier, without disturbing or endangering other passengers.
Cercanías (suburban trains): muzzle and a non-extendable lead of 1.5 m at most; one animal per traveller.
High-speed trains: Renfe offers a pet service on some routes, such as Madrid-Barcelona and Madrid-Valencia, for dogs up to 40 kg; book and read the conditions when you buy.
Taxis: most accept a dog in a carrier if you warn them in advance; specialised services also exist (Mascotaxi, My Animal Car).

Parks and streets

In the street and in parks, the dog must be held by a lead or a strong cord that lets you control it, with a muzzle if its breed requires one. According to the tourist office, dogs may be let off the lead from 7pm to 10am in winter and from 8pm to 10am in summer, except in children's areas and where it is banned. Madrid has more than 100 dog areas, including in the Retiro and the Juan Carlos I park (agility, fountains). For long walks, see also the Casa de Campo and Madrid Río; not every park admits dogs on the same terms: read the signs at the entrance. See also the most beautiful parks in Madrid.

Restaurants, terraces and markets

The law does not open restaurants to dogs: the owner decides. More and more venues accept them and terraces are generally welcoming. The tourist office cites the San Antón market, for example. Always ask before sitting down, and keep your dog at your feet. For museums and monuments, check each one's website: we have no general rule to give you.

Hotels

Several hotels accept pets, sometimes for a supplement: mention it when you book. The tourist office cites the Petit Palace chain for its services for animals. See where to stay in Madrid.

Before the trip

To enter Spain with a dog from another European Union country, you generally need electronic microchip identification and an up-to-date rabies vaccination with the required health documents; outside the EU the rules are stricter. These conditions change: check them with the authorities of your country and the carrier before leaving. Madrid has 24-hour vets.

Summary table

Where	Rule
Metro	Muzzle, 50 cm lead, last carriage, not at weekday rush hours
Bus	Carrier
Cercanías	Muzzle, non-extendable 1.5 m lead
Parks	On a lead, off it at permitted hours and areas
Terraces and restaurants	Up to each venue
Museums	Varies: see each venue's website