Where can your dog run off-leash, where does the short leash apply, and what does a dog cost on the bus and the Schauinslandbahn? The City of Freiburg's rules at a glance.
In Freiburg, dogs must be on a short leash (maximum 1.5 meters) in public green spaces and parks; off-leash running is possible at the city's dog meadow in the Güterbahnhof area. That comes from the city's police ordinance and its page Hunde in der Stadt. A meadow or a park is not automatically off-leash.
n freiburg.de we found only this one area described as a dog meadow. The directory of dog-friendly places in Freiburg lists more places, including dog meadows from map data. We have not checked their rules one by one. This guide explains what officially applies in the city.
The dog meadow lies between Berta-Ottenstein-Straße and Isfahanallee. The city calls it a temporary pilot project and gives no end date. Check the city's page on the dog meadow before you go to see whether it is still open.
| Topic | What the city says |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Monday to Friday 7 am to 10 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 8 pm |
| Off-leash | In the fenced area, if your dog is sociable and you can recall him |
| Large meadow in the east | Not fenced, bordered by a bramble embankment and a stream |
| Small area | Only for dogs up to 25 cm shoulder height |
| Access | From the north via the footpath and cycle path between Berta-Ottenstein-Straße and Tullastraße, from the south via a grass path from Ingeborg-Krummer-Schroth-Straße |
| Not allowed | Dogs in heat and sick dogs |
A few more rules apply. Pick up waste right away; bag dispensers and bins stand at the entrances. Dig only in the sand pile and fill any holes. A busy cycle path runs along the north side, so put your dog back on the leash before you leave. According to the city, small dogs can slip under the fence, and you use the area at your own risk. Bring water.
Baden-Württemberg has no general leash requirement for all dogs. Cities set their own rules. In Freiburg, the city's police ordinance and its dog page say:
Dogs are banned from public children's playgrounds, ball courts and trend sport facilities. The city also names grocery stores, bakeries and butcher shops. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are exempt. You must remove dog waste from public areas immediately. The city provides about 150 dispensers with free bags in parks and green spaces.
State law adds rules for listed breeds. Under the state's dangerous dog regulation, American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers and Pit Bull Terriers are in principle treated as fighting dogs. Fighting dogs over six months and other dangerous dogs need a leash and a muzzle. If you are unsure, ask the city's public order office.
We did not find a fixed, statewide leash requirement for the breeding and birthing season in Baden-Württemberg. The lower hunting authority can order one for specific areas. The legal basis is section 51 (5) of the state hunting and wildlife management act. An order of the district office Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald names 15 March to 31 July as the breeding and rearing season. We have not established whether an order applies to Freiburg and its surroundings this year.
Watch for signs and public notices. Between March and July, it is best to leash your dog in forest and fields anyway, even without a requirement. Fawns and nesting birds cannot flee from a dog running loose.
Your dog stays on the leash along the Dreisam. That is a separate city ordinance. Plan a walk along the bank, not a swim.
Swimming with a dog is not designated. We found no dog swimming spot at Opfinger See, Dietenbachsee or Seepark, neither from the city nor from the Freiburg tourist office. Check the signs at the shore. When blue-green algae are reported, keep your dog out of the water. More in our guide to swimming with your dog at lakes and the sea.
The Schauinsland is Freiburg's local mountain. Around the Schauinslandturm, the WaldHaus Freiburg with its sculpture trail, and the Thuja and Zedernhütte huts in the Wonnhalde, the city's forest ordinance requires a leash within 100 meters. On other paths the general rule applies: leash your dog if you cannot control him at all times.
You can ride up with the Schauinslandbahn. According to its fare page, a dog costs 8 euros one way and 10 euros return, and an annual dog pass costs 40 euros. Under the terms of carriage, dogs ride on a leash and under supervision. If they could endanger other passengers, they need a muzzle, and staff decide in case of doubt. Small dogs up to the size of a cat ride free in a carrier. Animals may not occupy seats. For longer routes, see our guide to hiking with your dog.
On the Regio Verkehrsverbund Freiburg (RVF) network and with the VAG, your dog does not ride free by default. The RVF describes it like this:
With the Deutschland-Ticket, the VAG says you need a separate ticket for your dog.
In the Souldog map data, Café Auszeit, SAMS Café, Fili Café and café hinterzimmer are among the places confirmed as dog-friendly in Freiburg. Ask briefly before you go whether that applies indoors too and whether there is room at a table for you. You can find all confirmed places in the Souldog app.
The city names bakeries and butcher shops as places with a dog ban, so ask first at bakery cafés. More tips are in our guide to dog-friendly cafes in Germany and in the list of cafés and restaurants in Freiburg.
Start with the overview of dog-friendly places in Freiburg and the parks and forests in Freiburg. In the Souldog app, the Discover map shows what is near you. If you want more room to run, our guide to finding a dog park near you helps. For more ideas across Germany, see day trips with your dog.
For trips to nearby cities, see our guides to dog-friendly Karlsruhe and dog-friendly Stuttgart.
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