Where can your dog run free, where is a leash required and what applies at the Kiessee? The rules of the city of Göttingen, Lower Saxony and the VSN transport association at a glance.
In Göttingen the city lists one designated off-leash area: the dog meadow above Calsowstraße behind the Schillerwiesen, partly bordered by a hedge but not fenced. Everywhere else, check the rule first, then unclip the leash. In the city ramparts and the Göttinger Wald nature reserve a leash is required all year, in open countryside and the Stadtwald from 1 April to 15 July.
ll details come from the City of Göttingen, the state of Lower Saxony and the VSN transport association. The directory of dog-friendly places in Göttingen lists more destinations; this guide explains the rules that come with them.
The city names the dog meadow above Calsowstraße, behind the Schillerwiesen, as its off-leash area. It is partly bordered by a hedge but not fenced, so you have to make sure your dog stays on the meadow. If your dog does not reliably stop at boundaries, use a long line for the first visits.
The meadow is not a permit for the surrounding area. The Schillerwiesen lie in a landscape protection area with bird protection, according to the city: the main breeding season runs from 1 April to 15 July, an extended protection period from 1 March to 30 September. Dog waste must be removed everywhere. We found no second or fenced dog meadow in the official sources. If you know one, tell us in the Souldog app.
According to the city, dogs must be leashed all year at these places:
The city also lists a year-round leash rule in the landscape protection area "Nordöstliche Göttinger Hochflächen". According to the city's service portal the legal basis is the Lower Saxony Dog Act (NHundG) and section 12 of the city's public safety ordinance.
The NHundG mainly sets duties for owners. According to the state FAQ, every dog over six months needs a microchip and liability insurance. If you only visit or pass through with your dog, chip and insurance apply as well, but you do not need a proof of competence.
Every year from 1 April to 15 July, dogs in Göttingen must be kept on a leash in open countryside and in the Stadtwald. The city includes the paths and waters in these areas. The legal basis is the Lower Saxony Forest and Landscape Act (NWaldLG). Exempt are, among others, hunting dogs on duty, rescue and police dogs and trained guide dogs.
For violations the city mentions fines of up to 5,000 euros, usually 100 euros for a first offence. This comes from a notice of March 2023; ask the city's regulatory office for the current status.
Göttinger Wald and Stadtwald. The Göttinger Wald nature reserve in the northeast of the city covers about 733 hectares, and the city lists it as a year-round leash zone. Stay on the marked paths. In the Stadtwald a leash is also required between 1 April and 15 July. Hiking routes in the Stadtwald lead to the Bismarckturm, among other places. Signs on site show where protected area boundaries run.
Kiessee. The loop around the lake is about 2.5 kilometres long. According to Göttingen Tourismus, swimming in the Kiessee is prohibited, and that includes your dog. The lake lies in the Leinetal landscape protection area and is an important bird habitat. We found no separate dog rule for the Kiessee. Plan on a leash between 1 April and 15 July; the city's extended bird protection period runs from 1 March to 30 September.
Ramparts. In and on the Göttingen ramparts a leash is required all year, so plan the walk on the lead from the start. More forest and park destinations are collected in the directory under parks and forests in Göttingen.
We found no officially designated dog swimming spot in Göttingen. Swimming with a dog is therefore not designated, so check the signs at the water. Swimming in the Kiessee is prohibited. If there is a blue-green algae warning, keep your dog out of the water. More in our guide to swimming with your dog at lakes and the sea.
The Göttinger Verkehrsbetriebe (GöVB) run in the tariff of the Verkehrsverbund Süd-Niedersachsen (VSN). According to the VSN tariff conditions (as of 1 August 2025):
On trains, the VSN refers to the transport conditions of the rail companies for dogs. The VSN has recently reformed its tariff, so check the current status. If in doubt, ask the VSN service centre at the ZOB.
The following places in Göttingen are confirmed as dog-friendly in the Souldog map data, among others: Hainbergschänke (beer garden), Georgia Augusta-Stuben (beer garden), El Punto Tapas Bar, Le Feu Flammkuchen and the ice cream parlour Pinke Kuh. Ask briefly before you go whether this also applies indoors, house rules change. You can see all confirmed places on the Discover map in the Souldog app.
Also ask every venue three things: does the permission apply indoors or only on the terrace? Is there room for you that day? Can your dog lie so that he does not block walkways or crowd other guests? More tips in our guide cafés with your dog.
Pick the destination first, then the rule: on the lead there, off leash on the dog meadow, on the lead back. The Discover map in the Souldog app shows more places. You will find an overview of all places in the directory for Göttingen.
More planning help: finding a dog park near you, day trip ideas in dog-friendly day trips in Germany, the neighbouring guides to dog-friendly Hanover and dog-friendly Braunschweig, and the comparison of dog rules in German cities. Rules can change, so check the city's page before you head out.
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