Leash or muzzle, which parks are off-limits, what your dog pays on the U-Bahn and where it can swim: everything for your visit to Vienna with a dog, checked in October 2026.
Vienna is a good city for dogs: there are more than 200 dog zones, dedicated dog beaches on the Danube, and many coffee houses let dogs in. But there are a few rules you should know, above all where dogs are banned and when a muzzle is mandatory. We checked all the information with the City of Vienna and the operators in October 2026.
In a Nutshell
- On the street: leash or muzzle.
- On public transport, in restaurants, shops and at events: always a muzzle, and on public transport a leash as well.
- In parks: leash required, lawns are off-limits. Some parks ban dogs completely, including Schönbrunn, the Belvedere Garden and the Stadtpark.
- In dog zones: dogs can run free without a leash or muzzle.
- U-Bahn, tram, bus: your dog needs a reduced-fare ticket for €1.60.
The Rules in Vienna
Leash or Muzzle, and When You Need Both
In public places, your dog must either be on a leash or wear a muzzle. This applies on streets and squares, but also in the woods and in fields. On public transport, in restaurants, shops and at events, a muzzle is always mandatory, even if the dog is on a leash. Assistance, therapy and working dogs on duty are exempt.
Playgrounds and sandboxes are always off-limits to dogs. Anyone who breaks the leash or muzzle rule pays at least €100.
Listed Breeds (Listenhunde)
Stricter rules apply to so-called listed breeds, for example Rottweiler, Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Mastino Napoletano, Mastín Español and Tosa Inu, as well as crossbreeds. In public places they must wear a muzzle and be on a leash, and this explicitly applies even if you're only in Vienna for a short stay. Without both, they may only run in fully fenced dog zones.
Owners of listed breeds in Vienna also need a dog handler's license (Hundeführschein). The law doesn't clearly state whether and how this applies to visitors. Check with the City of Vienna (MA 60, +43 1 4000-8060) before your trip.
Dog Poop and the Dog Tax
You must always pick up after your dog, even in dog zones. Vienna has around 4,200 bag dispensers for this. If you're caught, the fine is €70, and if you're reported, up to €2,000.
As a visitor, you don't have to pay Vienna's dog tax (Hundeabgabe): it only applies if a dog is kept in Vienna for more than three months a year.
Can My Dog Go in the Park?
In all parks, dogs must be on a leash and stay off lawns and flower beds, except in marked dog zones. Some parks, however, are completely closed to dogs:
| Park | Dogs? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Schönbrunn Palace Park | No | Dogs are banned throughout the park, including the zoo. Exception: assistance dogs. |
| Belvedere Garden | No | Dogs are banned in the garden and the museum. |
| Stadtpark | No | Dogs are banned in the park. Two dog zones are located along the Wien River promenade. |
| Setagayapark | No | Dogs are banned. The Japanese garden in the 19th district (Döbling) is a separate park, not part of Türkenschanzpark. |
| Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark | No | Dogs are banned. |
| Augarten | Yes, on a leash | Two fenced dog zones with a dog drinking fountain. |
| Türkenschanzpark | Yes, on a leash | Two dog zones, on Gregor-Mendel-Straße and on Hasenauerstraße. |
| Kurpark Oberlaa | Yes, on a leash | Leash required throughout the park. |
| Schweizergarten | Yes, on a leash | Two dog zones, the larger one on Arsenalstraße. |
| Prater | Yes | Large off-leash areas; leash required outside the dog areas. |
| Danube Island | Yes | Leash or muzzle across the whole island; individual dog-free areas are marked. |
We couldn't find official park regulations for the Volksgarten and the Burggarten. Look out for the signs at the entrance.
Dog Zones: Where Your Dog Can Run Free
Vienna has more than 200 dog zones and off-leash areas, covering more than one million square meters in total. The difference: dog zones (Hundezonen) are usually fenced areas in parks, while off-leash areas (Hundeauslaufplätze) are large, open spaces. Joggers and cyclists use them too, so be careful if your dog is easily startled.
The Largest Off-Leash Areas
- Löwygrube (10th district (Favoriten)): around 221,000 m² on the Laaer Berg, open, with a dog drinking fountain.
- Prater (2nd district (Leopoldstadt)): the Rustenschacher area (around 187,000 m², with a drinking fountain) and the Pelzmais area (around 120,000 m²).
