Where your dog can run off-leash in Erfurt, what applies in the Steiger forest, why egapark is off limits and how to get around by tram and bus.
Erfurt with a dog means one thing first: keep the leash on, because a leash is required across the whole city, and your dog may only run free on the off-leash areas the city has designated, for example in the Nordpark or the Südpark. That covers the city centre as well as the outer districts and the Steiger forest.
he directory of dog-friendly places in Erfurt shows places on a map. This guide sorts out the rules that go with them, from the forest to the tram.
On its page for dog owners, the city names six places where dogs may come off the leash on signposted areas:
The exact location in the Nordpark comes from a 2020 city announcement: the meadow moved back to the west side of the park, is bounded by the paths and is signposted. For the other areas, the city only gives the place. It does not say whether an area is fenced. Check the entrance, the boundaries and the sign before you unclip the leash.
One distinction matters: off-leash rules apply to the designated area, not the whole park. In the Nordpark, the Südpark and the Luisenpark, your dog stays on the leash outside the meadow. On the meadow itself, your dog must not endanger or bother anyone. If your recall is not reliable yet, a long line is the better choice. For tips on finding a suitable area near you, see our guide to the dog park near me.
The legal basis is § 6 of Erfurt's city ordinance (Stadtordnung) of 16 March 2023. It applies to the entire city. The ordinance counts as public spaces all publicly accessible parks and recreation areas, leisure facilities, waters and their banks.
In pedestrian zones and wherever there are lots of people, keep the leash short. The ordinance specifically mentions fairs, sports events and markets. If you tie your dog up outside a shop, the pavement must stay clear, including for wheelchairs and prams. Dogs are not allowed on children's playgrounds or sunbathing lawns. You may not let your dog bathe in public fountains, ponds or pools either.
The city is clear about dog poo: you must pick it up straight away and carry a bag. On request you show it to the police or the public order office. According to the city, leaving poo behind costs at least 50 euros, and not carrying a bag can cost 20 euros. Breaches of the city ordinance can be fined up to 5,000 euros. Dangerous dogs require a separate permit from the public order office; check the details with them directly.
For the Steiger, the forest south of the city, state law applies as well: under § 6(2) of the Thuringian Forest Act, dogs in the forest must be kept on a leash unless they are used for hunting. In Thuringia, the leash requirement in forests applies all year round. According to ThüringenForst, this also covers forest tracks, forest meadows, forest edges and forest ponds.
We did not find an additional spring rule from the state; in the forest the leash is required anyway. ThüringenForst does stress that the rule matters most during the breeding and nesting season from 1 March to 30 June, because fawns and young hares stay put when danger approaches. Outside the forest, hunting law applies: under the Thuringian Hunting Act, you may not let your dog run free unsupervised in a hunting district. That often includes fields and meadows on the edge of town.
The Steiger is the obvious choice for a long walk in the green. Plan it as a leashed walk with plenty of sniffing time. A long line gives your dog more room, as long as you keep hold of it.
In the Nordpark you can combine a park walk with off-leash time: the designated dog meadow is on the west side. The Northern Gera floodplain (Nördliche Geraaue), at around 22 hectares the largest green space along the Gera, works well for a walk by the water. There and on the riverbank, your dog stays on the leash. The city lists another off-leash area on Straße der Nationen.
Dogs are allowed at the zoo but must stay on a short leash at all times. They may not enter the walk-through enclosures or the animal houses. There is a separate ticket for dogs.
Krämerbrücke, Domplatz and Fischmarkt are easy on foot, but keep the leash short, as it is often crowded. The city ordinance explicitly requires a short leash at markets, and that includes the Christmas market. Our guide to the Christmas market with a dog has more tips.
No. egapark does not allow dogs on the grounds. The operator cites the large number of visitors and the carefully maintained gardens. Exceptions apply to rescue dogs and companion dogs with proof, on a leash or harness, after registering at the visitor centre. Assistance dogs may not enter the Danakil, the desert and rainforest house. So plan egapark without your dog.
We did not find a bathing spot in Erfurt that is explicitly open to dogs. Swimming with dogs is not designated, so check the signs on site. Under the city ordinance, letting your dog bathe in public fountains, ponds and pools is prohibited. Waters and banks count as public spaces, so your dog stays on the leash there.
In summer, blue-green algae can appear in still waters. How to spot them is explained in our guide to blue-green algae and dogs. For general tips, see our guide to swimming with your dog at lakes and the sea.
Erfurt's public transport company EVAG runs on the fares of the Central Thuringia transport network (VMT). Dogs that are not in a closed carrier or bag must wear a muzzle from boarding to leaving the vehicle and be kept on a short leash. That is set out in the joint conditions of carriage of BBT and VMT, valid since 1 January 2026. If you fail to meet these obligations after a warning, you can be excluded from the journey and charged a contractual penalty of 20 euros. Animals are not allowed on seats.
According to the VMT tariff regulations (as of 2025), your dog needs its own dog/bike ticket (Hunde-/Fahrradkarte). It is valid for 360 minutes across the network from validation. With an Abo Plus or Abo Mobil65 season ticket, one dog travels all day without a separate ticket. Guide dogs, disability companion dogs and assistance dogs travel free and are exempt from the muzzle rule. Whether a small dog in a carrier needs a ticket is worth checking with EVAG before you travel.
We do not name individual cafés or restaurants for Erfurt here, because house rules change often. You will find a selection in the directory of dog-friendly places in Erfurt and all places on the Discover map in the Souldog app. Before you go, ask briefly whether dogs are also welcome inside and whether there is room for you.
Pick a table at the edge, where your dog can lie down without blocking the way. Our guide to dog-friendly cafés in Germany has more.
How do other cities compare? Our comparison of dog rules in German cities covers dog parks, leash laws and dogs on public transport in 31 major cities.
Browse the parks and forests in Erfurt and choose a route that passes one of the off-leash areas. The Souldog app shows the places on the Discover map. Always check the signs for the specific area on site.
For trips to Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, see our guides to dog-friendly Leipzig and dog-friendly Halle. For more ideas for days out together, see dog-friendly day trips in Germany.
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