– from someone who knows
By Mariejoe, Vizsla, world explorer and Feelgood Manager at one of Munich’s most innovative real estate companies.
At a Glance
- Munich is one of the most dog-friendly cities in Germany – but not all areas have the same rules.
- This guide shows you where your dog can run free, where leashes are required, and where you can enjoy the water together.
- Best spots for off-leash running: Isar & Flaucher, Allacher Forst, Hachinger Bach in Ostpark.
- Official swimming areas: Isar and Würm – the safest and most relaxed water spots in the city.
- Leash requirements apply throughout Nymphenburger Schlosspark, Westpark, and around playgrounds everywhere.
- Insider tips for less crowds: Allacher Forst, Hundewiese Neubiberg, Sollner Wiesen.
I live in Munich. I’m outside every day. And I’ve – if I may say so – sniffed out far more places in this city than most people who live here. My human follows behind me. I lead. That’s how it works.
So you know where it’s really worth going – and where the municipal authorities are already smiling at you from afar – I’ve put together this guide. With everything that matters: off-leash areas, water, leash requirements, and the occasional honest comment from yours truly.
Green Spaces – Our Green Kingdom
Englischer Garten – central, expansive, essential
If I only know one place in Munich, let it be this one. The Englischer Garten is larger than Central Park in New York – and it smells better too. Wide meadows, bushes full of secrets, students throwing Frisbees and grinning at us. The beer garden at the Chinese Tower is a must. Our humans drink their beer, we lie beside them in the sun looking dignified. That’s how it works here.
As for the rules: It’s complicated. Officially, leashes are required – especially around beer gardens, playgrounds, and when it’s busy. On the large meadows away from the crowds, the approach is much more relaxed. Those who come early in the morning have the park largely to themselves.
- 🐕 Partial leash requirement – especially when busy and near beer gardens & playgrounds
- 🌿 Large meadows = often relaxed off-leash possible, especially in the north
- 💧 Eisbach & Auer Mühlbach as natural water sources available
- 🚫 Official dog swimming area: not designated
Perfect for: relaxed walks, social dogs, beer garden afternoons.
More on this: Englischer Garten with Dogs: What’s Allowed and Where It’s Most Beautiful
Schlosspark Nymphenburg – beautiful, but with rules
I’ll admit it: I’m a dog with standards. And Nymphenburger Schlosspark satisfies those standards elegantly. The wide meadows along the palace wall are a dream – small forests, ducks in the canals (look, don’t chase), and that special kind of silence you only find in old parks.
What my human needs to know: In the palace park itself, leashes are required everywhere. The outer areas along the palace wall are freer – you’ll meet dog owners from Laim, Pasing, and surrounding areas there daily, and for good reason. Swimming is prohibited. The park is well-maintained, orderly – and still beautiful.
- 🐕 Leash requirement throughout the palace park
- 🌿 Outer areas at the palace wall: off-leash possible
- 🚫 Swimming prohibited
Perfect for: quiet walks, older dogs, stylish Sunday outings.
More on this: Nymphenburg Palace Park with Dogs – everything you need to know
Riemer Park – endless expanse
210 hectares. Once an airport, now our playground. Riemer Park in eastern Munich offers expanse, the beautiful Riemer See, and paths that seem endless. It was officially opened with the 2005 Federal Garden Show – since then it’s been ours. On an early morning, when fog still hangs over the lake, you lose your sniffing heart here.
The truth about Riemer See: Swimming is officially not allowed for dogs. If you want to do long loops and still see water, this is the right place – just don’t jump in. Better to do that elsewhere.
Important to know: At many lakes in Munich – including Riemer See – swimming for dogs is officially not permitted. In practice, it’s tolerated in some places, especially outside heavily frequented swimming areas. Those who want to play it safe should stick to designated or established dog spots like the Isar or Würm.
- 🐕 Partial leash requirement
- 🌿 Large areas for long walks
- 🚫 Officially no dog swimming at Riemer See
Perfect for: long loops, extended tours, early morning lovers.
