Where can your dog run off leash in Braunschweig? The three city-run dog meadows, the rules for parks and nature reserves, and what applies on buses and trams.
Dog-friendly places in Braunschweig are above all the three city-run dog meadows: Im Großen Moore in Bienrode, Madamenweg/Dorntriftweg, and Franzsches Feld/Nußberg in the Prinz-Albrecht-Park. According to the city, your dog may run off leash there all year. Outside these areas the rule depends on the place and the season.
raunschweig has no blanket leash rule for the whole city. The city regulates it area by area: in certain parks, in nature reserves and during the breeding and rearing season. This guide sorts it out so you know where the leash stays on before you set off. The German-language directory dog-friendly places in Braunschweig lists places on a map.
The city names three off-leash areas. All three are also listed as off-leash areas in the parks bylaw.
| Dog meadow | Location and size | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bienrode | Former sports ground, Im Großen Moore 15; about 6,000 m² | Fenced. According to the city there is covered seating, a dog station and waste bins. |
| Madamenweg / Dorntriftweg | East of the municipal sports facility at Madamenweg 70; about 5,000 m² | Fully fenced, the gate faces Madamenweg. Benches, dog station and waste bins. |
| Franzsches Feld / Nußberg | Northern part of the Prinz-Albrecht-Park, below the Rednerkanzel; almost 54,000 m² | Not fenced. Outside the meadow the park requires a leash. |
The city gives the same rules for all of them: your dog must not pose a danger to public safety and order, and you remove its waste yourself. Off leash does not mean every dog has to play with every other dog. Look at who is already on the meadow before you unclip.
On the unfenced meadow at Nußberg, pay close attention to the boundaries. The rest of the Prinz-Albrecht-Park is not an off-leash area, and between the dog meadow, the Kessel and the Ebertallee a leash is also required during the breeding and rearing season. More on the topic in our guide to finding a dog park near you.
The Lower Saxony Dog Act (NHundG), section 2, requires that dogs are kept and walked so that they pose no danger to public safety and order. The specific leash rules are set by Braunschweig itself.
Under the parks and green spaces bylaw, dogs must be on a leash all year in:
Dogs may not enter playgrounds, public fitness stations, areas signed for playing and lying down, the Schul- und Bürgergarten and the historic cemeteries. In the Heidbergpark the lawns and sand areas are closed to dogs from 1 May to 30 September. In all parks and green spaces you must also carry waste bags. Under the bylaw, violations can be punished with a fine of up to 5,000 euros.
People often search for the Gaußpark. This usually means the small green space at the Gaußberg, where the Inselwall and Wendentorwall meet. The Gaußberg is not on the bylaw's list of parks with a year-round leash requirement, but it is not a designated dog meadow either. That does not mean off-leash running is allowed. In the nearby Inselwallpark a leash is required all year. Plan on using a leash and follow the signs on site.
Under section 33 of the Lower Saxony Forest and Landscape Act, dogs must be kept on a leash in open countryside from 1 April to 15 July. The City of Braunschweig explicitly names the western part of the Richmondpark, the Ölpersee, the Westpark, the Heidbergpark and the Südsee as examples. This also applies inside built-up districts. Exempt are, among others, hunting, rescue, herding and assistance dogs on duty.
On the three dog meadows the city allows off-leash running during this period as well.
This is the loop for anyone who wants to combine a walk with off-leash time. You walk through the park on a leash and let your dog loose only on the dog meadow. On the way back the leash goes on again.
Riddagshausen is a nature reserve in the east of the city. The city lists it among the areas with a year-round leash requirement, and the reserve ordinance expressly prohibits letting dogs run unleashed. Stay on the paths. It is a good place for long, quiet walks on the leash. The Okeraue, Lammer Holz, Mehlkamp and Heinenkamp, Mascheroder and Rautheimer Holz, Thuner Sundern and Schapener Forst are also on the year-round leash list.
The Westpark is a large recreation landscape on the western edge of the city, with cycling and walking routes. The fenced dog meadow is at Madamenweg. On the park's paths a leash is required from April to mid-July.
We did not find any designated dog swimming spots in Braunschweig. Swimming with a dog is therefore not designated here: check the signs at each body of water. The Südsee counts as open countryside during the breeding season, so keep your dog leashed there. In summer, watch for blue-green algae in still water, and when in doubt keep your dog out. Our guide to swimming with your dog in lakes and the sea covers what matters.
For the rooftop terrace Soldekk (Steinstraße 2, access through the parking garage), the FAQ says dogs are always warmly welcome outside the Sand area. According to its website it is currently closed for the winter break until spring 2027. Call ahead before you visit, because house rules can change, on terraces and indoors alike. For tips on choosing, see our overview of dog-friendly cafés in Germany.
In the area of the Verkehrsverbund Region Braunschweig (VRB), dogs travel free of charge under the tariff rules. Under the conditions of carriage they must be supervised by a suitable person and kept on a leash. Dogs that could endanger passengers need a muzzle. Animals may not be placed on seats.
If you travel beyond the VRB area, the tariff of the neighbouring network applies. Carrying a dog there may cost something. Check beforehand.
Pick a dog meadow that suits your day and plan the way there on the leash. In the Souldog app the Discover map shows places near you. For more ideas in the region, see our guides to dog-friendly Hamburg and dog-friendly Bremen. For trips beyond the city, the overview of dog-friendly day trips in Germany helps.
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