Holidays in Bayonne with your dog, the essentials
Bayonne: a pretty city to discover with your dog. What to do in Bayonne with your dog and the surrounding area? Which hikes to try? Which beaches accept dogs. I tell you everything here!
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Are you looking for your next destination for your holidays with your dog? And if you go in the direction of the southwest in the Basque Country? Today, I'm taking you to discover Bayonne with your dog! Very well known for its ferias and for its ham, you will discover that this city is full of lesser-known treasures...
In this article, Théo and Morgane his human, present Bayonne to you from every angle. You will discover the activities to share in Bayonne with your dog, the dog-friendly places not to be missed, the beaches authorized for dogs, the hikes to do around Bayonne with your dog and of course advice for discovering the city...
You are going to love this getaway… Théo and Morgane, I let you introduce us to your beautiful dog-friendly city!
Our bayonnais, Morgane and her dog
My name is Morgane, I am a digital marketing student and web editor. Originally from the Paris region, I arrived in the Basque Country in 2016. It was the same year that I met Théo, my dog.
At the time, I was a volunteer at the Bayonne SPA, I walked the dogs there. That day, five puppies were in one of the shelter areas. I went to see them out of sheer “gagatitude” and I fell in love with Théo, formerly known as Chocolat. He was six weeks old. It took me a week to convince my boyfriend at the time to adopt him. Then, on September 20, 2016, I went to pick him up. He was 2 months and a day old, he was the cutest of all puppies.
When he was little, Theo was the type to sit down to observe the world around him. He was very taken up with his surroundings. He continues to be observant but knows how to focus on me a little more. Despite his size, 48 kilos, he is as happy active as he is relaxed at home. It is sometimes so discreet that one can forget it. I am very proud of the trust he has in me. I can offer him almost anything, he is always ready to follow me. Of course, I always respect his limits!
I'm proud of him and to have such an easy-going dog that I can do so much with. I try to share as many activities and moments as possible with him. My dog and I do a lot of hiking and a little running. We also started agility last November. We also do some canivtt and cani-paddle. As long as we are in nature, we feel good! We love the outdoors and solitude. My dog also loves to swim! He holds his reputation as a crusader high Labrador !
The secrets of Bayonne to discover with your dog
Bayonne is one of the main cities of the Pays Basque, it is known for its ham, its chocolate and its ferias. It is a beautiful, historic and very lively city. I like to walk with my dog along the ramparts of Bayonne. On Saturdays, recently, we go to the market together. Théo always enjoys a few little attentions. Here, people are welcoming and warm, they don't hesitate to ask questions. It must be said that Théo does not go unnoticed and seduces quite a bit… 🙂
The city of Bayonne can easily be visited on foot with your dog. I particularly like Bayonne for its architecture and its ramparts. It's a treat for the eyes ! You can stroll along the edge of the Nive which then flows into the Adour, which itself flows into the Atlantic Ocean further down Anglet.
In the city of Bayonne, there are few "parks" to walk your dog. On the other hand, you can enjoy many green spaces along the ramparts.
Ansot park is a kind of reserve where you can walk with your dog as long as it remains on a leash.
You can also walk along the towpath which goes towards Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and runs along the Nive.
QUALIDOG-certified accommodation in Bayonne with your dog
Do you want to go on vacation to Bayonne with your dog? Are you looking for QUALIDOG-certified accommodation for a Wow holiday with your dog? Here is a selection of QUALIDOG-certified accommodation!
Hiking with your dog around Bayonne
Bayonne is a very well placed city! In the city, you are 20 minutes from the mountains and 15 minutes from the beaches. In 30 minutes, you will also be at the Spanish border!
My dog and I spend a lot of time in the mountains, here are the hiking spots not to be missed in my opinion:
The must Rhune, for those who don't want to walk, you can use the little train WITH your dog,
You can also go to lake of Saint Pée sur Nivelle for swimming with your dog or cani-paddle
For mountain hikes, I advise you to be careful because there are a lot of pottoks, small Basque horses running free, sheep and cows. Having hiked in the Alps, I can assure you that the cows there are more welcoming than those back home aha 😉
I often say that I came to the Basque Country for the ocean but that in the end I fell in love with the mountains. That's what I like. Adopting my dog allowed me to discover activities that I would not have done without him and above all to find myself in nature, to walk, to hike and discover magnificent landscapes. The Basque Country is full of history, green plains and mountains with splendid views.
Musher and Sophie : “Are you already seduced by the discovery of the Basque Country with your dog? Discover without delay our list ofdog-friendly accommodation in Aquitaine and in the Basque Country. You can also read or reread the article dedicated to my latest holidays in the Basque Country with my dog. It's a place that I also love. With Musher, we took advantage of the mountains to do some canitrail also. What happiness!”
The beaches of the Basque coast with a dog
The beaches of the Basque coast are accessible out of season to dogs but in high season dogs are unfortunately prohibited there; like everywhere.
So we found the parade! We go to the Landes side to browse the deserted beaches. There is no one there and my dog can enjoy it as much as he wants!
Bayonne, a dog-friendly city?
In general, I find Bayonne to be quite a dog-friendly city! We live outside a lot, since the weather is nice here very often. It's easy to sit on the terrace with your dog to eat tapas and have a drink. Go to a restaurant with your dog, it's not that complicated here!
When Theo was 3 months old, we took a photo on the banks of the Nive in autumn, it was still summer weather. Then we redid this photo at his 7 months and then at his 2 years. The little anecdote with this story is that Theo grew like a mushroom! We weren't stopping him. People were always surprised when I gave his age, he looked very tall. And even now, I often have the right to generally positive remarks about my "little" dog.
The best season to visit Bayonne with your dog
For me, spring and fall are the best seasons. It is not too hot and the weather is often very nice. Well, you have to choose your week well because when it rains in the Basque Country, it's no joke! That's also why it's always green here! In spring, there is a lot of animation. Bayonne is a very dynamic city which offers many events. Like any self-respecting city in the South, it lives up to its reputation!
How to end this article without telling you about the famous Bayonne festivals ? Personally, I wouldn't go to parties with my dog. I don't see the point in it. There are a lot of people ! During the day, generally it remains quite correct, although very lively. You have to realize that during the ferias, Bayonne lives to the rhythm of the music. And in my opinion, that's no place for a dog. It can be very stressful for him...
I agree with Morgane on this point, I don't think taking your dog to the Bayonne festivals is a good thing for him, and it could even quickly become dangerous!
A big thank you to Théo and Morgane for this guided tour of Bayonne with his dog! To not miss the adventures of our duo Trop W'ouf, follow them on Instagram – theo__choco : )
I hope this article has inspired you! If you want more information, I invite you to discover: Holidays in the Basque Country with your dog.
And don't forget, if you go on vacation with your dog, subscribe to our account Facebook & Instagram to follow all our destination news and publish your photos with #takeondog. That way, I could discover you with your doggies!