Places to Visit in France with Dogs & Is It Dog-Friendly?

France is a great place to visit with a dog. It is a beautiful country with plenty to see, some of which are dog-friendly. The cuisine and wine are rather nice too; thus, France is a great country for food lovers.

In my time in France with Henry, I have found many places to be pet-friendly. Restaurants, cafes, and bars allow dogs inside; if not, they often have outdoor seating.

Tried & Tested Places to Visit In France With a Dog

Dieppe On The Normandy Coast

The town of Dieppe is on the Normandy coast. It is a beautiful place with distinctive white cliffs. The beach is somewhat dog-friendly. They have designated areas for dog walking in peak season, but from mid-September until June, it’s a free-for-all. The clifftops near the harbour are an excellent place for evening walkies and a top location for watching the sunset.

Dieppe is a great place to dine out with or without your four-legged friend. Most menus are rich in seafood cooked the local way. Many eateries here specialise in fruit de mer platters, which are great for sharing.

The town also has many historical sites to visit, including a castle, many churches and an interesting tower. You can learn more about the area’s history at the local museums. The weekly market is a fantastic place to visit and buy some local produce. This is one of the best markets in the whole of France.

Rouen: A Historic City in the Normandy Region

Rouen is a big city in the Normandy region of France, and on the banks of the famous River Seine. It has many historical sites for visitors to see while on a dog walk. The cathedral is a fantastic sight both from the outside and when visiting the inside. During the summer months, there is a spectacular light show projected on the front of the building.

Other tourist attractions include galleries and museums, many of which feature the local hero Joan of Arc. This is a fantastic place to visit to learn about France’s history. There are also many churches and an abbey to visit. Dining out and visiting the bars of Rouen was simple with Henry. Most are pretty pet-friendly. There are loads of cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy some local cuisine.

Colmar: A Fairytale Place To Visit

The first time you visit Colmar, you might think you have woken up in a fairytale. The place is absolutely gorgeous, with lots of colourful historic buildings. There are historic buildings to visit, as well as gorgeous countryside and parks for dog walking.

Petite Venise is an iconic section of Colmar; however, it gets busy. Taking an early-morning walk can prove fruitful, with hardly anyone about, and is great for photography. Finding pet-friendly self-catering accommodation was straightforward, with plenty of options. Many didn’t have extra charges for pets during our search. Bars were all welcoming to dogs when we visited, and Henry was often offered water.

Kaysersberg: A Great Place For Wine Lovers

The small town of Kaysersberg in France is like Colmar, with vineyards on its doorstep for a dog walk. There are many historic buildings to see and beautiful countryside to explore. Wine is the prime attraction of Kaysersberg, and there are lots of opportunities to enjoy some. Henry also enjoyed visiting wine producers and watching us do some tasting.

Again, we visited bars and a restaurant without the dog being an issue. Many others we passed had canine customers relaxing while people dined out.

Paris

The capital of France is very popular with tourists and offers many wonderful attractions. We have only passed through the city with Henry, our dog, and found it to be very pet-friendly.

Public transportation and all cafes we visited allowed pets without issue. We found the people we met to be friendly because of the dog. Visiting the key sites in Paris and exploring parks with Henry is on the agenda for a future trip.

Travelling to France With a Dog From the UK

Getting to France with a dog is pretty straightforward if you are getting a ferry or the Channel Tunnel with a car. However, if you are a foot passenger, your options are rather limited. The Newhaven to Dieppe ferry is your only option. It is a lovely crossing with three time options. From there, you can travel onwards by train, often via Paris.

How To Find Pet-Friendly Hotels & Accommodation?

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Finding pet-friendly hotels, apartments and hostels is pretty straightforward in France. You can use either Airbnb or Booking.com to find accommodation to suit your needs. Both have a pets-allowed filter, making it very simple. Some places charge extra for those staying with dogs. You often have to message the property to find out the charges beforehand.

Using Public Transport

The rules on public transport are a bit confusing in France. We were prepared and had a pet carrier to put the dog in while on trains. However, many train conductors were fine without this. For longer trips, we settled Henry into the carrier with his bed, toys, and water.

We didn’t get many buses; however, for those we did, the drivers just waved him on. Apparently, many forms of public transport charge half fare if not in a carrier.

Dining Out

I found that most restaurants, bars and cafes in France are pet-friendly. They either let dogs inside or have covered outside seating areas. Those we visited often had dedicated water bowls or offered one while fussing over the dog.

Is France Dog Friendly?

I thoroughly enjoyed travelling in France with the dog and found it pretty simple and hassle-free. Many others seemed to be out and about enjoying the places we visited with their dogs, too. France has many attractions, some of which are also pet-friendly. The food, cider and wines were fantastic on our trips to France. Overall, it is a great country to visit with dogs.