Sitges

The seafront promenade unrolls several kilometres of palm trees and Modernista villas along the beaches, from La Punta to Aiguadolç marina. It is the backbone of on-lead walks in Sitges, magnificent at sunrise when the beaches are still empty.

Near the Terramar hotel, this small beach is Sitges' official dog zone: dogs can swim here year round, a rare privilege on the Catalan coast. Sand, breakwaters and showers nearby make it the meeting point for the town's dogs.

Perched on its promontory between two beaches, the 17th-century church is the definitive image of Sitges. The interior does not admit dogs, but the Baluard esplanade around it, above the waves, is one of the coast's finest viewpoints for an on-lead pause.

Behind the church, the white lanes of old Sitges hide flowered patios, boutiques and Modernista facades such as Cau Ferrat and Maricel. The museums do not receive dogs, but wandering this Mediterranean labyrinth on lead is a pleasure in itself.

Right behind the town, this limestone massif with its white garrigue scenery offers marked trails among dwarf palms and Mediterranean views. Leashed dogs are admitted: the loop from La Plana or the climb to the Trinitat hermitage make fine half-day outings.

East of town, the Aiguadolç marina lines up sailboats and fish restaurants around a sheltered basin. Many terraces accept dogs, and the coastal path leading there from the church, cut into the low cliff, is a pretty on-lead walk.