More on this: Riemer Park Munich with Dogs: Tips for your day out
Westpark – honest words
Westpark is beautiful. Really. Well-maintained paths, ponds, Japanese garden installations, a rosarium. My human likes it. But I’ll tell you how it is: Leashes required everywhere. No off-leash. No exceptions. For dogs who want to burn off energy, this is the wrong address. For a leisurely evening walk on a leash – why not.
- ❗ Leash requirement everywhere
- 🌸 Many paths & gardens, nice atmosphere
- 🚫 No off-leash, no swimming
Good for: relaxed leashed walks – not for burning off energy.
Sollner Wiesen – arrive and breathe
Whether around the fields or through the forest – you meet dog lovers everywhere, and everyone’s having fun. In hot weather, the small fire pond offers refreshing relief. A relaxed, uncomplicated place where dog and human can simply arrive. No big show. No hustle. Just grass, air, and freedom.
Fürstenrieder Wald – run until your paws tingle
Between Großhadern and Neuried. From there you can also continue into the nearby Forstenrieder Park – for days when you just want to run until your paws tingle. Ideal for those seeking extended forest walks with dogs around Munich without encountering anyone.
Stadtpark Pasing – the after-work park
Various paths lead through the park, with large meadows opening up repeatedly. The Würm flows through the park – a little water paradise for all dogs who love getting wet. For a relaxed after-work walk, there’s hardly a more peaceful place in the west of the city.
Angerlohe in Allach – the locals’ secret
A landscape conservation area that hardly reveals its name to anyone outside the neighborhood – yet a detour is very worthwhile. The Angerlohe in Allach is quiet, natural, and perceived by many dog owners as a relaxed place without strict leash controls. Officially, however – as in many Munich green spaces – situation-dependent regulations on leash use may apply. Consideration and control are particularly important here to keep this place as it is.
More on this: Dog Parks in Munich: The best off-leash areas at a glance
Lakes & Water – because the wet calls to us
Isar & Flaucher – the classic. And rightly so.
The Isar meadows – this isn’t a park, this is nature in the middle of the city. Kilometers of natural riverbanks from Hellabrunn to the Englischer Garten. The Flaucher between the zoo and Candidplatz is our outdoor living room in summer. People grill, dogs swim, nobody complains. That’s how it should be.
The Isar is one of the few places in Munich where dogs are officially allowed in the water – and you can tell. It’s loud, lively, sometimes chaotic. And that’s exactly why I love it.
- 💧 Water access allowed – one of the few official places in Munich
- 🐕 Many areas without strict leash control
- 🌳 Nature, shade, plenty of space
- ⚠️ Watch the current – especially after rainfall. Be considerate of other bathers.
Perfect for: active dogs, summer days, anyone who really wants to swim.
More on this: The Isar with Dogs: The prettiest spots in Munich
Mallertshofer See – our insider tip in the north
No overcrowded tourist beach. No disapproving looks. Mallertshofer See north of the city is what we need: an idyllic meeting point for dog people, off-leash four-legged friends, and water that welcomes us. The light on the water on a July evening, the smell of damp grass. When dogs dream, we dream of places like this.
- 💧 Designated dog lake – swimming allowed
- 🐕 Off-leash possible
- 🌿 Quiet, idyllic, little hustle
More on this: Mallertshofer See: The hidden gem for Munich dog owners
Würm – the quiet alternative to the Isar
The Würm flows through western Munich – through Pasing, along Stadtpark, toward Gauting. Quieter than the Isar, less traffic, less current. Swimming is possible in many places. For anyone who loves water but avoids the crowds at Flaucher, the Würm is the most honest recommendation I have.
