Vacation with your Dog at the Water: Our favorite Destinations for the Summer Marilou Cabatingan, 09/21/202408/27/2025 Summer is just around the corner. And from the experience of recent years, we can assume that it will be very hot. For dog owners like me, this raises the question: where can I go on vacation with my dog by the water? In this blog article, we show you our favorite destinations for summer vacation with a dog. Included are tips for swimming lakes and dog beaches, as well as dog-friendly hotels in Germany, Austria, and Italy. So that even the hottest summer can come. Destinations for your vacation with dog on the water At the beginning, of course, the question arises: lake or sea? Of course, we dog owners dream of walking along the wide sandy beach and watching our dog happily jumping through the waves. But the reality is usually different in the summer. Dog beaches that are completely overcrowded are more the rule than the exception, with leash restrictions and no trespassing. Especially if your dog may not get along so well with others, or is rather timid, the vacation with dog on the water is more likely to be a stress test for both of you. Rather use the low season for a vacation at the sea and discover the lakes that your home country has to offer in the high season. Other advantages: the travel distances are not so long, and the accommodations are a little cheaper. đ Bavaria and the German Alps High mountains, picturesque towns and, above all, plenty of clear streams and lakes. Bavaria has a lot to offer for a summer vacation with a dog. Among them, of course, thus fantastic, dog-friendly hotels, from which you can discover the surroundings. Dogs are welcome guests at the Creativhotel Luise in Erlangen. You should explore the Bavarian city in the cool morning or evening hours. To cool off afterward, there are numerous lakes nearby, such as the Dechsendorfer Weiher, the Brombachsee (with a designated dog beach) or the Pegnitz at the Wiesengrund. If you are more drawn to the mountains, the Berghotel Rehlegg is an ideal starting point for hikes through the shady forests. Itâs only a short distance to Hintersee, and on a hike through the magic forest you will find several places where your dog can jump into the cool water. And maybe you too? In the AllgĂ€u, the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio welcomes you and your four-legged friend. The small town of Balderschwang is cozy even in summer, and you will hardly notice anything of the high season in the hotel. The Bolgenach flows through the Balderschwang valley. Here you can easily walk along with your dog. In between, your four-legged friend can always cool off. And if you have a little dirty pig in dog form: At the hotel, there is also a dog shower đ Tip: Hiking with a dog Especially in summer, you have to be cautious when you plan a hike with your dog. Of course, if itâs too hot, you should leave it alone anyway. Dogs donât sweat like we do, so they overheat more quickly when exerting themselves. So choose moderate hikes and make sure you and your dog drink enough. Of course, trails along streams, rivers, or lakes are best. On the one hand, your dog has access to water, and you have to carry less, on the other hand, you can always cool down. But be careful: If your dog is very heated up by a climb, you should not let him jump into the ice-coldmountain lake right away, but let him get used to it slowly. Vacation in Austria with dog You can make great tours, for example, from the Austrian Hotel KlosterbrĂ€u. Numerous lakes can be found in the vicinity so that your vacation is probably not enough to discover them all. The closest is the Seefelder Wildsee. Idyllically located in the forest is the Möserer See (there is also a restaurant where you can stop for a bite to eat). Furthermore, you can find the Lauterersee and the Ferchensee, as well as the natural phenomena Wildmoossee and Lottensee. These exist in irregular intervals: Depending on snowmelt and precipitation. So find out beforehand if they are just there đ The gorges around Seefeld are impressive, such as the Leutascher Geisterklamm or the Gleirschklamm in the Karwendel. The tours lead along mountain streams, so your dog can always cool off briefly. There are also numerous tours for hot months along the Isar and its source in Scharnitz. By the way: Hotel KlosterbrĂ€u has just launched its own Younique Doc Collection. It has already been tested by the hotel dog Bonnie and found to be good đ On the road in the shadow of the Black Forest The Black Forest with its endless hiking trails in the shade of old trees is already a dream destination for summer vacation. It is also a dream destination for a vacation with a dog on the water. Why? Because, among other things, there is the Grötzingen quarry pond. It is only half an hour away from the sustainable Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. A worthwhile day trip, especially if you are not only traveling with your dog, but also with your family. In addition to opportunities for surfing, sailing, fishing, soccer and volleyball games, there is a dog beach, as well as a dog playground and a designated dog run. Perfect to be active in the early morning hours and exercise bundles of energy, then spend the hot midday in the shade. Sure, in the summer it gets crowded here sometimes. So if your dog doesnât like his own kind or is overwhelmed by it, just retreat with him to the hiking trails of the Black Forest. Numerous streams and rivers also offer opportunities to cool off here. Vacation with dog on the water in Italy and Croatia, despite the heat Driving even further south in the hot summer? Sounds absurd at first. Especially if you have a husky at home like me. To even think about spending the summer in Italy with him is of course nonsense. But if you have a four-legged friend, for example, originally from Italy or Spain and therefore knows the heat from an early age, it is definitely worth considering. South Tyrol South Tyrol, for example, is a great destination: hiking routes through the mountains, numerous mountain lakes and a well-developed public transport network make sustainable travel with dogs super easy here. If you stay at the Hotel Weihrerhof on the Ritten, you donât have to walk far to the nearest bathing area. It is right in front of the door. Lake Wolfsgruben is one of the clearest bathing lakes in Italy and refreshes dogs and humans alike in summer. Liguria A little further south, Relais del Maro welcomes guests with dogs. Thanks to the Albergo Diffuso hotel, the tiny village is now really coming alive, offering you and your dog places to stop and a lively, authentic village community. From the Relais del Maro, just follow the little river up into the mountains a bit. There you will find numerous rock pools that invite children and dogs alike to splash and play. Campania In southern Italy, it is sometimes difficult to find a beach for dogs, as it is on the Baltic or North Sea. In the municipality of Castellabate, for example, where the historic estate Aâ CrĂ pa Mangia is located, dogs are not allowed on the beach. However, if you take the path from Ogliastro to Punta Licosa, there are more secluded stretches of beach where your four-legged friends can refresh themselves, Lucia from Aâ CrĂ pa Mangia tells us. There are designated dog beaches in Paestum: Mare Mirtilli Eco Beach and Lido Mimosa. On Korcula, a small Croatian island, there are still numerous wild beaches where you are almost alone even in summer. They are located away from the tourist hotspots and invite you to spend long hours on the water. In the immediate vicinity of the Eco Aparthotel The Dreamerâs Club there are also two dog beaches. At the respective ends of the beaches Bilin Zal and Vela Przina, where the white sand turns into stonier areas, dogs are allowed to romp in the water to their heartâs content. Vacation with dog at the water The summers are getting hotter, and this is not only a burden for us, but also for our dogs. We have to take this into account when planning our trips. All the nicer that our partners immediately have tips and hints at hand, where you can spend a vacation with your dog at the water. Because what could be better than that? Travel