Travelling with pets
Information about taking pets on trains.
Passengers can take pets that do not offer any danger, as long as they are in an appropriate container that can be carried as hand luggage.
Dangerous pats are not allowed, as are those in poor health, that smell bad, or that disturb other passengers due o their noise or size, in a precarious state of health or hygiene, as well as those that, due to their smell, noise or other objectively relevant reason, such as their size, may disturb passengers.
Passengers must look after their pets and are liable for any damage they cause.
The following conditions are only guaranteed in normal traffic conditions, excluding replacement bus services or other situations that may limit the provision of the animal transport service, except for guide dogs.
Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra urban trains / Alfa Pendular / Intercidades / InterRegional / Regional
Pets are carried for free if they are in an appropriate container that can be carried as hand luggage. Each passenger can only take one pet.
Celta
One pet of up to 10kg can be carried per passenger in an appropriate container, with a device to store and remove waste. The container must not exceed 60X35X35 cm (which may be carried as hand luggage). Pets are carried for free.
Dogs can be taken without being in a transporter box (only one per passenger) if the owner buys a ticket for them depending on the train, as shown below:
- Alfa Pendular and Intercidades: full-price ticket (only on sale from ticket offices);
- Regional and InterRegional: half-price ticket (only on sale from ticket offices).
On the Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra urban trains, the dogs travel for free.
In these conditions, the dog has to have a muzzle and be on a short leash, and the owner must have the animal's vaccination card and a valid licence. So as not to bother other passengers, the dog must stay on the floor.
Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra urban trains / Alfa Pendular / Intercidades / InterRegional / Regional
Assistance dogs accompanying a disabled person travel for free as long as the applicable legal provisions are complied with under Decree-Law no. 74/2007 of 27 March.
Celta
Dogs accompanying blind people travel free of charge. Dogs must be kept on a short leash and accompanied by the respective up-to-date vaccination booklet and municipal licence.
Small pets can be carried if the animal is in an appropriate container that can be taken as hand luggage (article 3(c)...that is resistant, washable, easy to disinfect and watertight, to avoid soiling the train") and is healthy and hygienic, as stipulated in Order 968/2009.
Pet animals cannot travel on train seats (Order 968/2009, article 2(3).
Owners are responsible for the animal's container at all times.
Assistance dogs accompanying persons with reduced mobility travel for free and are not required to be muzzled under Decree-law no. 74/2007 of 27 March.
Portuguese law (Government order 422/2004 of 24 April), considers the following breeds as potentially dangerous:
- Fila Brasileiro
- Dogo Argentino
- Pit bull terrier
- Rottweiler
- American Staffordshire terrier
- Staffordshire bull terrier
- Tosa inu
