Having a dog in the city is a lifestyle choice. And like any lifestyle choice, the setting matters. Some French cities make the experience easy — furry-friendly parks, kind-hearted shopkeepers, public transport that welcomes animals without pulling a face. Others make it needlessly complicated.
Here are five cities where you and your dog will feel at home.
- Bordeaux
Bordeaux regularly tops dog-friendly rankings, and it is no accident. The city boasts more than 300,000 m² of green spaces, including several parks entirely open to dogs. The banks of the Garonne have become a must-visit spot: kilometres of walking paths, bars and restaurants with wide terraces, and a local culture that is genuinely animal-friendly.
The TBM network (bus and tram) welcomes dogs on a lead at no extra cost. The city has also rolled out dog-waste bag dispensers in the central districts — a small detail that says a lot about the overall mindset.
- Nantes
Nantes has been investing in urban greening for a decade, and dogs directly benefit. Parc de Procé, Île de Versailles and the banks of the Erdre offer long, varied walks. The city regularly organises events for dog owners, and many cafés in the centre have adopted a clearly displayed welcome policy.
Talensac market, one of the liveliest in the city, is crossed every Saturday by dozens of dogs on leads. A good indicator of the general level of acceptance.
- Strasbourg
The Alsatian capital comes as a surprise to many. German culture and its influences have left their mark: it is common to see dogs in the municipal museums (some allow them), in covered markets, and even in certain department stores.
Parc de l''Orangerie is the morning meet-up for Strasbourg dog owners: huge, well maintained, with real tolerance for dogs running freely in the dedicated areas. The CTS tram and bus network welcomes small dogs for free and larger ones with a ticket.
- Lyon
Lyon is a city of neighbourhoods, and that is what makes it interesting for dog owners. La Croix-Rousse has developed a genuine dog-friendly culture, with cafés that keep a clean bowl of water by the door and shops where dogs walk in as naturally as humans.
The banks of the Rhône and the Saône are exceptional walking spaces. Parc de la Tête d''Or, one of the largest urban parks in France, is open to dogs on a lead — which, for a 117-hectare park, leaves plenty of room.
- Montpellier
Montpellier rounds off this ranking with a major asset: the sun. Terraces are open eight months out of twelve, and the Mediterranean culture is naturally more relaxed about animals. The historic centre is pedestrianised and full of shops, so particularly easy to explore with a dog.
Promenade du Peyrou and the parks in the Port Marianne district offer good green spaces. And for nature lovers, the garrigue around the city is a twenty-minute drive away, ideal for breeds that need space.
How do we rank?
These rankings are subjective by nature. What we look at: tolerance in shops, accessible green spaces, public transport policy, and the density of dog-friendly establishments listed in our directory.
If you live in one of these cities or know an outstanding address worth flagging, the dogs-friendly map is open to additions — every shop that displays the sticker helps make its city a little more welcoming.