Tarifa

Tarifa's great beach, over 7 km of golden sand fringed by a lagoon and the natural park. A designated dog zone lies at its northern end, where dogs may run and swim freely out of season; in summer they remain welcome early morning and late afternoon. The quintessential spot for swimming and walking.

Tarifa's medieval heart, a maze of whitewashed lanes, flower-filled patios and shaded squares, entered through the 13th-century Puerta de Jerez. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout and most terraces happily accept four-legged companions. Perfect in the cool of morning or evening.

West of town, this dramatic bay is dominated by a vast sand dune and swept by the wind that makes it Europe's most famous kitesurfing spot. Outside the summer season it is an endless playground for dogs, who can gallop across the sand and into the waves. Check the posted rules at the entrance in high season.

Twenty km to the northwest, this wild beach, listed as a Natural Monument, holds a 30 m-high shifting dune and adjoins the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia. The beach welcomes leashed dogs outside the supervised summer bathing zones; the archaeological enclosure, however, does not admit them. The panorama over the strait is striking.

The 10th-century fortress that dominates the old town owes its name to Guzmán el Bueno, who in 1294 chose to sacrifice his son rather than surrender the stronghold to the besiegers. Dogs are not admitted inside the monument, but the adjacent viewpoint and the outer ramparts offer an open walk with views of the port and Africa.

The natural park protecting the whole tip of the strait unfolds coastal and forest trails, including the Cerro de la Peña viewpoint and the paths of the Pinar del Bujeo, where leashed dogs enjoy panoramas over two continents. It is also one of the best vantage points for bird and cetacean migration in spring and autumn.