If you’re currently planning your next holiday, how does strolling over sandy shores with your furry friend by your side sound?
For pet owners, travelling with your canine companions is an exciting experience and a whole new way of exploring the world. With this in mind, we’ve put together a handy guide to the most dog friendly beaches that Europe’s coastal beauty areas have to offer!
Best Dog Friendly Beaches in Europe
For the most comfortable way of travelling with your dog, it’s worth doing your research. With P&O’s ferry routes, we offer dog friendly cabins and kennels that have our trained staff on hand to make sure every pooch is well looked after on our crossing.
So, if you’re thinking of taking a dog to Europe, be sure to have a chat with your vet about the necessary preparations like making sure they’re microchipped and have a pet passport. Once you’re good to go, P&O Ferries are ready and waiting with routes to some of the best European beaches.
Le Touquet in France
Have you heard of the city known as “Paris-on-Sea”? Le Touquet boasts two beaches you can explore: Plage Nord and Plage des Dunes. There’s no need to check the calendar before you visit as they are both dog-friendly beaches all year round. So, why not explore these sandy stretches with your pooch on your next holiday!
Le Touquet’s an ideal spot for dog travel with energetic pups as the beach stretches for over 7 kilometres! But a trip to Le Touquet’s beaches is good for more than just walks, in fact, there are lots of pet friendly cafes you can stop off at for when you and your furry companion get hungry.
Plus, this dog friendly beach can be reached from the port in Calais in just 54 minutes via the A16 if you’re travelling by car.
Noordwijk Beach in the Netherlands
Noordwijk Beach is a spot that changes with the seasons and, if you come in springtime it’s perfect to see the tulips that the Netherlands is famous for, in full bloom.
The rules for bringing your dog also change slightly with the time of year. If you’re travelling with pets to Europe, the main areas are restricted from June to September but there’s a special dog beach set up at the Katwijk area which you are free to roam with your pooch in all year round.
This beach and the surrounding area are also great for dog walkers thanks to the specially designed trails. Noordwijk Beach was included on National Geographic’s list of the twenty-one best beach destinations in the world, so if you’re thinking of visiting the area be sure to stop off and let your furry friend soak up this natural wonderland.
This Dutch destination is a dog travel dream and if you’re driving in the Netherlands you can reach Noordwijk from Amsterdam in just 45 minutes via the A4 road.
Oostende Strand in Belgium
Our next dog friendly beach is Oostende Strand which is one of Belgium’s best spots for anyone travelling with a pet.
If you’re after a beautiful beach in Europe that is not only pet friendly but also super practical, then Oostende Strand ticks all the boxes! The beach has installed convenient poop tubes located all over where you can drop your doggy bags.
If you arrive at Brussels port, you can drive to Ostend in just over an hour via the E40 road. Don’t forget to pack plenty of dog treats and refreshments for the drive! Be sure to check out our tips for travelling with dogs if you’re unsure of what to bring.
Saunton Sands in Devon
Devon’s coastline in the South-West of England is known for its stunning sandy beaches and Staunton Sands is no exception. It’s also one of the UK’s favourite spots for people with pets as it’s a dog friendly sandy beach all year round!
So, whenever you’re planning your next trip to the UK, we recommend stopping off to explore the dunes of Saunton Sands as it’s one of the best European beaches. Plus, for those of you who enjoy surfing, its wild waves are also ideal.
Our final reason to visit Staunton Sands is this beach’s celebrity status: it was used as the location for Robbie Williams’ music video for ‘Angels’ so you’ll also be exploring a slice of musical history!
If you’re travelling on four wheels, the drive to Saunton Sands takes around 4 and a half hours from London on the A303 or 5 and a half hours from Dover on the same road.
Zevenhuizerplas Dog Beach in the Netherlands
Our second dog friendly Dutch beach is located just outside Rotterdam and features water sports facilities so there’s plenty on offer for anyone that likes swimming, surfing or diving.
The beach you can take dogs to is open to explore with your pet all year round so it’s a great location to include on any journey to the Netherlands.
To reach Zevenhuizerplas Beach from Rotterdam Port it’s just a 20 minute drive via the A16 road so it’s very convenient for exploring if you’ve travelled by ferry.
Ready to take your dog to beautiful beaches they’ll lap up? Book your P&O Ferry trip now and start counting down the days to your sunny sands holiday!
