Dog-Friendly Parks in Hyères

The main municipal park of Hyères, 7 hectares of palms, exotic trees and botanical glasshouses 10 minutes' walk from Avenue Gambetta. Paths are flat and shaded, with a duck pond, a small zoo and a free-access lawn area. Dogs on leads are welcome on the alleys but not in the petting-zoo enclosure or the glasshouses.

The eastern salt-marsh site, a free-access wetland of about 350 hectares run by the Conservatoire du Littoral as part of the Port-Cros National Park network. Flat gravel tracks circle the basins, the bird life is extraordinary in winter and the salt flats give views to the Îles d'Or. Dogs on leads are permitted on the marked paths.

The western salt flat lies between the two sand bars (tombolos) that link Giens to the mainland. The Route du Sel is closed to cars in summer and becomes a flat 7 km walking and cycling spine along the salt pans, with views across to Porquerolles. The salt pan interior is by guided tour only, but the perimeter path is freely walkable with a dog on a lead.