- 💧 Swimming possible in many places
- 🐕 Partially off-leash possible
- 🌿 Quieter than the Isar, ideal for relaxed summer tours
Hachinger Bach in Ostpark – cold, refreshing, perfect
The Hachinger Bach runs through Ostpark – with designated off-leash areas and a stream that’s exactly the right temperature after a long gallop. Cold. Refreshing. Perfect. If you want to combine off-leash and water without traveling far, this is the place.
- 🐕 Designated off-leash areas
- 💧 Stream for cooling off
- 🌿 Easily accessible, little hustle
Olympiasee – iconic, but with restrictions
The Olympiapark with its 85-hectare area, the Olympiaberg, and the lake offers a nice walk with dogs too. The water quality of Olympiasee isn’t the best in the city – but it’s enough for a quick cool-down after a long walk. No officially designated dog beach, but handled in a relaxed manner.
Fünf-Seen-Land – when the city isn’t enough
When the city isn’t enough for us – and that happens – we head out. The Fünf-Seen-Land between Ammersee and Starnberger See is a short drive away and the most beautiful promise Bavaria gives us: Suddenly the world is big, quiet, and smells like lake. For days when you simply want more.
Find more here: Dog Lakes Munich: Where Dogs Can Swim Year-Round
Sights & Special Destinations
Schloss Blutenburg – history, Würm, and silence
In the middle of the city, yet it feels like another world. Schloss Blutenburg in Obermenzing combines beautifully with a walk along the Würm or the Pasing-Nymphenburg Canal. Historic, green, quiet. I like places that carry stories in their stones.
Tierpark Hellabrunn – yes, we’re allowed in too
Yes, we’re allowed in the zoo too. At Tierpark Hellabrunn, dogs are welcome on short leashes – one dog per person. Indoor areas and animal houses remain off-limits to us, but that’s fine. The smells outside on the paths more than make up for it. Cheetah. I smelled cheetah. That changes you.
- 🐕 Dogs allowed – leash requirement
- 🚫 Not in animal houses
- 👉 Not a typical dog outing – but a special experience
Mini Hofbräuhaus – the beer garden that loves us
The Minihofbräuhaus in the northern Englischer Garten. It’s chaotic, loud, full of dogs, full of people, full of life. Under every table lies at least one four-legged friend. Some doze, some observe, some romp around briefly before collapsing exhausted. It’s Bavarian “live and let live” in its purest form – and one of Munich’s most dog-friendly beer gardens.
You can find more beer gardens here: Dog-friendly beer gardens in Munich – our favorite spots
Restaurants are dog-friendly too: Eating out with your dog in Munich: Restaurants and cafés that welcome four-legged friends
Botanischer Garten – for spring romantics
The Botanischer Garten on 21 hectares – dogs allowed on short leashes, greenhouses unfortunately off-limits. For spring outings when everything blooms and the air smells of a thousand things at once. A quiet, beautiful place for relaxed Sunday walks.
Along the Amper near Dachau – briefly out, feel far away
About 20 minutes outside the city gates, but a completely different world. Along the Amper near Dachau, beautiful nature trails lead through the countryside – perfect for an extended outing. Good starting point: the parking lot near Dachau outdoor pool.
Insider Tips – for real locals
Allacher Forst – lots of nature, few people
If you’re looking for quiet forest paths without encountering joggers, cyclists, and tourist groups, Allacher Forst is the place. Large forest area, partially off-leash possible, natural. In the morning in autumn, when the ground smells like ground should smell – unbeatable.
- 🌲 Lots of nature, little traffic
- 🐕 Partially off-leash possible
Hundewiese Neubiberg – officially allowed to romp
One of the officially designated off-leash areas in the Munich area. Hundewiese Neubiberg is exactly what the name promises: space to romp, other dogs, relaxed owners. Uncomplicated. Direct. Just right.
