My decision to go to Munich was spontaneous, so there wasn't any doubt that I will go there together with my furry friend, pomeranian Chico. I had three full days in Munich and wanted to enjoy the city as much as possible. Unfortunately, the information about places to visit with the dog on the internet was pretty poor, so I began my own research and, in the end, as always, find many interesting, dog-friendly places and hidden gems!
Munich Old Town
What could be better than enjoying the old town of Munich with your furry friend? Nothing! Munich’s medieval old town is known for its pedestrian streets, which makes traveling with your dog really comfortable and easy. Nevertheless, it can get very crowded from time to time, especially in the Marienplatz – the heart of the city, where every day at 11 and 12 o'clock people gather together to watch life-size figurines emerge from the neo-Gothic New Town Hall’s bell tower.
Surprisingly, but the old town of Munich is actually quite small. All the most important sights are located close to each other, you don't have to spend a whole day seeing everything, and it's easy to walk around there. Some of the sights that you can enjoy with your dog are Marienplatz, New Town Hall, City Gates, Munich Cathedral, and St Peter's Church.
Englischer Garden
The Englischer Garten is a large public park stretching from the city center to the northeastern city limits. It was created in 1789 and with an area of 3.7 km2, the Englischer Garden is one of the world's largest urban public parks. It's a very famous place among locals, families, and dog owners, cause you can have there a lot of private space, fresh air, and nature, see many interesting sights, and do the most different activities.
I visited this park 3 times and still couldn't fully explore it. It's just huge!!! Nevertheless, I really liked the Hofgarten area, which is situated near the old town and the lower part of the park that goes along the river Isar. I found there a very beautiful promenade, the Bavarian State Parliament, a church, a small but cute waterfall, The Angel of Peace monument, and a lot of nature. I would really recommend this place to every dog owner, who wants a long and good walk.
Nymphenburg Palace and Park
Located in Munich's western Neuhausen-Nymphenburg district, this place will surprise you with its unique combination of architecture, garden design, the palace, and the park complex. The park area occupies around 180 hectares and, parallel to the Nymphenburg Palace, it includes a wide variety of sightseeing objects, such as various statues, fountains and pumps, different buildings and museums, canals and lakes, and so on. It's a perfect place for a long walk with your dog and a cute picnic on a bench with a beautiful view.
Opening hours of the park change depending on the season. Therefore, when entering the park, one should look at the sign near the entrance or check the actual information on the internet. Unfortunately, dogs and other pets are not allowed in any of the buildings.
Theresienwiese and Bavaria statue
Theresienwiese is a location for every festive celebration that takes place in Munich, but since the 19th century, this place has been known as the home of the Oktoberfest beer festival. Yes, yes, yes, if you have ever heard about the most popular celebration in Germany - Oktoberfest, then now you know where it takes a place! And even though I do not recommend it, you can also take your dog to Oktoberfest or other similar festivals. However, you cannot enter the tents with him and because of the volume and the crowds, it can be very stressful for the animal.
But that's not all, what to see at Theresienwiese. In the west of this area, you can find the Ruhmeshalle and the Bavaria statue, which symbolizes the State of Bavaria and looks impressive. If you have someone with you to whom leave your dog for 15 minutes, you can also take the opportunity to climb up to the top of the bronze statue and take a look over Munich. Unfortunately, the statue tower is open only in summer, and it's not recommended to climb it on hot days, cause it might feel like a sauna.
Munich Zoo Hellabrunn
What a positive surprise it was for me when I found out that dogs are allowed in Munich Zoo Hellabrunn. Can you believe it? At Munich Zoo there are more than 500 animal species from all five continents and many specially protected animals, such as red pandas. At Hellbrunn you will also discover that there are only a few meters between you and the unique natural paradise of every animal. It makes this place very interesting for every park visitor and you can spend there a wonderful time with your dog. You just need to keep your furry friend on a short leash and he isn't allowed to go inside animal houses.
To learn more about Chico and how people travel the world with their pets, click here
MotorWorld Munich
For rainy days and car lovers, I recommend visiting MotorWorld Munich – event location, conference center, gastronomy, car storage, retail, service, and hotel under one roof! You will find here over 25 of the world’s most valuable and exclusive vehicle brands, a comprehensive range of automotive service providers and specialized workshops, and much more besides. It's a very interesting place that will appeal to men and car lovers.
What makes this place even more special is the fact that it's located in a gigantic hall (185m long, 90m wide, and 18m high), where earlier locomotives were used to be repaired. MotorWorld Munich is admission-free 365 days a year and dogs are welcome.
Victuals Market
Victual Market is Munich's largest and most famous outdoor marketplace, situated in the center of the city, offering fresh goods like fruits and vegetables, mountain cheeses and high-quality meats, homemade wines, handicrafts, and souvenirs. You can also indulge in gastronomic pleasure and enjoy food in one of several cafes or beer gardens. Especially for a snack in between sightseeing, the Victual Market is a tip.
I love the fact that Victuals Market is open Mondays to Saturdays already from 8 o'clock and you can scroll through the market all day long. As it's an outdoor marketplace, dogs are welcome. I really enjoyed this opportunity to choose one of the best mountain cheeses in the center of Munich without leaving my dog at home. Just don't forget to keep your furry friend on a short leash, pick up after him, and don't let him steal anyone's delicious piece of sausage.
Munich Restaurants
Why can't we also enjoy Munich through the world of food? Of course, we can! It is one more great way to get to know Munich and Bavaria better. Each region of Germany "tastes" differently and in each, you will find different traditional dishes and desserts, so visiting restaurants, cafes, and biergartens here is highly recommended. The good news - you can take your dog to almost every restaurant in Munich.
I can say from my own experience that wherever I have dined in Germany, I have never had a problem with taking my dog to restaurants. Still, there is a possibility that pets may be prohibited somewhere for some special reason, but I have not come across this once in 5 years. My favorite restaurant in Munich is Ratskeller München. Atmosphere, location, history, food, prices, and staff – I was satisfied with everything but my dog received a free bowl of fresh water and many, many compliments.
BUT THAT’S ALL FROM ME TODAY!
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