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Traveling with your dog can be both an exciting and challenging experience. One of the challenges many dog parents face when abroad is finding dog-friendly establishments and parks to make sure their canine friends don’t spend the whole trip cooped up. To add to this, not speaking the language can make it even harder to find out if your dog is welcome in a certain place or not.
To help you prepare in advance for your trip to France with your pooch, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best parks with off-leash areas where your dog can safely let off some steam.
Before we get started, please note that the law in France restricts certain breeds from entering the country. Some dogs are permitted but must be muzzled. Please check agriculture.gouv.fr website1 (official page in French) and petraveller.com2 (English) for more information.
The 10 Spectacular Off-Leash Dog Parks in France
1. Square Pour Chiens Rue Bonaparte, Paris
Off-leash allowed in a fenced-in area.
In the 6th arrondissement of Paris, which was home to many famous writers and artists and is an area known for its vibrancy, diversity, and quant vibes.
A nice spot for socializing with other dog owners (and practicing your French, of course!).
2. Dog Park at Jardin Compans Caffarelli, Toulouse
1st November to 28th February: 8.00–18.00, 1st March to 31st May: 8.00—20.00, 1st June to 31st August: 8.00–21.00
💲 Cost:
Free
🐕 Off-Leash:
Yes
Off-leash permitted in a fenced-off area.
The Toulouse tourist website does not list opening hours for September for this park, so it may close in September—you can call the park to check this.
Poop bags can be found in dispensers.
The Japanese garden within the park is off-limits to dogs.
3. Bois de Vincennes, Paris
A beautiful wooded area with large areas for dogs to run freely.
Located in the 12th arrondissement, which is home to the market street, Rue d’Aligre as well as various museums, the Place de la Bastille opera house, and Lafayette’s tomb.
April 1st to 31st May: 8.00–19.00, 1st June to 31st August: 8.00–20.00, 1st–30th September: 8.00–19.00, 1st October to 31st March: 8.00–18.00
💲 Cost:
Free
🐕 Off-Leash:
Yes
Gorgeous views of the Bay of Angels.
Off-leash allowed in a spacious fenced-off area.
A great park for kids and families, with a playground, amusement park, sprinklers, and palm-tree-lined walking trails.
5. Parc de l’Orangerie, Strasbourg
Dogs are allowed off-leash in certain areas of the park
This is the oldest park in town, and planting may have started in the early 19th century
Here, you can find the Josephine Pavillion, a historical monument that was burned down in 1968 and was later reconstructed
6. Parc de La Tête D’or, Lyon
Dogs are allowed off-leash in designated areas.
Here, you will find two special areas for dogs—one for puppies and small dogs and one for large dogs.
There are plenty of activities to get involved in at this park, including taking a tourist train around the park or a boat ride on the lake, quad pedaling, mini-karting, and mini-boating.
A beautiful river valley with walking trails for strolling and hiking.
A safe area away from traffic.
Keep an eye out for Roman remains.
8. Le Parc du Docteur Jean Guillard, Nice
Dogs are allowed off-leash in the dog playground.
You can find poop bag dispensers at this park.
Vast city views.
9. Jardin Royale, Toulouse
The website does not list opening hours for September, so the park may be closed during this time.
Two dog off-leash areas.
Poop bags are provided by dispensers.
This was the first public garden in Toulouse and dates back to 1754.
10. Parc à Chiens, La Madeleine
A safe space for dogs to run free and socialize.
Picnic areas available.
Poop bags and drinking water are available for dogs.
This park has received many excellent reviews, with particular praise for its cleanliness, thoughtful provision of poop bags at the entrance, shady spots, and benches.
Conclusion
So, if you’re planning to visit France anytime soon, we hope you’ve found this guide useful. One thing we’d recommend is making sure to bring your own poop bags because though many dog-friendly parks generously provide dispensers, there’s no guarantee these won’t run out! Also, remember to double-check and always respect the park’s rules on where dogs can be off-leash to make sure you don’t run into trouble. Bon voyage!
Featured Image Credit: Roman Seliutin, Shutterstock
Written by
Kit Copson is a freelance writer and lifelong animal lover with a strong interest in animal welfare. She has parented various furry beings over the years and is currently a proud cat mom of two—one very chilled (unless hungry) Siamese and a skittish but adorable Domestic Shorthair—and dog mom of one—an adopted Bichon Poodle cross. When not writing about or spending time with animals, Kit can be found doodling in her sketchpad, reading, or more often than not, drinking tea.…Read more
