Nice and its surroundings with your dog
What hikes to do with your dog in Nice? Which beaches are allowed for dogs in Nice? What activities to do with your dog in Nice? The answers in the article!
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This week, immediate teleportation for you and your dog under the Nice sun. The vitamin D cure is yours! I invite you to discover this magnificent city in the South of France with your dog. I haven't had the chance to travel to Nice with my dog yet, so in this article it's Sam, Cyril, Eos and Vuki telling you all the secrets of the town they come from. Dog-friendly walks, hikes with panoramic views, aquatic activities, city must-sees… I bet they will convince you to go on vacation for a few days in Nice with your dog…
Let our 4 guides guide you to pure happiness!
Sam and his dogs, they have Nice in their hearts
My name is Sam, I'm 25 years old, and with my partner Cyril, we are the proud owners of two dogs: Eos, a two-and-a-half-year-old Siberian Husky , and Vuki, a seven-year-old Czechoslovakian Wolfdog . We're originally from Nice , but we've been living in Bordeaux for the past three years . Even though we moved, we're always thrilled to return to our beloved sunshine and azure waters!
Eos is a young dog full of life, always curious and eager for discovery. Traveling with us is a real pleasure for her, she is constantly on the alert.
Vuki is quiet strength, a little less adventurous than Eos. Its main happiness lies in staying with us no matter where we go. Eos came first in the family. My companion is a canine behavioral trainer and we wanted to have our own dog. We found a small family farm near Bordeaux. The dogs seemed balanced and well treated to us and we fell in love with Eos, this little bit full of energy.
Out of desire but also so that Eos would not be alone in helping my companion in his work, we decided to adopt Vuki, on “early retirement from breeding”. It's been almost a year since he joined us.
Walks on the coast in Nice with your dog
After this presentation of my family, let me tell you what to do in Nice with your dog:
The coastal path can be a very pleasant walk along the seafront. It passes through Menton , Villefranche-sur-Mer , Nice , and even extends to Antibes and beyond. This path will take you past various headlands such as Cap Ferrat and Cap d'Ail ; these are elevated headlands offering magical panoramic views perfect for contemplation, meditation, and picnicking. The paths are paved, sometimes a little worn, and have some changes in elevation. You'll find Mediterranean vegetation along the way, including pine trees overlooking the sea, cacti, and succulents where the sea spray filters through.
Walks in the forest and parks in Nice with your dog
There are approximately fifteen parks, squares, and "dog gardens" in Nice where dogs are welcome. The Parc du Vinaigrier , Parc d'Estienne d'Orves , Parc de Fort de la Révère , and Parc de la Clua are particularly recommended.
Vaugrenier Park in Villeneuve-Loubet is certainly one of the first parks I visited with my dogs. It's a park of about 100 hectares of woodland with a meadow of around 20 hectares, interspersed with small streams, as well as a freshwater pond offering a respite in a rare biotope on the French Riviera and so close to the sea. You'll encounter a good number of animal species there.
As you head inland from the coast towards the hills, you'll come across Lac du Broc in Carros. This secluded artificial lake has many charms. Dogs are welcome off-leash, provided they respect other users, including the local wildlife and anglers. It's now a nature park, with a turquoise lake reflecting the beautiful mountains in the background. A wonderful haven of tranquility, it's a popular spot for dog owners to enjoy the trails winding through pine forests, along the Var River, and by the lake.
Most of these parks allow free-roaming walks with our dogs, respecting the environment, of course. These are parks with medium to high attendance depending on the hours when you can meet other dogs and other users. The spaces are nevertheless pleasant, green, forest with sometimes punctually large areas of meadows.
In Nice, the coast is very urbanized and not all public spaces allow the presence of dogs. Most city parks are also subject to opening hours. It can quickly become frustrating, especially when you live there. If you want to be able to let go of your dog and enjoy a relaxing moment, do not hesitate to take the car and head towards the surrounding towns and towards the hills and mountains. I really advise you to rather discover the hinterland which offers a diversity of incredible landscapes!
