Bringing your dog with you on your family holiday to France is a no brainer for most families; he or she is a vital part of the family and must be included! However, we’ll be honest here, if you are planning a beach holiday to France there’s a bit of research to do as dog friendly beaches are somewhat rare.

Most beaches in France are closed to dogs during the main summer months, although if you like your early morning sunrise walks you’ll probably be ok. Some regions are excellent for dog friendly beach holidays, such as Alpes Maritimes, Var, Pyrénées-Orientales, Normandy and parts of Brittany but in other regions you will struggle such as Pyrenees-Atlantiques region (no dog friendly beach), the Bouches du Rhône region (only one beach) or the Hérault region where there is a sandy coast with only two dog friendly beaches.

In seaside resorts where dogs are not allowed, it is possible to go on a private beach; some of them are dog friendly (even if it is prohibited on the public beach).

Dog friendly beaches in Northern France

Here are some towns and areas with dog-friendly beaches you may want to visit in north France. Please always check signage on your arrival at the beach to check that dogs are not ‘interdit’ (forbidden).

Wissant, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-FranceWissant is a small town just 25 minutes’ drive away from Calais with three beaches. The one worth sniffing out is Plage Dune d’Aval, as the local government permits dogs all year round. Le Touquet, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France. Just an hour’s drive away from Calais is a town known as ‘Paris-on-Sea’, Le Touquet. This pretty seaside town has two beaches, Plage Nord and Plage des Dunes which allow dogs all year round.

Beaches of the ‘Opal Coast’ – towards the Belgian Border

The beaches of the ‘Opal Coast’ stretch for around 10 miles along the coast just north of Dunkirk up to – and past – the Belgian border.

Dog friendly beaches in Normandy

Le Tilleul, Normandy

A 2-hour-and-45-minute drive from Calais, Le Tilleul is home to a large stretch of coast. Plage d’Antifer is the dog friendly beach here but dogs must be kept on a lead here. Vierville-sur-mer, Calvados, Normandy Vierville-sur-mer is a village located just 20 miles from Bayeux and is where you’ll find the dog-friendly Omaha Beach, a stunning 2.5km stretch of white sand supervised during the summer months. Walk to the east of the beach to find monuments commemorating the Allied landing on June 6th 1944. Dogs are allowed on a lead here, all year round.

Dog friendly beaches in Brittany

Santec, Brittany

For a dog friendly beach in Brittany head to the Santec region where beaches are dog-friendly as long as they are kept on a lead. It’s generally best to pick quieter stretches of coast, and Plouharnel, in the south of Brittany is a safe bet.For a comprehensive list of dog friendly beaches in France, we have found this website useful: https://en.plages.tv/dogs/l-france

Need more information before you travel – Check out our other Dog Friendly France Guides

🐾Planning your trip?
Use our Travel Checklist on what you need to do before travelling with your Dog to France

🐶 Planning your dog friendly journey.

Use our guide to Dog Friendly Travel between the UK and France to make your journey smooth and stress-free.

🏡 Need a place to stay?
Book one of our Dog Friendly Rentals throughout France and enjoy a comfortable stay with your pup.

🏖️ What dog does not enjoy the beach?

Check out our Dog Friendly Beach Guide to make sandy memories.

🧳 Want to be fully prepared?
Learn some top Dog Friendly Tips in France so you and your four-legged companion have the best trip