Many dog owners would like to take their furry friends with them on holiday. Luckily, Munich is a dog-friendly city with its many parks and green spaces. All important information and tips are available here.
The dachshund belongs to Munich like “Leberkäs” to a “Semmel” – they were already bred for hunting in the times of the Wittelsbach dynasty. For the 1972 Olympic Games, the dachshund was declared the official mascot. It was christened "Waldi" and has been a symbol of the city ever since. The dachshund is a popular pet among Munich locals, so it's no surprise that the city is so dog-friendly.
There are plenty of opportunities for dogs to romp in Munich. You can walk them in the following large parks, but you must keep them on a leash: Englischer Garten, Olympiapark, Westpark and Ostpark. Luitpoldpark in the Schwabing district has open spaces for off-leash romping, while smaller parks and various meadows are the meeting places for dog owners to meet and let their dogs play. The Dogorama dog app helps you find dog meeting places and off-leash areas nearby.
Especially in summer, it's nice to sit down and relax in the beer garden after a long walk with your dog. Dogs are allowed in all beer gardens in the city, but the Mini Hofbräuhaus in the Englischer Garten, nicknamed the "dog beer garden", is particularly suitable. Here the animals meet playmates and of course the staff is particularly pet-friendly.
If you're out and about in Schwabing, you should stop at Nikkei Kitchen right next to Luitpoldpark. The small Peruvian restaurant explicitly welcomes dogs. Other good places to go are the vegetarian and vegan restaurants, because where meatless food is served, animal welfare is a priority.
Munich offers a wide range of outdoor activities. Dogs can explore the beautiful Nymphenburger Schlosspark sniff around the outdoor area of the Botanischer Garten or visit Tierpark Hellabrunn. The only thing to note here is that dogs must be kept on a leash. Free-running animals are allowed along the outer wall of Schloss Nymphenburg. The garden of Schloss Blutenburg is also ideal for a stroll – this medieval castle complex is idyllically encircled by the Würm river.
The re-naturalised Isar river is a must for every visitor to Munich. Whether in the middle of the city, on the banks of the Isar or on the outskirts – there are numerous routes and bathing spots where dogs can cool off. But watch out: The Isar is considered a white-water river, so animals should only go into the water in places where the current is not too strong and the riverbed not too deep. They can also dip their paws into the cool water at Hachinger Bach. The river runs through Ostpark, where designated free-range areas are waiting to be explored.
Mallertshofer See is a dog lake and the perfect place to spend a hot summer day with your four-legged friend. The quarry pond belongs to the municipality of Oberschleissheim and attracts visitors with two sunbathing lawns each at its northern and southern side. Good to know: Here, you will not only meet dog owners, but also nudists.
The Perlacher Forst forest area is easy to reach by car, but you can also take the U1 underground train in the direction of Mangfallplatz (get off at the terminus). There is a drinking water station for humans and animals at the entrance to the Giesinger Waldhaus, which is also the starting point for various routes through the recreation area.
Munich is the ideal gateway for a hike to the mountains in the south or to the many lakes in the surrounding area. A wide range of options awaits you, with various fun tours and stops for a snack.
KauHaus in Schlachthofviertel offers healthy food and toys, while Hundemetzgerei Beutefuchs in Laim not only sells fresh meat, but also a wide range of treats and chews. Shops such as Strauchdieb, hundskerle or Blue Diva also stock a selection of food, as well as accessories, toys and utensils for on the go. And by the way: If you are looking for a souvenir related to the Munich dachshund, you’ll find it at Servus Heimat or Obacht.
When the outdoor pool season draws to an end, the annual highlight for many Munich dogs takes place in the nudist area of the Dantebad outdoor pool: the doggy bathing day. Chlorine is not added to the water on the preceding days, and then dogs are allowed to splash and romp around to bring the outdoor pool season to a proper end (humans, however, are no longer allowed in the water). You can find all information here as soon as the date for this year’s doggy bathing day has been set.
Dogs are allowed in most accommodation for a small fee. You can find the relevant information on the respective websites. Some hotels are also dog-certified and/or explicitly welcome the furry friends by providing bowls, treats and towels, as well as the best dog walks. Maximilian Munich Hotel in the Old Town, Brunnenhof hotel in Schillerstrasse and Harrys Home in Moosach are particularly happy to welcome your animal companions.
If you want to experience Munich from its green side and are travelling by camper van, you can take dogs with you for a fee to the Obermenzing and Thalkirchen campsites.
A warm welcome-woof and lots of fun in Munich!
