If you happen to be on the French Riviera with your four-legged pet in the summer, you will be happy to know that there are a few dog-friendly beaches. (During low season there are even more beaches open to dogs.)
Beaches that allow dogs near Antibes and Cannes
Antibes’ and Cannes’ nearest pet-friendly beach just opened last year and is located in Golfe Juan next to the Pont de l’Aube. You will come across another one east of the towns in Villeneuve-Loubet (Plage de Vaugrenier, dogs on a leash only), but it is a pebble beach.
More dog-friendly beaches
These are the other coastal towns along the Côte d’Azur, from Cannes to Menton, where you can bring your pet for a walk, or a refreshing swim in the heat of summer:
- Cagnes-sur-Mer (Plage de l’Hippodrome, dogs on a leash only),
- Saint-Laurent du Var (Plage des Vespins-Plage du Port),
- Nice (Plage de la Lanterne and Plage de Lenval, see details below)
- Cap d’Ail (Plage de la Pointe des Douaniers),
- Villefranche-sur-Mer (Plage de l’Ange Gardien),
- Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat (Plage Cros deï Pin, dogs on a leash only but also allowed in the sea)
- Roquebrune-Cap Martin (Plage du Golfe Bleu), and
- Menton (Plage du Casino and Plage d’Hawaï, dogs on a leash only).
In Nice, the Plage de la Lanterne and the Plage de Lenval on the Promenade des Anglais, were designed especially with our four legged friends in mind. As soon as you spot two quirky sculptures of dogs, one perched up high, start looking for a parking space.
These represent Nice’s mascot Totor the dog, one of him surfing, the other as a lifeguard on duty. They mark the beginning and the end of the pet-friendly zone and are the work of local visual artist Stéphane Bolongaro who used his mother’s Jack Russell as inspiration.
Please note that only dogs belonging to category 3 are permitted to run freely and swim in the ocean, with other breeds subject to restrictions.
Visit https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1839?lang=en
Dog-friendly islands!
Finally, if your dog doesn’t suffer from sea sickness, you can take it on a boat trip from Golfe-Juan or Cannes to either Ile Ste Marguerite or Ile St Honorat. Surprisingly, both Lérins Islands (Iles de Lérins) allow dogs to explore all their secluded beaches and rocky coves. Just make sure you keep them on a lead when you’re on land.
Private beaches
The good news for pet owners is that many of the private beaches (like Plage Royale and Plage Keller in Antibes) do allow dogs, so if you’ve booked a sun mattress for the day, it’s worth phoning to check if your dog is welcome too.
