Last Updated on August 26, 2025
If you love vacations, but are hesitant to leave your doggie family member behind, go ahead and pack the leash and head to these top 20 beaches where your dogs are most welcome.
Thanks to data gathered by CV Villas that analyzed over 130 European beaches for beach length, climate condition and terrain suitability, these are the places you can take your four-legged companions along on a dog-friendly holiday. Though France’s Playa de la Salie Sud takes the crown, it’s the U.K. that stands out with eight beaches among the top 20 rankings.
1. Plage de la Salie Sud, La-Teste-de-Buch, France boasts 2.4 km of unspoiled beach backed by pine forests, ideal for off-lead runs and log seaside scrolls.
2. Praia de Cabadelo, Darque Portugal’s golden sand shore is a quick hop from Viana do Castelo, buzzing with water-sports action along with quite coves for dog walking at sunset.
3. Holkham Beach, Norfolk, England, UK sports a vast 6.43 km stretch of sand, and as part of a 10,000-acre nature reserve, it has plenty of smells for visiting dogs to stick their noses into. Dogs are welcome year-round, although leash rules may apply during summer to protect nesting birds.
4. Saunton Beach, Braunton, England, UK is part of the UNESCO Biosphere offering leash-free freedom and dedicated dog-waste stations to keep the beach pristine.
5. Rhossili Bay, Swansea Wales, UK is hailed as ‘the supermodel of British beaches’ with three miles of soft sand beneath towering cliffs, and year-round off-lead access along the Worm’s Head peninsula means furry friends will adore their freedom.
Elsewhere in Europe
Fanø Beach in Denmark breaks the British streak, in eighth place. Its 15-kilometre-long island shore is entirely dog-friendly, with dunes, tidal flats, and all, making it Denmark’s best seaside canine playground.
Two Irish beaches also join the rankings: Enniscrone and Ballinesker. Tied at 10th, these gems on Ireland’s west coast each stretch 5 km, offering year-round dog access for the ultimate long-distance fetch.
Further down the list is Italy’s Spiaggia di Balestrate in 12th position, alongside France’s Le Touquet beaches, Plage des Dunes and Plage Nord (15th and 18th respectively).
Germany’s two official Hundestrände (dog beaches): St. Peter-Ording and Zinnowitz, also join the top 20.
But it’s two Scottish beaches that prove even the chillier waters don’t deter the most dedicated pooches: Sandhead Beach (11th) and Irvine Beach (19th).
6. Brancaster Beach, Norfolk, England, UK
7. Perranporth Beach, Perranporth England, UK
8. Fanø Beach, Fanø, Denmark
9. Watergate Bay Beach, Newquay England, UK
10. Enniscrone Beach, Enniscrone, Ireland
10. Ballinesker Beach, Curracloe, Ireland (tied for 10th place)
11. Sandhead Beach, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK
12. Spiaggia di Balestrate, Palermo, Italy
13. Blaavand Beach, Blaavand, Denmark
14. Praia do Coral, Viana do Castelo, Portugal
15. Plage des Dunes, Le Touquet, France
16. Hundestrand St. Peter-Ording, Nordfriesland, Germany
17. Hundestrand Zinnowitz, Usedom, Germany
18. Plage Nord, Le Touquet, France
19. Irvine Beach, Ayrshire Scotland, UK
20. Plaža Veli Jože, Savudrija, Croatia