- 🐕 Official off-leash area
- 🌿 Perfect for burning off energy
My Quick Overview
| Location | Off-Leash | Water / Swimming | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isar / Flaucher | ✅ often possible | ✅ officially allowed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Englischer Garten | ⚠️ partially | ⚠️ unofficial | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Mallertshofer See | ✅ | ✅ designated | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Würm | ⚠️ partially | ✅ often possible | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hachinger Bach / Ostpark | ✅ designated | ✅ stream | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Allacher Forst | ✅ partially | – | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hundewiese Neubiberg | ✅ official | – | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Nymphenburger Schlosspark | 🐕 leash | – | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Riemer Park | ⚠️ partially | 🚫 no dog swimming | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Westpark | 🚫 leash requirement | – | ⭐⭐ |
| Tierpark Hellabrunn | 🐕 leash | – | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Mini Hofbräuhaus | 🐕 leash | – | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (beer garden) |
| Fünf-Seen-Land | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (outing) |
Munich awaits us. And we await Munich.
Yours, Mariejoe 🐾
Note: The information provided is based on experience and local conditions. Rules regarding leash requirements, off-leash areas, and swimming may change depending on the area and current regulations. No claim is made to completeness or legal binding force. When in doubt, the official regulations of the City of Munich apply.
Frequently Asked Questions – With Dogs in Munich
Where can dogs run off-leash in Munich?
Especially along the Isar, on designated dog meadows like the Hundewiese Neubiberg, in the Hachinger Bach area of Ostpark, in Allacher Forst, and in less frequented forest areas like Fürstenrieder Wald. In the Englischer Garten, off-leash is tolerated on the large meadows but officially only allowed in designated areas. In parks with clear leash requirements – Westpark, Nymphenburger Schlosspark – always keep your dog on a leash.
Where can my dog swim in Munich?
The safest and officially most relaxed spots are the Isar (especially at Flaucher) and the Würm in the west of the city. The Mallertshofer See north of Munich is a designated dog lake – swimming is explicitly allowed there. At many lakes within the city (Riemer See, Olympiasee), dog swimming is officially not permitted but is tolerated in some places.
Are dogs allowed in the Englischer Garten?
Yes – dogs are allowed in the Englischer Garten. Officially, leashes are required; in practice, the approach on the large meadows, especially in the northern part, is often more relaxed. Always keep your dog on a leash around playgrounds, beer gardens, and when there’s heavy foot traffic. The municipal authorities are active – better to be on the safe side.
Which park in Munich is most dog-friendly?
That depends on the dog – and the human. For those wanting to combine off-leash and water: Isar / Flaucher. For wide meadow areas without major restrictions: Englischer Garten North. For an official off-leash area: Hachinger Bach / Ostpark or Hundewiese Neubiberg. Elegant city walks on a leash: Nymphenburger Schlosspark.
Are dogs allowed in Tierpark Hellabrunn?
Yes – dogs are allowed in Tierpark Hellabrunn on a short leash, one dog per person. Indoor areas and animal houses are off-limits. It’s not a classic dog outing, but it’s a special experience – especially for curious noses. Cheetah. I smelled cheetah. That changes you.
What are the best insider tips for dogs in Munich?
Three places that are less well-known but really worthwhile: Allacher Forst for quiet forest walks with little traffic, Angerlohe in Allach as a natural landscape conservation area without leash requirements, and Sollner Wiesen in the south of the city for relaxed walks without tourist crowds.
Are there beer gardens in Munich where dogs are welcome?
Yes – and this is one of the few points where Munich really shines. The Mini Hofbräuhaus in the northern Englischer Garten is legendarily dog-friendly. The Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm is Munich’s largest and welcomes dogs in the outdoor area under the table. Basic rule everywhere: stay calm, keep on leash, bring a water bowl.
Is a trip to Fünf-Seen-Land with a dog worthwhile?
Absolutely. The Fünf-Seen-Land – between Ammersee, Starnberger See, Pilsensee, Wörthsee, and Weßlinger See – is a short drive from Munich and offers expanse, water, and nature in a way the city simply can’t deliver. For an extended weekend outing with a dog, there’s hardly anything better in the surrounding area.
