Can you really travel to Europe car-free – and hassle-free – with a dog?

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. I need to plan, as we’ve got a train to catch tomorrow, and another one after that, and then a couple more, because thanks to a new initiative by Byway Travel, I’ve ventured onto the continent completely car-free with canine company – something that has been a logistical nightmare until recently. open image in gallery Arty’s the king of the hill on Cote Sainte-Catherine in Rouen Travelling to Europe with a dog but without your own car isn’t as simple as hopping on the Eurostar. But Byway’s new dog-friendly, car-free, flight-free trips have opened up Europe for passengers on foot and made exploring the continent by rail a real – and enjoyable – possibility. There are rules around what you can and can’t bring into the country – meat-based dog food, for example, might be confiscated so you’ll need to switch to a vegan or insect-based alternative, such as Hownd or Grub Club – and your pet will need to have had a worming tablet given by a vet within five days of your return to the UK.