This April, I took a trip with my dog to Hyères, a town at the Mediterranean sea in the south of France. In this article I will show you three fun things to do with your dog in and around Hyères! Are you in the mood for history and views, nature or beach? Well, we’ve got it all for you here!
If you are looking to spend a few days in the area, I can recommend the apartment that I stayed at. You can find my review on where to stay in Hyères with your dog here.
STOP 1: History and great views at Château d’Hyères
The Château d’Hyères or castle of Hyeres sits atop a hill and offers fantastic views all across the city.
There is a small parking lot directly at the entrance to the castle ruins, but you can also park slightly further down the hill along the side of the street in case that the parking lot is busy.
Follow the signs that point you to the castle ruins to slowly make your ascent to the top of the castle. You will have beautiful views across the city in all directions as you walk along.
The castle ruins are a great place to take your dog. My pup loved exploring the site and climbing up and down the castle walls.
The terrain is a little rugged in parts, but it was very doable with my small dog. She had a great time there and was always a few steps ahead of me, keen to see what’s coming next.
You can also see some of the other stops that we will visit in this article from above. I am pointing them out in the photos for your information.
Aside from the other stops that you will find in this article, you can even see the Île de Porquerolles. That island just off the coast of Hyères is very much worth a visit with your pup too! It is gorgeous. You can find more information of taking a trip to Porquerolles with your dog here.
STOP 2: Nature and birds in Hyères
I actually have two different options for you here. You can either go visit Parc Olbius Riquier where you can meet free ranging peacocks or you can make your way to Les Salins d’Hyères where you can see many types of wild birds. Up to you!
Of course, you can also visit both of these, why not?
Parc Olbius Riquier is a small botanical garden in Hyères where you can see many different types of plants as well as birds.
The most famous thing to see here are certainly the free ranging peacocks. They walk around all over the park.
To preserve their tranquility, please keep your dog leashed and respect the signs to stay off the grass.
If you are traveling with young children, this park can be a nice place to go. There is also a small train as well as the opportunity to ride ponies for the young ones.
The other nature option that I’ve got for you is a visit to Les Salins d’Hyères. These are salt marshes that actually were used for the production of salt until 1995. Today they are home to an impressively diverse avian wildlife, including purple flamingos!
Please be aware that they are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays and that only a small portion is accessible to the general public including our best friends as long as they are on a leash. It is possible to take guided tours that go further into the Salins, but dogs are not allowed on these tours in order to not disturb the wildlife.
The accessible parts only make for short walk, but it is still a nice play to go with your pup. My dog was very interested in the area and happily sniffed around.
While we did not see any flamingos, we did see a few other birds in the marshes. I do imagine that the wildlife is more impressive in the less public parts though.
In addition to the real birds, you can definitely see plenty of metal birds while you’re there. The airport is close by and the planes do fly over the marches, so if you are up for some plane spotting, this is a great place for that!
STOP 3: Beach and sea near Hyères
Unfortunately dogs are not allowed on the beaches directly in Hyères, but there is a small stretch of coast nearby that is open for our furry friends. Make your way to La Londe-les-Maures and you will find it next to the harbour.
We met a lot of other four-legged pals there for my pup to say hello to and run around with. She had a grand time and even got her paws wet in the Mediterranean sea.
Do be aware that it is only a small stretch of sand with rocks, so if you are expecting a beach where you can also put your towel down and sit with your dog you’re out of luck.
However, there is a staircase leading down into the sea, so that you can walk in together with your dog and encourage them to try it out.
Near the beach, there is a canal called Le Maravenne. It is a nice place for a stroll as well, so if you fancy a walk before or after the beach, don’t miss this one.
HOW LONG IT TAKES AND WHO IT’S FOR
Each of these stops can be reasonably done in around 30 minutes. Aside from the castle, everything is very flat and easily accessible, even with prams.
The castle is on a hill, but you can park your car directly there. To visit the castle itself and enjoy all the views, you will need to climb a number of stairs. If this is not easy for you to do, you can benefit from good views across the city even from the parking lot.
THE BOTTOM LINE
If you are looking for some sun and relaxation along with good walking sites, Hyères is a nice place to go for a trip with your dog. There’s a little bit of everything to do in the area and we very much enjoyed our stay here!
Bonus Tip: While you’re in the area, you should definitely take your dog on a trip to Île de Porquerolles as well!
A trip with my dog 
2 thoughts on “A trip with my dog to Hyères”