Pet-friendly tourism in Spain: medium-sized cities gain ground
Medium-sized cities stand out for their higher share of pet-friendly hotels
Traveling with pets is reshaping how destinations are chosen in Spain. The question is no longer just where to go, but also where you can stay without leaving your companion behind. During long weekends, weekends and summer holidays, this factor can tip the balance between one city and another, especially when the hotel serves as a comfortable base to explore the destination and a cool refuge during the hottest days. The PriceLabs study "The Spanish cities where it is easiest to find a pet-friendly hotel" ranks Cuenca, Chiclana de la Frontera, San Fernando, Zaragoza and Gandía as the destinations with the highest share of pet-friendly hotels. The ranking is dominated by medium-sized towns, featuring a strong Andalusian presence, while major capitals rank far lower. The results are based on hotel listings on Booking.com, focusing exclusively on hotels and excluding vacation rentals and other types of lodging. The study covers Spanish cities with populations over 50,000 that have enough accommodation options to ensure reliable statistics, ranking destinations by the percentage of hotels that allow pets out of the total surveyed. The data was collected in June 2026. Cuenca tops the ranking, with more than half of the hotels listed on Booking.com welcoming pets, making it the only city among those analyzed to reach this level. Its compact size makes exploring the historic center easy without long walks, while the Hanging Houses and the Huécar Gorge enrich an urban experience where visitors can freely roam much of the center alongside their pets.
Chiclana de la Frontera takes second place, marking a strong Cádiz representation among the top rankings. This town combines the stunning Barrosa Beach, boasting over seven kilometers of sandy shores, with nearby trails through pine forests and dunes. San Fernando, ranked third, boasts the wonderful surroundings of Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park, where marshes, salt flats and dunes invite leisurely walks with pets, always on a leash. Zaragoza stands out as the main exception among the larger cities. With over one-third of its hotels welcoming pets and nearly 700,000 residents, it is the only city with more than half a million inhabitants to rank within the top five. The José Antonio Labordeta Grand Park features designated off-leash areas for dogs, while the Luis Buñuel Water Park includes a dedicated space for canine recreation and training. Gandía completes the main group. Its appeal includes over seven kilometers of coastline, a historic center dominated by the Ducal Palace of the Borja family, and l’Ahuir Beach, home to the canine-friendly area known as Playa Can. This combination allows visitors to alternate between urban strolls, cultural heritage and seaside relaxation without leaving their pets behind for much of the day. The ranking reveals that medium-sized cities are embracing pet-friendly policies with greater flexibility than many major capitals. Seven of the top ten spots belong to towns with fewer than 250,000 residents. Madrid records 18% of hotels accepting pets; Barcelona, 20.3%; Valencia, 23%; and Bilbao, 18.6% —figures notably lower than those for Cuenca, Chiclana de la Frontera or San Fernando. Andalusia strengthens its presence with Chiclana de la Frontera, San Fernando, El Puerto de Santa María and Roquetas de Mar ranking among the top fifteen destinations. In Almería province, extended analysis places Níjar at the forefront with 49.1%, followed by Vera at 43.5% and Mojácar at 35%. Roquetas de Mar hits 30.7% and the city of Almería 26.5%, with seven municipalities in the province, surpasses the 25% mark.