Musher's seasonal advice
QUALIDOG-certified accommodation in Nice
Do you want to discover the city of Nice with your dog? Are you looking for QUALIDOG-certified accommodation for a holiday with your dog? Here is a small selection!
Camping Sites and Landscapes LES PINEDES
With river access!
The Colombier Residences
With beach for dogs at 3kms
Discover the hinterland of Nice with your dog
Of all the sites we've visited so far, the Calern plateau is undoubtedly one of my favorites. There, I rediscover the pleasure of the fresh mountain air and breathtaking views. This magnificent place offers an incredible panoramic view of the Caussols plateau , the Esterel Massif, and all the way to the Bay of Angels . In winter, we usually have the pleasure of seeing vast plains blanketed in snow, transporting us to a unique and magical atmosphere. In autumn, we find ourselves at the crossroads of lunar landscapes and the Mongolian steppes, with the dry, ochre-colored autumnal vegetation nestled among the multitude of white rocks protruding from the ground. Finally, spring gives birth to an ocean of color, with orchids, lavender, and blue grape hyacinths bursting forth from the earth.
This karstic relief was used in the science fiction film IO recently broadcast on Netflix for the curious. Indeed it is a site which makes travel in the imagination, which disorients us with each season.
It brings a large choice of hikes for all levels and even joins the GR4. You can reach different surrounding villages. The first one I discovered was probably that of Gourdon. There are paragliding schools and a very significant air show.
Indeed Gourdon is located on a rocky outcrop at an altitude of 760m. It is one of the most beautiful villages in France, offering many military remains but also charming architecture nestled in breathtaking landscapes. Small businesses have settled there and it is good to be able to sit on the terrace of a café, caressed by the rays of the sun which weave their way through the streets. You can also stroll from shop to shop to discover many specialties and local crafts: art glassware, perfumery, soap, honey, gingerbread...
Hikes around Nice with your dog
I really like to walk in the tranquility and silence of nature! It doesn't bother me to meet other dogs or other people, but it's always nicer to be able to release your attention a little bit and just enjoy a relaxed and carefree space in the middle of nature.
If I want to offer my dogs something to drink and swim in, especially in the summer, there's nothing better than trails on natural sites that follow waterways: The banks of the Loup at La Colle sur Loup, the Esteron ….
Of course, these are routes of several kilometers, which can easily be shortened to reduce the walking time and take advantage of nice spots where dogs can swim. However, be careful during hot weather to avoid heatstroke and especially cyanobacteria , which can be fatal to your dog!
If you'd rather head for the mountains, that's also possible! For example, this winter we drove back to Nice for the holidays in a campervan. We did a mini road trip! We slept almost every night in the hinterland to enjoy the landscapes and hiking spots that appeal to us most, the most natural and wild places. So we explored the Baous de la Gaude and de St Jeannet , as well as the Col de Vence . These spots offer incredible panoramic views of the Mediterranean from their vantage points. It was so pleasant in the morning to open the doors, watch the sun's rays, feel the surrounding mountain peaks, glide down the slopes with their arid vegetation, and gaze out at the distant Mediterranean Sea.
Mont Chauve is a beautiful and wild site, as are the Caussols Plateau and the magnificent Calern Observatory . Here, you can enjoy a lunar and otherworldly landscape. It is in this karst terrain that you can explore interesting landscape features: sinkholes, chasms, caves, etc. Naoko's family (@naoko_akita_inu) showed us one of them. This is a site that also begs to be explored in the snow, either on a snowshoe hike or with your dog!
At high altitudes above Nice, beware of vipers, processionary caterpillars , and livestock guardian dogs. In December, we were surprised to come face to face with two Pyrenean Mountain Dogs just a few meters from the parking lot. It is therefore important to strictly follow safety instructions and remain cautious.
Dog-friendly beaches in Nice
Not all beaches in Nice allow dogs… In fact, the vast majority of beaches on the French Riviera prohibit dogs. There are some that do, such as those in Villefranche-sur-Mer , Carras , Cagnes-sur-Mer , and near Antibes.
