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Dog Friendly Holidays To France – The French are famous for their love of dogs. It’s no surprise, then, that France is a popular destination for people traveling with dogs, both from the English Channel and further afield.
But despite its reputation, France is not the most dog-friendly country we’ve visited in Europe. Your dog is usually welcomed by your side when you drink wine or eat food in a cafe.
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Inside, there are places where dogs are strictly prohibited (mainly well-kept parks) or technically not allowed (although luckily the sentiment prevails, with the Paris metro allowing large dogs until recently).
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So, if you are going to France with your dog, read on to learn more about how to travel to France with your dog.
Having a dog in France is relatively easy. The same rules apply to dogs visiting France as to dogs traveling to the rest of the EU (usually microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and waiting at least 21 days). You will also need an EU Animal Health Certificate or an EU Animal Passport if you are traveling from other parts of the EU. The latter is usually checked when crossing the border into France.
Restrictions may apply to certain “dangerous” dog breeds visiting France. Please see the notes at the end of this post.
For more information on taking your dog to France from the UK, US or the rest of the EU, read our full guide, including transport tips. We’ve also put together a comprehensive guide to ferries and pet facilities from the UK to France.
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In France, many restaurants and cafes allow dogs to eat on the terrace and outside. If you want to eat inside with your dog, it is polite to ask first (unless you see other dogs eating inside). And if the weather is sunny or your dog is not well behaved, it is usually more polite to sit on the large terrace.
In more than three visits to France, there was only one time that our dogs were not allowed. Sitting outside (and inside!) a kebab shop in Strasbourg.
While traveling in France, we often take advantage of the prix fixe lunch menus found in many restaurants around the country. Or at lunch I often buy delicious baguettes from a nice French bakery.
In addition to bakeries in city centers, there are usually larger bakeries on the outskirts of big cities, complete with parking lots, like French bakeries taking the place of fast food! Most bakeries do not allow dogs inside, but 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 bakeries, they usually had outdoor and indoor seating (often complete with cozy couches and fireplaces!), and our dog was able to join us at several points. It’s also a great place to enjoy coffee and pastries. (Check to see if this is still true.)
If you go shopping with your dog, the best option is to visit small shops in the streets and pedestrian areas. Some shopping malls in France allow dogs, but not all. Of course, dogs are not allowed in supermarkets.
This is a region where France used to be not as friendly to dogs as other countries in Europe, but the situation is getting better.
In Paris, small dogs can ride for free on all forms of public transport (bus, metro, RER (train), tram, funicular), but must be transported in bags or containers no larger than 45 cm. But actually, I think you can travel with it on your back without a bag as long as it’s really small and out.
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Sometimes we traveled with our dogs in the subway like this and we saw other small dogs sitting on our laps and they had no problems. Large dogs are only allowed on the metro and RER (trains), not on buses or trams, and must be leashed and muzzled, but no longer require a ticket. Click here to see the full rules.
Different cities in France have different regulations. 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 backpacks are allowed on public transport. This is stated in the rules of Marseille and Lyon (at the time of my visit in 2018). In this case, these dogs travel for free.
By contrast, Bordeaux (only in France) has no such restrictions, with regulations that only require dogs to be transported on a leash or in a basket. Large dogs require a ticket, and small dogs in carriages are exempt.
The rules usually also include certain terms that say dogs cannot confuse or cause inconvenience to other passengers. If your dog is classified as a breed “at risk” (see note above), they are also generally not allowed on public transport.
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When using long-distance trains, the rules are more consistent. Yes, dogs of all sizes are allowed on French trains except Eurostar in London. For example, see SNCF Pet Policy.
Smaller animals (ideally under 10 kg) must travel in a pet carrier smaller than 45 cm x 30 cm x 25 cm on your lap or for a fee. Large dogs should be on a leash, wear a muzzle, and walk at your feet.
There is a fixed fee of €7 for small and large dogs. An exception is TGV Lyria, TGV France-Germany, TGV France-Italy, TGV France-Spain and TGV France-Brussels (except TGV France-Luxembourg and France-Friburg), which incur a higher fee of €20. A bigger dog.
Previously, large dogs were charged 50% of the second class fare on most trains, but this no longer applies. Also, pets are not allowed on train replacement carriages.
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If you purchased your ticket online through a ticketing site that does not have a pet ticket option, stop by the ticket office before traveling to purchase an additional ticket for your dog.
At the campsite. (According to a 2018 survey, 50% of hotels in Nice and 37% of hotels in Paris allow dogs.)
If you are traveling by road, I have found that many chain hotels located outside the cities are quite affordable, reliable, and even allow dogs. These include the Ibis, B&B and Campanile chains.
Generally, the prices were around 50 euros per night, without breakfast, with an additional charge of 5 to 10 euros per dog. On the other hand, many luxury hotels welcome dogs and are willing to pay a price to treat them.
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, we have found that linen (sheets and towels), including those booked through Airbnb, are often not included or require additional rental fees. If you are not traveling with your own sheets and towels, keep this in mind and check the details. Otherwise, you may be in for a surprise when you check out.
Compared to other countries in Europe, far fewer dogs are allowed in parks in France, especially in Paris. The last time we stayed in an apartment in Paris, there were two parks on the same street. Both parks had clear signs at the entrance prohibiting dogs!
However, you can find dog parks, even in Paris. If you have trouble finding it, ask your property owner or search online. Also, in January 2019 (after my last visit) many city parks in Paris changed their regulations to allow dogs. However, dogs must always be on leashes in these parks, except parks with playgrounds.
Although you are unlikely to take your dog with you when you visit the Louvre or climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris, there are many dog-friendly tourist options in France that you can visit with your dog. However, France is a country where we must check the regulations for each individual tourist destination.
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Do you want to visit a famous castle with your dog? Many people in the Loire Valley allow dogs to be kept on their land, and Chenonceau also allows small dogs to be brought in. However, dogs are prohibited from entering the formal gardens of Versailles, and the same is true at Fontainebleau.
But keep in mind that France is not the best place to visit the beach with your dog, at least not in the warmer months. During the summer months, from mid-June to the end of September, dogs are prohibited on most beaches, and on some of the only beaches that allow dogs, they are restricted before 8 a.m. . and after 8 p.m.
To save you the trouble of searching, I have prepared a list of the best places to visit with your dog, covering almost every corner of France.
One of the most beautiful walks anywhere in the world is along the banks of the Seine River in Paris. From the Île de la Cité medievale (home of Notre Dame) to the park