Dog beaches in Denmark

Last updated: July 2026

The rules for dogs on the beach

The rules for dogs on Danish beaches follow the Danish Nature Protection Act (naturbeskyttelsesloven) and change with the season:

• 1 April – 30 September: Your dog must be kept on a lead on the beach.
• 1 October – 31 March: Your dog may be off the lead if it is fully under control and not at risk of causing harm.
• All year: Where livestock is grazing, your dog must always be on a lead.
• Blue Flag beaches: Blue Flag beaches are usually completely dog-free during the bathing season (roughly 1 June – 15 September) – this applies, for example, to Tisvildeleje, Rågeleje and Gilleleje Vest.

The exception is the official dog beaches: stretches of beach where the municipality allows dogs off the lead all year round. There are surprisingly few of them – only a handful in the whole country – and most are on Zealand and in the Greater Copenhagen area.

Official dog beaches – off the lead all year

Here your dog may run and swim off the lead all year round, as long as you have it fully under control.

Hornbæk Hundestrand (Helsingør Kommune)

Probably Denmark's best-known dog beach lies east of Hornbæk Havn, between “Lochers Hus” and parking area 1 on Tangvej. The beach is not fenced, and the ordinary beach continues on both sides – so your dog must come back when called.

Smidstrup Strand near Gilleleje (Gribskov Kommune)

Official dog beach by Smidstrup Søvej. During the bathing season the beach is split into an off-lead zone and an on-lead zone, so keep an eye on the signs when you get there.

Amager Strandpark – the off-leash area (Copenhagen)

Copenhagen's official dog beach lies about 500 metres north of Sundby Sejlforening's harbour, by “Søstjernen”. The rest of Amager Strandpark requires a lead all year round, and the beach island itself is dog-free from 1 May to 31 August. Easy to reach by metro, with parking at Amager Strand. See the area on the Amager Hundestrand page.

Hundige Hundestrand (Greve Kommune)

At Hundige Havn dogs may swim and run free – in summer too. The beach lies south-west of the parking area at the end of Hundige Havnevej, between Greve Marina and the Blue Flag beach. There are few facilities, so bring your own water and bags, and make sure your dog does not run off into the Blue Flag area.

Frølunde Fed Strand near Korsør (Slagelse Kommune)

A signposted part of the municipal beach is a dog beach all year round. Access and parking via Broholmvej. The beach is a mix of sand and stones, often with washed-up seaweed – but in return there is plenty of space and it is rarely crowded.

Læsø – Vesterø and Østerby

Læsø has two officially signposted dog beaches of about 100 metres each: one east of Vesterø Havn and one east of Østerby Havn. The requirement for full control is enforced – your dog must come straight away when you call.

Popular dog-friendly beaches – with seasonal rules

Many of Denmark's most famous “dog beaches” are actually ordinary beaches where the seasonal rules apply: on a lead from 1 April to 30 September and off the lead under control from 1 October to 31 March. They are still great places for a beach trip with your dog – especially in the winter half of the year.

Lakolk Strand, Rømø

One of the widest beaches in the country, where you can drive your car right out onto the sand. The seasonal rules apply, and your dog must stay away from the marked Blue Flag area. On the other hand, Rømø has no fewer than three dog parks where dogs can run free all year: Lakolk, Kirkeby Plantage and Vråby Plantage.

Blokhus Strand (Jammerbugt Kommune)

A classic holiday destination for dog owners, with a wide, firm sandy beach you can drive on. Seasonal rules apply – and just outside Hune, the dog park in Blokhus Klitplantage is an all-year alternative.

Marielyst Strand (Falster)

Voted Denmark's best beach several times and very dog-friendly outside the bathing season. Behind the coast lies the fenced Bøtø Hundeskov, where your dog can run free all year round.

Skagen Sønderstrand and Risskov Strand

Both are popular with dog owners but follow the ordinary seasonal rules. In Aarhus, the Riis Skov woods lie right behind the beach, and around both Skagen and Aarhus there are fenced dog parks as an all-year alternative.

Where there are no official dog beaches

The west coast (Blåvand, Henne, Hvide Sande), the Aarhus area and Bornholm currently have no officially designated dog beaches – the seasonal rules apply everywhere there. The good alternative in the summer half of the year is the dog parks: on Bornholm the island's largest fenced dog park is at Åsedammen in Almindingen, and along the west coast there are dog parks in places such as Blåbjerg Plantage, Blåvand and on Fanø and Rømø.

Find a dog park close to your beach in the Hundeskoven app – you can see fencing, facilities and directions before you set off. Or explore all dog parks by region.

Tips for a beach trip with your dog

• Check the signs – rules can vary from beach to beach, and Blue Flag beaches are dog-free during the bathing season.
• Bring fresh water – salt water makes dogs thirsty, and too much of it can upset their stomach.
• Rinse your dog after a swim – salt and sand irritate skin and paws.
• Watch out for young birds – coastal areas are vulnerable, especially in spring. Keep your dog away from dunes with nesting birds.
• Remember the bags – there are rarely bins on the beach.

Also read our complete guide to dog park rules and dogs in nature.