Dogs are allowed on leashes along the Promenade du Paillon, provided they respect other users, pick up after their dogs, and avoid the children's play area, which is off-limits to them. Keep in mind that this is an urban promenade, even though it's a green space, and therefore quite busy. As a tourist, you'll likely enjoy the experience, but it can quickly become frustrating not being able to let your dog roam freely on the grass, explore the various plant displays, and visit the botanical gardens.
Is Nice a dog-friendly city?
I wouldn't describe Nice as a dog-friendly city. It is a very urban region and not necessarily designed for animals. Many parks close at night for security reasons, but this limits dog owners.
You can still have a great time there during your vacation with your dog. Just visit the slightly more outlying corners that I presented to you just before. Note that most seaside brasseries have accepted us with no problem with our dogs. We had lunch at Antibes restaurants twice over Christmas with no worries. In particular at the 3 brewers in Antibes where I feared the reaction of the restaurateurs. And yet we were very well received. The dogs were treated like kings and we also did a bit of the "wolves in the restaurant" attraction.
And to think that we were afraid of getting in the way… As we lived in Nice, we never tested the hotels, but probably many accept dogs, including large hotels like the Negresco.
Bonus: Ideas for activities to do in Nice with your dog
Our daily walks are truly moments that we cannot miss. Every day we change places to vary the smells, the encounters and the situations. Nevertheless from time to time we try to vary with calm but very interesting activities as much for the dog as for the human who accompanies him. Here are the activities we like to do:
• Mantrailing : This activity simulates the search for a missing person through a recreational activity. It's a valuable way to develop a dog's confidence in various environments, as well as the bond between dog and human. It's a healthy and fun activity that utilizes the dog's sense of smell. This activity can be adapted and done virtually anywhere: in the forest, in the city, in the snow, inside buildings, etc. The French Riviera offers a variety of environments relatively close to one another, which is a significant advantage.
• Hiking with our dogs: an activity that connects us all! Humans and dogs alike, we love to go off on treks far from everything, recharge our batteries, and find peace and quiet. Personally, I have a preference for mountain hikes with the dogs , with memories of three incredible days camping in the wild, surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
At the gateway to the Mercantour National Park and within its buffer zone, there are also numerous hiking trails, including the GR4. With its varied elevations, diverse vegetation, lakes, waterfalls, rivers, and local activities, there's so much to discover… It's a unique and revitalizing experience. Eos and Vuki love anything that involves an uphill climb.
This winter, we explored the snowshoe trails at Isola 2000, the ski resort above Nice. We went on a hike in the snow. Cédric and Luna (@luna_husky_siberien) accompanied us, showing us a route that followed a river carved into the snow and led us to a vast white plain bordered by snow-covered slopes. What a joy to see the dogs running free and playing in the powder!
• Stand-up paddleboarding: Stand-up paddleboarding with dogs is an activity we do occasionally in the summer. Not often, because it quickly becomes monotonous and the dogs eventually lose interest. But once in a while, finding yourself in the middle of a body of water, motionless and in absolute silence, with just your dog, is an indescribable feeling!
There are many lakes in the Var region , less than an hour from Nice, where this activity can be enjoyed in complete tranquility. An idea worth exploring? Perhaps paddleboarding to the Lérins Islands ! Alternatively, the ferry is a more practical option for discovering these two islands. Dogs are even allowed on leashes.
A big thank you to our little tribe for the presentation of their city of hearts! I'm sure you now have all the information you need to share a wonderful vacation in Nice and its surroundings with your dog! You won't run out of business...
To follow all the crazy adventures of our four guides, I invite you to check out their blog, Wolfsky Adventure , and their Instagram account, @walfsky_adventure . As a bonus, you'll find a lovely video of their van trip between Bordeaux and Nice! A feast for the eyes…
And if you want to find education advice from Sam's companion, go to @ami.canis!
Don't forget, if you're going on holiday to Nice with your dog, tag us with #emmenetonchien so I can see all your photos and adventures 😉
