Italy is making travel easier for dog owners with a new initiative that allows visitors to explore museums while their pets are cared for by professional dog sitters.
Launched as part of the Dogs & Museum project, this free service will be available at select museum entrances. It will ensure that travelers no longer have to choose between cultural experiences and their four-legged companions.
The service, organized by Bauadvisor, aims to promote pet-friendly tourism while enhancing accessibility to Italy’s cultural heritage. Tourists can drop off their dogs at designated daycare areas, where trained professionals will provide walks, water, and personalized care during the museum visit.
A Traveling Tour of Pet-Friendly Museums
Rather than being a permanent fixture, the program will operate as a Dogs & Museum Road Show, touring 54 Italian cities from January 2025 to April 2026. The initiative will stop in 15 key destinations, including Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan, and Naples.
Major museums such as the Uffizi Gallery, MAXXI (National Museum of 21st Century Art), and Castel Sant’Angelo will participate.
To ensure availability, visitors must book the service in advance through the Bauadvisor website or app. Caretakers, easily identifiable by their special harnesses, supervise the dogs in designated rest areas where they can socialize with other pets.
Enhancing Pet-Friendly Tourism in Italy
With approximately 8.8 million pet dogs in Italy, the service responds to a growing demand for inclusive travel options. Many dog owners avoid visiting museums or leave their pets behind when traveling.
This initiative aims to bridge the gap between cultural exploration and responsible pet ownership, allowing tourists to fully enjoy Italy’s world-famous museums without the stress of leaving their pets alone.
Italy continues to reinforce its position as a leading pet-friendly destination, welcoming over 62 million tourists in 2024. Venice, one of the most involved cities in the project, has already seen record demand for dog daycare services at the entrances of its Civic Museums, demonstrating the success of such initiatives.
With this groundbreaking approach, Italy is paving the way for a more inclusive travel experience—one where both humans and their furry companions can enjoy the journey.
