Biarritz

The 44-metre lighthouse, built in 1834 at Pointe Saint-Martin, marks the geological boundary between the sandy Landes coast and the rocky Basque coast. The surrounding clifftop lawns and coastal path are open to leashed dogs year-round, with panoramic views to the Pyrenees on clear days.

A sea-stack crowned by a statue of the Virgin, linked to shore by an iron footbridge attributed to Eiffel's workshop (1887). Leashed dogs may cross the footbridge and explore the rocky outcrop, though the bridge closes during heavy swell.

The 1 km crescent of golden sand fronted by the Casino and Hôtel du Palais is Biarritz's signature beach. Dogs are banned from 15 June to 15 September by municipal decree; outside those dates they are welcome on leash at dawn and dusk.

The birthplace of European surfing (1957), framed by ochre cliffs that disappear at high tide. Dogs are banned on the sand from June to September; the clifftop promenade above remains accessible on leash year-round.

The covered Art Deco market, opened in 1885 and renovated in 2009, is the city's culinary heart, piled with Bayonne ham, Ossau-Iraty cheese and Basque chorizo. Leashed dogs are welcome in the surrounding café terraces but not inside the market hall itself.

A peaceful 8-hectare freshwater lake ringed by a 2 km shaded path, 3 km from the center. Leashed dogs are welcome all year; the southern meadow is a popular informal off-leash spot once you leave the main path.