Moving a Dog or Cat from London to Athens

What information to prepare

Before you contact anyone, it helps to have the basics ready. None of this needs to be exact yet, "not sure" is a perfectly good answer on Apolo's enquiry form for most of it. Our printable planning checklist covers the same ground in more detail.

• London departure location
• Athens destination
• Desired date
• Breed
• Weight
• Age
• Pet dimensions
• Number of pets
• Owner travel plans
• Preferred travel method
• Existing documents
• Microchip and vaccination status
• Medical or behavioural needs
• Crate status
• Boarding required after arrival

Travelling with the owner versus separately

Some owners fly with their dog as accompanied baggage or in-cabin, subject to airline and size rules. Others use an arranged transport service and the pet travels separately. Which suits you depends on your own travel plans, your dog's size and temperament, and what a provider can actually offer on this specific route. There's no single right answer. It's a conversation to have with whichever provider you're introduced to.

Air versus road questions

Air is faster but has crate, documentation and airline-specific requirements. Road is sometimes preferred for larger or anxious dogs, especially when combined with a Channel crossing, but takes considerably longer. Cost, total travel time and your dog's comfort all factor into which makes sense. This is route-specific enough that it's worth discussing directly with a provider rather than assuming one option is generally better.

Comparing travel methods

Not every method below is available on every London-to-Athens booking — your provider confirms what actually applies to your dog and dates.

London departure considerations

Where in London you're departing from affects which airports and providers are realistic options. If you're travelling with your pet yourself, check your specific airline's own pet policy well before booking, policies vary between airlines and can differ from general guidance you might read online. If a provider is handling transport, they'll usually confirm departure logistics directly once they understand your route.

Athens arrival considerations

Plan what happens in the first 24 to 48 hours after landing: where you're staying, whether your accommodation is pet-ready, whether a vet check is wanted soon after arrival, and whether you'll need boarding or a dog walker while you settle in. Athens' summer heat is worth factoring into arrival-day planning, arriving pets are often tired and the midday heat is intense between roughly June and September.

Small-dog considerations

Small dogs generally have more travel options than large dogs, including in-cabin travel with some airlines, but "small" thresholds vary by airline and are usually defined by combined pet-plus-carrier weight, not just the dog's own weight. Confirm your specific airline's own limit rather than assuming a general figure applies.

Dachshund-specific questions to discuss

Because dachshunds have a long body shape, owners may wish to discuss carrier dimensions, movement space, comfort and any existing back condition with their veterinarian and transport provider. Apolo does not assess fitness to travel, and this page is not medical advice. If your dachshund has a known back or joint issue, that's worth raising with your vet specifically before booking any travel.

Crate and carrier measurements

Your provider or airline should confirm the required measuring method and crate dimensions. A crate must allow the pet to stand, turn and lie comfortably, but construction, ventilation and airline-specific requirements also apply. See our full crate sizing guide for how to measure your dog. A crate is not automatically airline-approved just because its dimensions seem to fit, so always confirm the specific crate against your airline or provider's current requirements.

Boarding after arrival

If your Athens accommodation isn't ready the moment you land, or you need a few days to sort out your new home before a pet moves in permanently, temporary boarding may help bridge the gap, subject to provider availability. See Dog Boarding in Athens, delivered by an independent provider, not Apolo directly.

Dog walking after arrival

Once you've settled in, if you're in Palaio Faliro, Alimos or Kalamaki, Apolo provides dog walking directly. See Dog Walking in Athens for pricing and details. Outside those areas, you can still ask through the same enquiry process, though an introduction depends on provider availability.

Typical cost components

Apolo does not set provider prices, and we don't publish invented price ranges. What we can tell you is what typically affects a quote: route and distance, air versus road, whether the owner travels with the pet or the pet travels separately, pet size and number of pets, crate requirements, collection and delivery, documentation support, any veterinary work needed, boarding, how urgent the move is, and seasonal airline availability. The independent provider will confirm the actual quotation directly with you.

Questions affecting a quotation

Providers will typically want to know your exact dates or date range, your pet's precise weight and crate dimensions, whether you're travelling together, and whether you need door-to-door service or are handling parts of the journey yourself. The more precisely you can answer these, the faster and more accurate a quote is likely to be.

Common causes of delay

Based on general industry patterns rather than anything specific to one provider: incomplete documentation, vaccination timing that doesn't leave enough lead time, airline-specific booking windows filling up, and crate issues discovered late are the most commonly cited causes of delay. Starting the process earlier rather than later is the simplest way to avoid most of these.

Questions to ask a provider

See our full guide: Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Pet Relocation Company, covering experience on the route, licensing and insurance, animal welfare and emergency procedures, and who's actually responsible for your pet at each stage of the journey.

How Apolo's introduction process works

• 1. Send the essentials. Tell Apolo the route, approximate timing and basic information about your pet.
• 2. Apolo reviews the request. The enquiry is checked personally so the likely support required can be understood.
• 3. Possible options are researched. Where suitable businesses may be available, Apolo identifies a possible next step.
• 4. You approve any introduction. Your personal information is not shared with a provider without the appropriate permission.
• 5. The provider confirms availability. The independent provider confirms whether it can help, explains its service and provides its own quotation.
• 6. Apolo follows up. Where an introduction is made, Apolo may follow up to help keep communication clear.

Not every enquiry reaches every step above — if no suitable option is currently available, Apolo will tell you clearly.

Official sources

Requirements change, and airline policy, provider practice and general planning advice are three different things. These are official or industry sources to confirm current requirements directly, each checked on 27 July 2026. Airline-specific policy should be confirmed with your airline directly, as it can be stricter than the general rules below.

• UK Government — Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad (Official UK legal requirement — for leaving Great Britain)
• European Commission — Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (Official EU legal requirement)
• European Commission — Travelling with a pet within the EU (Official EU legal requirement)
• Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food — Pet Animals (Relevant Greek authority)
• IATA — Live Animal Handling & Transport (Industry guidance, not a legal requirement)
• IATA — Traveler's Pet Corner (Industry guidance, not a legal requirement)

Frequently asked questions