Dog Friendly Places For a City Break in Germany

Germany is a fantastic country to visit as there are loads of nice places to visit for a dog friendly city break. There are also lots of options for things to do, especially if travelling with a dog. Germany is a Western European country with a landscape of forests, rivers, mountain ranges and the North Sea beaches. My favourite aspects of visiting Germany were the beer, stunning architecture in various cities, and how dog friendly it is.

Places to Visit in Germany - Dresden

Why Visit Germany?

  • It has lots of history, which is reflected in its perfectly restored architecture.
  • It is a great country for beer lovers to visit, because of the high quality regional beer options.
  • There are hundreds of types of sausages to try, a great place for those that appreciate great sausages.
  • It is a great place to visit with a dog, lots of things are dog-friendly.

Places to Visit in Germany For a Dog Friendly City BreaK

Nuremberg Castle Germany

I have visited and enjoyed a few places so far. I’m very keen to return and see more of the country, also with the dog. Highlights of my past visits include the architecture of the former East Germany city of Dresden, the skyscrapers in Frankfurt, and the vibe of the Bavarian city of Nuremberg.

Nuremberg is a Beautiful City to Visit

Christmas Market Nuremberg

The Bavarian city of Nuremberg is a beautiful and fantastic place to visit, especially at Christmas. The city comes into its own during the Christmas Markets and is a great time to visit.

Dog Nuremberg Christmas Markets

It also has many interesting tourist attractions to see, including museums, a castle, Gothic churches and a historic old own area. We found the city was a fantastic place for a sightseeing dog walk. The bars we visited were also dog friendly and even got offered water for Henry.

Munich A Fantastic Dog Friendly City Break

Visit Munich - Marienplatz

The city of Munich is a lovely place to visit. It is in the state of Bavaria in Germany and it’s a city with lots to see when visiting with a dog. The centre of the city near Marienplatz is a great starting point in the city and explore on foot or public transport from there.

Munich a dog friendly interrail destination

Munich has lots of interesting architecture to see and many tourist attractions. The city is famed for its beer halls, including Hofbrauhaus, one of the more famous ones. All the bars and beer halls we visited were dog friendly, and some even filled Henry’s bowl.

Dresden is a very historical city to visit

Things to see and do in Dresden, Germany

Dresden is a fascinating city in the Saxony region of the former East Germany. It has some fantastic architecture to explore in the old town area and alongside the River Elbe. It is home to the iconic Zwinger, a palatial complex with art galleries and, overall, is a stunning place to mooch around.

Tourist Attractions in Dresden Germany

Other tourist attractions include the Castle, museums, music venues and other imposing buildings. The city is home to many churches and cathedrals, including the impressive Frauenkirche. As the city is like an open-air museum, it made for a fantastic sightseeing dog walk.

Frankfurt is an Interesting Place to Visit For a City Break

Frankfurt, Germany Skyline

Frankfurt is a modern city with lots of skyscrapers and also some nice historic touches. It is a great place to visit and has many things to see. The city’s skyline is like no other in Europe, with some very tall buildings. It is a great place for shopping or dining out, and plenty of tourist attractions to keep visitors entertained.

Opera House At Christmas

It is a hub for the nation’s train network, thus I have visited for extended dog walks while traversing Germany on the train. While in the city, we found that bars and cafes were pet friendly, which was great.

Frankfurt Christmas Market

We also visited the Christmas market with the dog. They had lots of fantastic stalls selling delicious food and gifts. Overall, the German city was a fascinating place to visit with a dog.

Karlsruhe

Visit Germany Karlsruhe

Another dog friendly place to visit in Germany is Karlsruhe. The city is near to the French border, the Black Forest and is on the Rhine River. We found it a lovely place to explore and had lots of green spaces for dog walks. The architecture of Karlsruhe centre was fantastic too. We found that many bars and restaurants were dog friendly and also fantastic for food or beer.

Things to See and What to Do in Germany

Some things I have enjoyed while travelling in Germany with the dog.

Try Some Local German beer

Tucher Beer Germany

People know Germany for producing great beer, and each region or city has their own style. Tasting the local variants can be great fun and a real treat. My two favourite styles are pilsners and wheat beers, and the Germans do these very well. If travelling by high-speed train, one of the great ways to spend the trip is sinking a few Erdingers in the restaurant carriage.

Try the regional Sausages

Bratwurst in Frankfurt

Each region and city has its own style of sausage dish and German sausages are mighty fine lunchtime snacks while travelling. The bratwurst usually comes in buns with onions, mustard or sauerkraut. One of my favourite variations is those in Nuremberg, where the sausages are small and come in sets of three.

Visit a Christmas Market

Christmas Market Nuremberg

A popular reason people visit Germany in the winter is to attend one of its iconic Christmas markets. German markets are a benchmark in the festive markets and are often stunning. They beautifully decorate them and usually complimented with beautiful back drops.

Fürstenpalais Christmas

The food and drinks at these are rather special too, including special cakes and mulled drinks. We have visited the markets in Nuremberg and Frankfurt. However, most cities have their own version.

Dresden Castle

Dresden Castle - Stallhof

In the old town area of the city, is the Dresden Castle complex, a lovely place to explore. It has many things to see from some great art, towers and an array of museums. The castle has lots of architectural styles, including Baroque and Renaissance. This all adds to the beauty of the castle. They started building the castle’s keep in 1200, however; they developed the castle’s site throughout the centuries.

The Imperial Castle of Nuremberg

Imperial Castle of Nuremberg

The Imperial Castle of Nuremberg is at the top of a hill overlooking the central areas of the city. They built at the top of a sandstone ridge and are one of the most formidable fortifications in Europe. The buildings and fortifications are wonderful to mooch around or to enjoy the view of the city’s skyline.

Travel Around Germany by Train With a Dog

Trains at Sunset

Germany is a great place for train travel. Their railway network includes ICE high-speed trains to connect cities. They also have a comprehensive regional network. There are also many international train services making Germany a great place to add to an Interrail trip. The trains are all pretty dog friendly, however your canine companion may need to wear a muzzle.

Is Germany Dog-Friendly?

Aloft Munich a dog friendly bar

I found most of the country to be very dog-friendly and had a positive experience throughout with the dog in tow. Travel was very easy. The train rules include the use of a muzzle while travelling, but the rule seems to apply for bigger dogs in most instances. Dogs, including mine, often frequented bars and restaurants. Many shops were also pet-friendly except for food shops with open food counters and supermarkets.

I enjoyed travelling through the country using the ICE and regional trains on an Interrail pass with the dog in tow. I found Germany a very dog-friendly country, meaning finding accommodation and eating out with my pet was pretty easy.

Germany Bucket List

As I have enjoyed my times in the country, I have developed a list of places I wish to visit.

  • One personal recommendation from a friend enjoying my photographs suggested Heidelberg. Heidelberg is an interesting-looking city with a beautiful castle. Also, the town has some nice-looking churches and some interesting bridges across the Neckar river.
  • Berlin, the capital city, appeals lots because of its history, architecture and culture. Particularly interested in the Brandenburg Gate and the Gendarmenmarkt, a beautiful town square.
  • I instantly put Cologne on my radar after passing through on a train. The view of the river and the cathedral certainly piqued my interest.

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