Where can large dogs travel free on public transport in Germany?

German transport networks where dogs travel free

These rules only apply inside the named transport area. They do not give your dog free public transport everywhere in Germany.

That last bit is important if you're travelling rather than staying in one city.

Aachen: AVV

Dogs travel free in the AVV area under the rules used across North Rhine-Westphalia.

The rule changes when you leave NRW, so check the next transport area on a longer journey.

Berlin and Brandenburg: VBB

One dog can travel free with you when you use a Deutschlandticket within the VBB network.

VBB covers both Berlin and Brandenburg, which makes this particularly useful if you're travelling beyond central Berlin by regional train.

Once your journey leaves the VBB area, check the rule for the next part of the route.

Hamburg: HVV

Dogs travel free on HVV services.

Unlike some of the other examples on this page, this is not a special benefit created by the Deutschlandticket. It comes from the local HVV rules.

That distinction matters less when you're standing at the station with your dog. The useful answer is: you do not need another ticket for your dog within the HVV area.

Kassel and North Hesse: NVV

Dogs travel free on regular NVV buses and trains.

Some on-demand taxis have extra limits, especially for dogs larger than a cat, so check separately if one appears in your route.

Munich: MVV

Your first dog travels free when you have a valid passenger ticket in the MVV area.

If you're travelling with more than one dog, additional dogs can require a child-rate ticket.

Rhein-Ruhr: VRR

Dogs travel free within the VRR network.

VRR covers a large part of North Rhine-Westphalia, including Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Essen, Bochum and Dortmund.

This makes the region relatively straightforward if you're exploring it with a large dog by local and regional public transport.

Frankfurt and Rhine-Main: RMV

Dogs accepted under the RMV carriage rules travel free.

RMV covers Frankfurt and a large surrounding region, so the rule is useful well beyond the city itself.

Some on-demand services can have different conditions for animals. If your route includes one, check that service separately.

Cologne and Bonn: VRS

Dogs travel free under the local VRS/Rheinland tariff rules.

Again, the important thing is the tariff area rather than simply being in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Stuttgart: VVS

One dog can travel free with a Deutschlandticket within the VVS area.

This free travel rule is local. If you continue beyond VVS, your Deutschlandticket may remain valid for you while the rule for your dog changes.

Karlsruhe: KVV

One dog per Deutschlandticket can travel free on KVV buses and trains.

Small animals travelling like hand luggage have separate rules.

Southern Lower Saxony: VSN

You can take your dog free with a Deutschlandticket inside the VSN area.

This is a local rule. Other parts of Lower Saxony can require a child-rate ticket for a large dog.

Westphalia: WestfalenTarif

Dogs travel free in the WestfalenTarif area under the rules used across North Rhine-Westphalia.

That includes a large part of eastern and northern NRW, but the free travel rule ends when your route leaves the state.

Where does a large dog still need a ticket?

Plenty of places.

A large dog currently needs an additional fare in transport areas including:

Bremen and Bremerhaven (VBN) — child-rate ticket.

Nuremberg (VGN) — child-rate ticket.

Hannover (ÜSTRA) — child ticket with a standard Deutschlandticket.

Schleswig-Holstein (SH-Tarif) — generally a child-rate ticket for a large dog.

Lower Saxony regional rail under the Niedersachsentarif — child-rate rail ticket.

Schwerin local buses and trams — additional reduced-fare ticket.

Rhine-Neckar (VRN) — child-rate ticket or the relevant dog product.

Dresden (VVO) — the standard Deutschlandticket does not include a dog, although a local Deutschlandticket Plus Mitnahme add-on is available.

So “dogs travel free in Germany” is definitely not a rule I would plan a journey around.

Why does the rule change?

Germany's public transport is split between regional tariffs, transport associations and operators.

They make their own decisions about dog fares.

That is why your dog can travel free around Hamburg but need another ticket on a different part of a longer journey.

The Deutschlandticket did not replace those local dog rules.

If you're using one, our Deutschlandticket with a dog guide explains how that works in more detail.

Do I need different tickets for different parts of a single journey?

Sometimes. This can happen when your route uses more than one transport network.

That probably sounds very odd, but you can travel across several tariff areas using regional trains while your own Deutschlandticket remains valid throughout.

The rule for your dog can change as you travel.

You might start somewhere your dog needs a ticket, enter an area where dogs travel free, then continue into another area where your dog needs a ticket again.

You may not even change trains when the relevant tariff changes.

That does not mean you should automatically buy a separate dog ticket for every area you cross. Depending on the journey, one ticket can sometimes cover more than one part of the route.

For a long regional journey, check the whole route rather than buying tickets based only on your starting city.

What about small dogs?

Small dogs often travel free in more places because they can be treated as hand luggage when they are inside a suitable closed carrier.

The exact size and carrier rules vary.

That distinction is not much help if your dog is a German Shepherd.

The rules on this page therefore focus on large dogs travelling outside a carrier unless stated otherwise.

Does free mean there are no other rules?

No.

A dog that travels free must still follow the network's travel rules.

Depending on the network, that can include:

• travelling on a lead;
• carrying or wearing a muzzle;
• restrictions for dogs considered dangerous or aggressive; and
• keeping the dog off passenger seats.

Deutsche Bahn has its own rules as well. On DB trains, large dogs travelling outside a carrier must be on a lead and wear a muzzle.

Free travel answers the ticket question. It does not automatically answer the rest.

The easiest way to think about dog tickets in Germany

If you're spending a weekend in one city or region, find the local transport network and check its dog rule.

If you're travelling across Germany, check the route, not just the place where you start.

Your ticket might be simple.

Your dog's can change along the way.

Check your route with your dog

Tell us where you are travelling from, where you want to go and how big your dog is.

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See what looks possible, which dog rules apply and what you should confirm before you spend money.

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