Dog Friendly Holidays To France – The French are known for their love of dogs. So it’s no surprise that France is a popular destination for people traveling with their dogs from across the UK Channel or further afield.
But despite its reputation, France is not the most dog-friendly country we’ve visited in Europe. Your dog usually congratulates you when you win or eat at a cafe
Dog Friendly Holidays To France
Within France, there are some places where dogs are strictly prohibited (mainly manicured parks) or technically not allowed (there was a case of large dogs in the Paris metro until recently, but luckily common sense prevailed ).
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So, if you’re traveling to France with your dog, read on to find out about traveling with dogs in France.
Bringing your dog to France is relatively easy. The same rules apply to dogs visiting France as dogs traveling to other EU countries (usually microchipped and vaccinated against rabies and wait at least 21 days). Additionally, an EU pet health certificate or EU pet passport is required for those traveling from elsewhere in the EU, although the latter is usually checked when crossing the border into France.
Please note that there may be restrictions on certain “dangerous” dog breeds visiting France – see note at the end of this article.
For more information on how to bring your dog to France from the UK, US or other EU countries, read my full guide with transport tips. I’ve also put together a comprehensive guide to UK to France ferries and their pet facilities.
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In France, most restaurants and cafes allow dogs to join the dining area on the terrace or outside. If you want to eat inside with your dog, politely ask first (unless you see other dogs eating). If it’s sunny or your dog is well-behaved, sitting outside on a regular, large patio will work best.
In three visits to France, only once was our dog not allowed to sit outside (or even inside!) a grill shop in Strasbourg.
While traveling in France, we often make use of the inexpensive lunch menus available at many of the country’s restaurants. At lunch, we usually buy delicious baguette sandwiches from some great French bakeries.
In addition to bakeries in the city center, there are large bakeries with parking in the suburbs of large cities. It’s like a fast food French restaurant! Most of these bakeries don’t allow dogs, but we found one exception.
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The Boulangeries Feuillette chain has many branches in central France, including the Loire Valley. It’s a bit more expensive than other parks, but most have outdoor and indoor seating (usually with comfy couches and fireplaces!) and our dog was allowed to join us at some branches. It’s also a great place for coffee and pastries. (Check again if it’s still there.)
If you are shopping with your dog, it is better to visit the small shops on the streets and pedestrian areas. Some shopping centers in France allow dogs, but not all. Of course, dogs are not allowed in supermarkets.
This is an area of France that, although the situation has improved, is not as dog-friendly as the rest of Europe.
In Paris, small dogs travel free on all public transport (bus, metro, RER (train), tram, funicular) but must be carried in a bag or container larger than 45 cm. However, in reality they are really small and I believe if they don’t bother you, you can travel with them without a bag.
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Once we traveled with our dogs on the subway like this, we found other small dogs on our laps and no problem. Large dogs are only allowed on the metro and RER (train), not buses or trams, and must be on a leash and muzzled, but no ticket is required. Click here to view the complete rules.
For other French cities, the rules are different – there is no single answer to the question of whether dogs are allowed on buses in France. In some cities, only small dogs in bags or baskets are allowed on public transport. This is stated in the policies of Marseille and Lyon (at the time of our visit in 2018). In this case, these little dogs travel for free.
In contrast, Bordeaux (Only France) has no such restriction and only dogs must be carried on a leash or in a basket. Large dogs require a ticket, while small dogs are tax-free in carriers.
The rules include some terms that the dog does not cause any inconvenience or disturbance to other passengers. If your dog is also a “dangerous” breed (see note above), they are not allowed on public transport.
Travelling With Dogs
If you are traveling by long-distance train, the rules are more flexible. Yes, dogs of any size are allowed on trains in France, except Eurostar to London. See, for example, the SNCF pet policy.
Ideally, small pets weighing more than 10kg, measuring less than 45cm x 30cm x 25cm, should be carried on your lap or in your pet carrier. Large dogs should be turned, posed and walked.
A fixed fee of 7 euros is charged for small and large dogs. The only exceptions are TGV Liria, TGV France-Germany, TGV France-Italy, TGV France-Spain and TGV France-Brussels (but not TGV France-Luxembourg or TGV France-Freiburg) which have a higher fee of €20. big dogs
Large dogs get 50% of the 2nd class fare on most trains, but this no longer applies. In addition, it is forbidden to bring pets in train carriages.
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If you bought tickets online through a ticketing site that doesn’t have a pet ticket option, go to the ticket office before you travel and buy an extra ticket for your dog.
In campsites (according to my research in 2018, 50% of hotels in Nice and 37% of hotels in Paris allow dogs.)
If you’re traveling, we’ve found suburban hotel chains that are extremely affordable and reliable, and they’re dog-friendly. These include chains such as Ibis, B&B and Campanile.
Usually the price per night without breakfast is around 50€ and for dogs there is an extra charge of 5-10€. On the other hand, many luxury hotels accept dogs and treat them for a price.
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Among the things that can be booked through Airbnb, we noticed that linens (sheets, towels) are often not included or charged extra for the rental. If you don’t have your own linens and towels, keep this in mind and double-check the details, as you may be in for a surprise when you go to check out.
Compared to other European countries, dogs are banned in France, especially in Paris parks. When we last stayed in an apartment in Paris, there were two parks on the same street and both had a clear sign at the entrance saying no dogs allowed!
However, there are dog-friendly parks, including in Paris. If you are having trouble finding accommodation, ask your accommodation provider or search online. Additionally, in January 2019 (after my last visit), many city parks in Paris changed their rules to allow dogs. Dogs are still required to be leashed in these parks, except for parks with playgrounds.
Your dog may not get a chance to visit the Louvre or climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but there are plenty of dog-friendly places in France that you can visit with your dog. However, we discovered France. The country should review the regulations of each tourist destination.
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Do you want to visit the famous castle with your dog? Many people in the Loire Valley allow dogs indoors, and Chenonceau allows small dogs indoors. However, Versailles dogs like the Fontainebleau are not allowed in the official gardens.
Keep in mind that France is not the best place for a beach trip with your dog, at least in the warmer months. In the summer, from mid-June to the end of September, dogs are not allowed on most beaches, and some of the only beaches that allow dogs are allowed before 8am and after 8pm.
To save you some research, I’ve compiled a list of the best places to visit in France with dogs, covering almost every corner of the country.
A walk along the banks of the Seine in Paris is one of the most beautiful walks in the world. From the medieval Île de la Cité (House of Notre Dame) to the park
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