While a stopover, Berlin has always been a must see destination on our list. We have spent 3 exciting days exploring the city with our pooches. This is also a very different experience for me since I have only been able to visit East Berlin almost 40 years ago.
Berlin is an excellent destination for a long weekend getaway with your dog. The city is known for its dog-friendly atmosphere, offering numerous parks, pet-friendly accommodations, and outdoor attractions. Berlin is a mixture of new, old and never forgotten attractions and many can be done with your puppies included.
- East Side Gallery: further from the city centre, once a 150km long wall is now a significant piece of history and kept as a remembrance wall, take a SBahn to Ostbahnhof and walk down the Mühlenstraße.
- Check Point Charlie: crossing between West and East Germany, symbolizing the division, it can get very busy, the museum nearby has lot more history on offer.
- Brandenburg Gate: Restores 18th century gate and landmark
- Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe: a place of remembrance and commemoration for the up to six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, not dog friendly but can be seen from the pavement.
- Reichstag Building: free to enter but make sure you make your reservation well in advance
- Berliner Dom
- Topography of Terror: history museum, not dog friendly but outdoor area is free if you do not want to purchase the ticket but walk around.
If you fancy covering more during your weekend, we can highly recommend signing up for a walking tour – it covers a lot of history, more of untold stories and points out you building that were destroyed and rebuilt.
Berlin is home to numerous parks where your dog can enjoy the outdoors. While some regulations and etiquette are expected to be followed, dogs must be kept on a leash in all public spaces, except in designated dog parks (it’s not heavily enforced).
- Tiergarten: located in the city center, this expansive park offers a huge space for walks, picnics and relaxation and most importantly fun with your dog.
- Charlottenburg Schloss: you can explore the gardens while keeping your dogs on a lead, they are not allowed to enter the castle but absolutely free to sniff some bushes and butts.
- Lietzenseepark: a delightfully small park surrounded by a lake, dogs should be kept on the lead but this doesn’t seem to be enforced too much by the locals. If you fancy sitting by the lake and watching the world go by, enjoy cold drinks or beer in the Boothaus Stella
- Friedenthal park: A woody/park/field area with a lake, offering areas where dogs can run free.
- Park am Gleisdreieck: it’s one of the most dog-friendly urban parks in the city. While the park isn’t fully off-leash everywhere, there are sections (especially near the western side, closer to U-Bahn Gleisdreieck) where locals often let dogs run freely — just always check signage.
- Mauerpark: Situated in Prenzlauer Berg, it has a fenced dog area, and especially during weekends it has a lively atmosphere with flea markets.
Dogs are allowed on Berlin’s public transportation system, including the U and S Bahn. They must be leashed, and certain breeds are required to wear a muzzle. Small dogs can travel for free, while larger dogs require a reduced-fare ticket. Dogs are generally prohibited from certain parks, and public buildings but don’t be discouraged by this fact. Many of Berlin’s landmarks, such as the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Brandenburg Gate, are outdoors and can be enjoyed with your dog. Your 24h ticket allows your dog to travel for free.
If you are also looking for some great food or drinks, there are plenty of places to grab street food or simply sit down for your meal. From Currywurst, Kebap to Viennese schnitzel.
- BRLO Brwhouse – brewery with a great outdoor area, located near a park am Gleisdreieck for all the vibes and space you can need with your dog and pint in your hand. Other BRLO branches around Berlin city. Dog friendly.
- Steel Vintage Bike Cafe: great coffee shop with outdoor area and bike workshop on premises.
- Curry INN – Currywurst and Pommes on the go, near Alexander Platz; seating area available.
- Bavaria Berlin – traditional meals served, pork knuckle or schnitzel is a must.
There is still so much to see and do around Berlin we were not able to see with the dogs and without them, and since we are moving to Europe it will be just over 5h to drive for a visit, so we will be coming back to see more of Berlin for sure.