- Tiefauwiese (17th district (Hernals)): around 80,000 m² on the edge of the Vienna Woods.
- Badeteich Süßenbrunn (22nd district (Donaustadt)): around 64,000 m², with a dog drinking fountain.
Right in the City
- Venediger Au (2nd district): 1,809 m², fenced, with a drinking fountain, near Praterstern.
- Augarten (2nd district): two fenced zones of around 2,000 and 1,200 m².
- Heldenplatz (1st district (Innere Stadt)): one fenced dog zone of 904 m².
You'll find all dog zones by district in the City of Vienna's list; on the city map they're marked with a green dog symbol.
Swimming with Your Dog
- Hundebadestrand Nord (North Dog Beach), Danube Island (21st district (Floridsdorf)): between Floridsdorfer Brücke and Nordbrücke, around 14,000 m². Tram 31 to “Floridsdorfer Brücke.”
- Hundebadestrand Süd (South Dog Beach), Neue Donau (22nd district): between Stadlauer Ostbahnbrücke and Praterbrücke, around 21,000 m². U2 to “Donaustadtbrücke.”
- Dog zone at Angelibad (21st district): around 14,000 m² on the Alte Donau (Old Danube), fenced, with a natural beach and drinking fountain. U6 to “Neue Donau.”
- Teich Hirschstetten (22nd district): off-leash area with a place to swim.
- asperner See (22nd district): a small dog swimming spot in the Seestadt. U2 to “Seestadt.”
In the Lobau and throughout the Donau-Auen National Park, a leash is required.
Taking Your Dog on the U-Bahn, Tram and Bus
- Put on the muzzle and leash before you enter the U-Bahn station; this also applies in the elevators. On trams and buses, at the latest when you board.
- Ticket: your dog needs a reduced single ride (“1 Fahrt Wien ermäßigt”) for €1.60, or €1.50 digitally.
- Small dogs in a closed carrier ride for free and without a muzzle.
- With an annual pass, one dog rides along for free; with the Vienna City Card, one dog or one child.
- Escalators: paws can get caught in the grooves. Take the stairs or the elevator; small dogs are best carried.
You'll find the tickets available for humans in our article Public Transport in Vienna.
Coffee Houses, Sightseeing and Shopping
Coffee Houses
Dogs are welcome in many Viennese restaurants and cafés, with a muzzle, as the law requires. Two coffee houses state it explicitly on their websites:
- Café Central: dogs allowed with a leash and muzzle.
- Café Sacher: “four-legged companions are very welcome.”
Everywhere else: just ask. You can read more about the coffee houses themselves in our coffee house guide.
Sights and Museums
- Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad): dogs are welcome with a leash and muzzle.
- Schönbrunn with the zoo, and the Belvedere: no dogs, not even in the gardens.
- Museums: most museums don't allow dogs, except assistance dogs. If in doubt, check the house rules.
Shopping
For hygiene reasons, dogs aren't allowed in supermarkets and other grocery stores, except assistance dogs. In other shops it's up to the owner, and where dogs are allowed, a muzzle is mandatory there too.
Day Trips with Your Dog
- Kahlenberg: hiking trails with views over the city; in the woods, leash or muzzle applies. Afterwards, head to a Heuriger (wine tavern): many have large garden areas, but ask first whether your dog is welcome. More on this in our article Heurigen in Vienna.
- Lobau: Vienna's wildest corner, with backwaters and floodplain forests, on a leash.
- Prater: long loops along the Hauptallee and through the large off-leash areas.
Practical Tips
- Hotels: many hotels accept dogs for an extra charge. Register your dog when you book; sometimes only certain rooms are available for guests with dogs.
- Water: many dog zones have their own dog drinking fountain.
- Heat: in summer the asphalt gets very hot. Walk your dog in the morning and evening, and never leave it in the car.
Planning your first visit? Here's our guide Vienna for First-Time Visitors and our free things to do in Vienna.
As of October 2026. Sources: Vienna Animal Keeping Act (Wiener Tierhaltegesetz), wien.gv.at (dog zones, parks, dog swimming areas, dog tax, cleanliness), Österreichische Bundesgärten (Austrian Federal Gardens), Wiener Linien, Café Central, Café Sacher, Wiener Riesenrad, Schönbrunn Zoo, Belvedere. Rules and prices may change.
