Dog Friendly Holidays To France – The French have a reputation for loving their dogs. So it’s no surprise that France is a popular destination for people traveling with their dogs from across the Channel in England or further afield.
But despite that reputation, France isn’t the most dog-friendly country we’ve visited in Europe. When you win or eat in a cafe, your dog is usually by your side
Dog Friendly Holidays To France
Inside France, there are places where dogs are strictly prohibited (mainly well-kept parks) or technically not allowed (although until recently that was the case for large dogs in the Paris metro, fortunately sensitivity prevailed).
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So if you’re traveling to France with your dog, read up on the details for traveling with dogs in France.
Taking your dog to France is very easy. The same rules apply to dogs traveling to France and dogs traveling to the rest of the EU (usually a microchip, rabies vaccination and a minimum waiting period of 21 days). In addition, an EU animal health certificate or an EU animal passport is required for those traveling from elsewhere in the EU, although in the latter case it is usually checked when crossing the French border.
Please note that restrictions may apply to certain “dangerous” dog breeds traveling to France – see the notes at the end of this article.
For details on how to bring your dog to France from the UK, US or other EU countries, read my full guide, including transport advice. I’ve also put together a detailed guide to UK ferries to France and their pet facilities.
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In France, most restaurants and cafes allow dogs to join the dining room, inside and outside on the terrace. If you want to eat with your dog, ask first (unless you see another dog eating inside). And if it’s sunny or your dog isn’t behaving, it’s usually more polite to sit out on the large porch.
During three visits to France, our dog was not allowed once: to sit outside (not inside!) a bar in Strasbourg.
When traveling in France, we often take advantage of the cheap lunch menu available in many restaurants in our country. At lunchtime we often buy delicious baguette sandwiches from wonderful French bakeries.
In addition to bakeries in the city center, there are usually large bakeries with parking spaces on the outskirts of big cities, like the French equivalent of fast food restaurants! Although many of these bakeries do not allow dogs inside, we found an exception.
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The Boulangeries Feuillette chain has several branches in central France, including the Loire Valley. Although a bit more expensive than other boulangeries, it usually has outdoor and indoor seating (often with comfy sofas and fireplaces!), and our dogs are allowed to join us in some branches. It is also a great place to enjoy coffee and pastries. (Double check that this is still the case.)
If you are shopping with your dog, it is best to visit the small shops on the streets and pedestrian streets. Some shopping malls allow dogs in France, but not all. Of course, dogs are not allowed in supermarkets.
Although this situation has improved, France is an area that is not as dog-friendly as other European countries.
In Paris, small dogs are allowed free of charge on all forms of public transport (bus, metro, RER (train), tram and funicular), but they may be carried in a bag or container no larger than 45 cm. However, I think in practice you can go and travel with them on your lap without a bag if they are small and not annoying.
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We have traveled this way on the subway with our dog on occasion and seen other small dogs in laps with no problem. Larger dogs are only allowed on the metro and RER (trains), not on buses or trams, they must be leashed and muzzled, but no ticket is required anymore. Click here for full rules.
The rules for other cities in France are different – there is no 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 rules for Marseille and Lyon (on our trip in 2018). In this case, this little dog travels for free.
On the contrary, for Bordeaux (only in French) there is no such restriction, the rules only say that dogs must be tied or kept in a basket. Larger dogs require a ticket, while smaller dogs in carriers are exempt.
The rules usually include certain conditions where dogs cannot cause confusion or inconvenience to other passengers. If your dog is also classified as a “dangerous” dog breed (see note above), they are usually not allowed on public transport either.
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If you travel by long-distance train, the rules apply. Yes, dogs of all sizes are allowed on trains in France except Eurostar to London. See, for example, SNCF’s pet policy.
Small animals, preferably weighing no more than 10kg, must be carried on your lap or in a pet carrier smaller than 45cm x 30cm x 25cm at your expense. Larger dogs must have a muzzle and walk on their feet.
A fixed fee of 7 euros is charged for small and large dogs. An exception is TGV Lyria, TGV France-Germany, TGV France-Italy, TGV France-Spain and TGV France-Brussels (but not TGV France-Luxembourg and France-Freiburg), where a higher fee of €20 is charged. big dog
Larger dogs are charged 50% of the 2nd class fare on most trains, but this no longer applies. In addition, it should be noted that pets are not allowed to board the railway carriages.
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If you purchased your ticket online through a ticketing site that does not have a pet ticket option, please stop by the ticket office before your trip and allow your dog time to purchase an additional ticket.
To camp (In my 2018 survey, 50% of hotels in Nice and 37% of hotels in Paris allow dogs.)
If you’re traveling, we’ve found that many chain hotels in the suburbs are very affordable and reliable, and also dog-friendly. These include the Ibis, B&B and Campanile chains.
The price is usually around 50 euros per night, excluding breakfast, with an extra charge of around 5-10 euros for dogs. On the other hand, many luxury hotels also welcome dogs and will of course be ready to treat them.
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, including those that can be booked through Airbnb, we have noticed that linen (sheets and towels) are often not included or there is an additional cost to rent them. If you are not traveling with your own sheets and towels, keep this in mind and double-check the details, otherwise you may be in for a surprise when you check out.
Compared to other European countries, dogs are not allowed in parks in France, especially in Paris. The last time we lived in an apartment in Paris there were two parks on the same street – both with clear no dogs signs at the entrance!
However, there are dog parks, for example in Paris. If you have trouble finding one, ask where you live or search online. In January 2019 (since my last visit) many city parks in Paris changed their rules to allow dogs. Dogs must be leashed in this park, and parks with playgrounds are not included.
Even if your dog isn’t allowed to visit the Louvre or climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris, there are plenty of dog-friendly attractions in France that you can take your dog with you. But we found that France is there. countries where you should check the regulations for each tourist destination.
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Do you want to visit the famous castle with your dog? Most people in the Loire Valley allow dogs on their premises, and Chenonceau even allows small dogs to be brought inside. But in Versailles, dogs are not allowed in the official gardens, as they are in Fontainebleau.
Be aware that France is not the best place to visit the beach with your dog, at least during the warmer months. During the summer, from mid-June to the end of September, most beaches do not allow dogs, and some of the only beaches that do allow dogs limit them to 8:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m.
To save you some research, I’ve compiled a list of the best places to visit in France with your dog, covering every corner of the country.
One of the most beautiful streets anywhere in the world is a walk along the River Seine in Paris. From the medieval Île de la Cite (House of Notre Dame) to the park
