Slovenia
Lake Bled and Vintgar Gorge with a Dog
Lake Bled and Vintgar Gorge with Atena: the places we explored, where dogs are welcome and the access rules worth checking before you go.
A way of travelling
Travelling with a dog
Atena, my medium-sized Spanish greyhound, joins me on trips through towns, cities and walking trails whenever travelling with her is safe. Having her with me changes the way I plan: I need to know where she is welcome, how we can get around and which alternatives to consider when a visit is not suitable for her.
Here I share the trips we have taken together and the on-the-ground checks that have genuinely helped me plan them.
How I plan a trip with my dog
Travelling with a dog calls for a few extra checks. I follow the same sequence each time: it helps me avoid surprises on arrival while leaving room to change the plan.
- 1
I choose stops with Atena in mind
Before deciding where to go, I consider distances, the pace of each day and the temperature. I look for walks and activities Atena can enjoy without becoming overtired, and avoid long journeys or the hottest hours whenever possible.
- distances
- pace
- temperature
- 2
I check transport and access rules
I look at how we will reach each stop, whether by train, bus or local transport, and check the rules that apply to dogs. I also check attractions, walking trails and museums individually, because access conditions can vary from one place to the next.
- trains
- buses
- access
- 3
I confirm accommodation and travel documents
I check whether a place genuinely accepts dogs and ask about any extra charges or size restrictions. When a journey crosses a border, I also check which pet travel documents and vaccinations apply to the route and the country we are travelling from.
- accommodation
- documents
- borders
- 4
I plan alternatives
Some places are simply not suitable for Atena. Before leaving, I decide what can be changed, what can be replaced and when it makes more sense to skip a stop altogether.
- alternatives
- what to skip
- flexibility
A good place to start
Slovenia with a Dog: Our 5-Day Road Trip Itinerary
Five days travelling with Atena through Lake Bled, Ljubljana and eastern Slovenia. The itinerary covers the places we visited, the access rules we checked and what changed when a planned stop was not suitable for her.
Explore the Slovenia itinerary →
Dog-friendly itineraries and travel experiences
Trips and practical choices shaped by travelling with Atena, including the times when staying flexible made all the difference.
How Atena became my travel companion
Atena is a Spanish galga, or Spanish greyhound, adopted through SOS Levrieri. We first saw her photograph on Facebook while planning our first trip to the United States. Her name at the time was America, and the coincidence immediately caught our attention.
A serious illness delayed her arrival for several months. By the time she finally reached us after a long journey, we had already chosen her new name: Atena.
She now joins us whenever a trip is suitable, from restaurant outings to holidays, and stays with family in the countryside when we travel by plane. Gentle and reserved, she moves quietly through unfamiliar places and can lead you straight to the kitchen the moment she smells bread.
The access checks, alternative plans and occasional changes of direction on these pages all begin with her.
