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Refreshing swim with your dog

Most dogs love to swim in the water, and on a hot summer’s day, a refreshing dip can be super great for your dog. Luckily in Halmstad there are many excellent places where you can go swimming along with your dog.

Dog-friendly beaches along the coast

Without doubt, dogs must have a beach life too! In Halmstad, you can take your dog swimming all year round on all beaches that are not officially designated swimming beaches. From May 1 to September 15, dogs are only allowed to swim at “natural beaches,” i.e. beaches that are not officially designated as beaches. Keep in mind that the water is only sampled at the official beaches. Signs indicate where during this period dogs are not allowed. You can read more on Halmstad Municipality’s website about the rules for swimming with dogs along the coast (swe). External link, opens in new window.

Västra stranden in Halmstad

Photo: Stefan Mjellander, Västra stranden

Västra stranden

A short walk from Halmstad city centre – take Prince Bertil’s Trail – you will find Västra stranden, an approximately 1.2 kilometer long and wide sand dog beach that is very popular with dog owners. The beach is one of Halmstad’s undesignated natural beaches, which means that dogs are welcome all year round. Keep in mind that the water is not tested. And when you get hungry, we can recommend a visit to Söderpiren (swe), External link, opens in new window. which is located on Västra stranden. Bring your dog inside with you and choose from delicious pastries, hot sandwiches, fresh salads and made-to-order smoothies in a fantastic setting right by the sea. Right next to the beach is the scenic Prince Bertil’s Trail, perfect for a long walk with your doggie! If you continue on the path towards Tylösand, you will pass many excellent places where your dog can take a dip.

Haverdal south

Just north of Halmstad is the beautiful Haverdal Beach and Haverdal Nature Reserve (swe). External link, opens in new window. There is an undesignated natural beach on the southern part where your dog can swim, all year round. The adjacent nature reserve is full of excellent paths to walk with your dog. These will take you on a hike through a varied forest with twisted and crooked pine trees, sand dunes and beachy beach moorland.

List of undesignated natural beaches on the coast

From May 1 to September 15, dogs are only allowed to swim at natural beaches, i.e. unofficial swimming sites.

  • Båtabacken
  • Grötvik
  • Glassvik
  • Haverdalsstranden södra
  • Lynga
  • Långenäsviken
  • Sandhamn
  • Särdal
  • Trönninge
  • Tönnesa
  • Västra stranden
  • Örnäsviken

Additional information about undesignated natural beaches can be found on Halmstad municipality’s website (swe). External link, opens in new window.

Salt content and algae

The sea around Halmstad is salty ocean water. Please be careful that your dog does not drink too much seawater and remember to give your dog a nice shower afterwards. We strongly suggest that if you see there is algae in the water, it would be best not to allow your dog to swim in it. And also important to keep in mind is that Halmstad Municipality only takes water quality External link, opens in new window. readings at officially designated swimming beaches.

Dog swimming in a lake

Swimming in a lake for your dog

If you prefer freshwater lakes, there are several scenic lakes in Halmstad to choose from. At Skedala Forest east of Halmstad you will find Torvsjön - and the smaller Toftasjön lakes. You can freshwater swim here with your dog anywhere that is not an officially designated swimming beach. The area is also a very popular hiking area and offers several different hiking trails of varying length and difficulty.

If you continue further east from Skedala, you will end up in Simlångsdalen. Here you will find the lakes Brearedssjön, Simlången and Gyltigesjön which offer several nice swimming possibilities for your dog where there are no officially designated swimming beaches. In Simlångsdalen there are several different hiking trails to choose from, including the 4-kilometre hiking trail around Lake Brearedssjön.

Around Tönnersjö, southeast of Halmstad, there are several nice lakes where your dog can swim. At Stora Skärsjön and Tostarpasjön, dogs are allowed to swim everywhere except at the designated swimming beaches. The smaller lakes Hunesjön and Iglasjön, on the other hand, have no designated swimming beaches, so dogs are free to cool off there.

List of undesignated natural lake beaches

From May 1 to September 15, dogs are only allowed to swim at natural beaches, i.e. unofficial swimming sites. The lakes below have both designated swimming beach areas and undesignated natural beaches. Some of the lakes have only natural beaches. On Halmstad Municipality’s website you can see where the designated swimming beaches are, both on the coast and on the lake (swe). External link, opens in new window.

  • Torvsjön and Toftasjön – there is also a designated swimming beach here
  • Brearedssjön – there is also a designated swimming beach here
  • Simlången
  • Gyltigesjön – there is also a designated swimming beach here
  • Tönnersjön
  • Stors Skärsjön
  • Tostarpssjön – there is also a designated swimming beach here
  • Hunesjön
  • Iglasjön

Map with extra dog-friendly places in Halmstad

Information in the map is in Swedish. Click the icon in the top right corner of the map to open in Google Maps. To view and hide different layers, as well as to see all visitor destinations, click on the icon in the top left corner of the map.

More for you and your dog in Halmstad

The page was last updated: 29 March 2023

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