Where your dog may run free in Regensburg, where the leash goes on and what applies on the Danube, at Walhalla, on the boats and on the bus.
tone Bridge, cathedral, narrow lanes and the smell of sausages everywhere: your dog probably finds Regensburg just as exciting as you do, only from 40 centimetres off the ground. Which leaves one question: where can he come along, and where does the leash have to go on?
Regensburg with a dog works well once you know one rule: according to the city, your dog may walk off leash in most of the urban area. In public parks and green spaces, however, a leash of no more than 1.50 metres applies, except on eight signposted off-leash areas. At Walhalla he stays on a short leash, and on the scheduled boats on the Danube he travels for free.
This city guide collects the rules for the city, the Danube, day trips and buses. Specific places such as parks, cafés, vets and pet shops are listed in the directory of dog-friendly places in Regensburg.
In Bavaria, it is mainly the municipalities that decide where a leash is required. Under Art. 18 of the Bavarian State Criminal and Ordinance Act (LStVG), they can restrict large dogs and fighting dogs from roaming freely by ordinance. We did not find such an ordinance in Regensburg's municipal law. On its page about leash rules for dogs, the city states plainly: in most of the urban area, dogs may walk off leash.
The main exception is the parks. The green spaces bylaw (Grünanlagensatzung), last amended in February 2026, covers all public green spaces and parks maintained by the city. Examples include the Stadtpark, Dörnbergpark, Villapark, Donaupark and the island park on the Oberer Wöhrd. There:
Violations can be fined under § 11 of the bylaw. The bylaw does not state an amount. The dog rules of the bylaw do not apply to trained assistance dogs accompanying a person with a severe disability pass, but the duty to pick up after them remains.
One special rule covers the Dult fairs. During the Maidult and the Herbstdult, the Dult ordinance prohibits letting dogs run free on the fairground or walking them on a leash longer than 1.50 metres.
We did not find a separate leash rule for the streets of the old town. Between tour groups, cyclists and outdoor seating, a leash is still the more relaxed choice, for you and for everyone else.
The city names eight signposted off-leash areas for dogs in its green spaces. Two of them are fenced:
| Off-leash area | What we know |
|---|---|
| Römerpark | fenced, no further details from the city |
| Brixenpark | fenced, park on the site of the former Nibelungen barracks |
| Aubachpark | large recreation area near Burgweinting |
| Ziegetsdorfer Park | in the south of the city near Königswiesen |
| Park Neuprüll | from Karl-Stieler-Straße heading south |
| Schillerwiese | on the Danube |
| Unterer Wöhrd | on the Danube island |
| Weichser Damm | no further details from the city |
Off-leash only applies on the signposted area, not in the whole park. On the way there, your dog stays on the leash. The sign on site shows the boundaries, not the map. How to choose a dog park and plan your first visit is covered in our guide to finding a dog park (in German).
In Regensburg you end up walking along the Danube almost automatically. Many stretches of the riverbank belong to city green spaces, such as the Donaupark or the island park on the Oberer Wöhrd. The leash rule of the green spaces bylaw applies there. Two of the eight off-leash areas are on the Danube: at the Schillerwiese and on the Unterer Wöhrd.
We did not find a designated bathing spot for dogs on the Danube or the Regen. Swimming with dogs is not designated, so check the signs on site. At the Stone Bridge, according to Personenschifffahrt Klinger, the Danube forms whirlpools with a strong current. Do not let your dog into the water there.
For water with a plan, there is the outdoor pool: on 26 September 2026, the Wöhrdbad hosted the Regensburg dog swim for the sixth time. We have not found a date for 2027 yet. What to keep in mind when swimming with a dog in general is explained in our guide to swimming with your dog at lakes and the sea.
Walhalla stands in Donaustauf, east of Regensburg, high above the Danube. Dogs are allowed on the grounds, but not inside the temple. The site rules of the Bavarian Palace Administration from March 2026 state:
For your visit, that means: if you want to see the busts inside, take turns. One of you waits with the dog on the terrace while the other goes in. You get the view over the Danube valley outside anyway.
In the middle of the old town, the Dackelmuseum (German) is all about dachshunds. According to the museum, dogs may come into the exhibition, so your dog is not just company here but expert audience. It is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, except on 24 and 31 December. Adults pay 7 euros, children up to 12 go free.
Personenschifffahrt Klinger takes dogs on its scheduled trips for free, for example on the whirlpool trip (Strudelfahrt) through the Stone Bridge or on the trip to Walhalla. On board, your dog stays on the leash. Dogs are not allowed on event and themed cruises, such as breakfast cruises.
According to the operator, the main season runs from around the beginning of April to the end of October. During Advent there is a Christmas programme. Whether a trip in that programme counts as a scheduled trip with dogs allowed is best checked when booking. On the Walhalla trip, the landing stage is right at the foot of Walhalla. According to the operator, it is about a 15 minute walk up.
On the regular buses of the Regensburg transport association, dogs travel for free, according to the RVV. The conditions from the conditions of carriage:
On trains, even within the RVV area, the rules of the rail company apply, that is DB, agilis or Länderbahn. Check their fares before you travel.
We did not find a separate statewide leash requirement for the spring breeding season in Bavarian law. The Bavarian Ministry of the Environment advises keeping your dog close or on a leash in open countryside anyway, because dogs often flush out well camouflaged wildlife before you even see it. Under Art. 42 of the Bavarian Hunting Act, dogs count as poaching if they visibly chase game in a hunting ground and can endanger it. Authorised hunting wardens may kill such dogs.
Forest, by the way, does not count as a green space under the bylaw. For walks in nature, you will find destinations in the directory of parks and forests in Regensburg.
A coffee after a stroll through the old town, a beer garden table after Walhalla: these places are confirmed as dog-friendly in the Souldog map data:
Ask briefly before you go whether that also applies indoors and whether there is room for you. All confirmed places are in the Souldog app, and a selection is in the directory of cafés and restaurants with dogs in Regensburg. Tips for a relaxed visit are in our guide to dog-friendly cafés in Germany.
Start by picking an off-leash area for the morning, so your dog can let off steam before you head into the busy old town. Then a walk along the Danube, a coffee, and if the weather plays along, the boat to Walhalla. You will find the places in the Regensburg directory and on the map in the Souldog app.
If you are travelling further in Bavaria, the city guides to Nuremberg with a dog and Munich with a dog will help. For more ideas, see day trips with a dog in Germany. And then: off you go. The Stone Bridge has stood there for centuries, a few more minutes will not bother it.
Souldog