The 100+ best ideas for you and your dog in Switzerland

Dogs are the best of friends. They do us good and are therefore gladly taken along when it goes to the mountains or on an excursion in nature. To make it a little more varied for you and your dog, we present here ideas where you can travel with your four-legged friend.

By the way, assistance dogs are not meant here. If you have an assistance dog, you can take him almost everywhere where dogs are not allowed.

At the end of the article you will find important information for entering the country with your dog from abroad.

On this page of Switzerland Tourism dog-friendly hotels in Switzerland are listed, if you are traveling with your dog for more than one day at a time.

Traveling on public transport with a dog

In general, your dog is allowed to travel free of charge up to 30 cm in height. The condition is: he must be placed in a suitable basket, transport box or other animal-friendly container. And it must not occupy or block its own seat.

A ticket is required for all other dogs. And once a smaller dog is not (no longer) in the container, he also needs his own ticket. As a general rule, you pay half price for him in the class in which you are traveling. Alternatively, your animal companion travels with the Dog Pass or the Dog Day Pass.

As soon as you travel with several means of transport (train, streetcar, boat, post bus and buses) on one day, the dog day ticket is worthwhile. It costs CHF 25 and is valid in the class in which you travel with your valid ticket.

The dog pass is issued per month or per year and is worthwhile if your dog is constantly traveling with you. It is registered in the dog owner's Swiss Pass.

Hiking with Your Dog in the Mountains

There are some differences among mountain railways. Funiculars run on tracks and usually transport dogs following rules similar to those for other public transport. For aerial cable cars and chair lifts, your dog often needs a ticket at the children's rate or a dog fare. Certain mountain railways are highlighted here. It's definitely recommended to do some research or ask before your trip.

Exploring the Jungfrau Region with Your Dog

In the Jungfrau region, you can travel affordably with your dog. The only route where you'll have to pay for your dog is between Eigergletscher and Jungfraujoch, costing CHF 30.

Dogs are transported for free on the following 9 routes in the Jungfrau region:

• Interlaken Ost - Lauterbrunnen
• Interlaken Ost - Grindelwald
• Interlaken - Harder Kulm
• Wilderswil - Schynige Platte
• Lauterbrunnen - Mürren
• Lauterbrunnen - Kleine Scheidegg - Grindelwald
• Grindelwald - First
• Grindelwald Terminal - Eigergletscher
• Grindelwald Grund - Kleine Scheidegg
• Lauterbrunnen - Kleine Scheidegg

The Schynige Platte is the starting point for a very popular and challenging hike with plenty of views. It takes about six hours to reach Grindelwald First. You can find the moderately difficult hike marked as trail No. 62.

Hiking in the mountains with the dog from Engelberg

In the area around Engelberg, you will find several cable cars and ski lifts.

Titlis: Dogs with a shoulder height of 30 cm or more need to pay for the train journeys:

• Engelberg - Titlis
• Engelberg - Trübsee
• Trübsee - Jochpass
• Jochpass - Engstlenalp
• Engelberg - Gerschnialp

Brunni: Dogs always pay for train rides:

• Brunni Engelberg - Ristis
• Ristis - Brunnihütte

Fürenalp: Dogs always pay for train rides:

• Engelberg - Fürenalp

Simple yet beautiful hikes include the loop around the Trübsee or the trail from Härzlisee down to the Ristis mountain station at Brunni.

The loop around Trübsee takes about an hour to cover 3.2 km. The walk from Härzlisee to Ristis also takes around an hour. At Fürenalp, you can easily walk the Grotzliweg (3.4 km, 1.5 hours).

Mountain railroads that transport dogs free of charge

• Jungfrau Railways: all mountain railroads in the Jungfrau region (only exception: Eiger Glacier - Jungfraujoch is subject to a charge)
• Scuol mountain railroads: Motta Naluns
• Samnaun mountain railroads
• Mountain railroads Flims Laax
• Corvatsch and Diavolezza mountain railroads: Corvatsch, Furtschellas, Diavolezza
• Brienz Rothorn cable car: 1 dog per person travels free of charge
• Furka Steam Railway
• Gstaad mountain railways
• Glacier 3000 mountain railroads: not allowed on ski slopes
• Gornergratbahn
• Matterhorn Zermatt mountain railways
• Rigi cable cars

With the dog on the ship

You can take your dog on all scheduled ships in Switzerland. Most of the time the regulations of the public transport apply:

• You may take dogs up to 30 cm instep height free of charge. However, your dog must be in a suitable basket or in an animal-friendly bag. He must also not block a seat of his own.
• All other dogs require a dog ticket.

The dog day ticket as well as the dog GA of the SBB are also valid on the normal course ships. Dogs are not always allowed in the restaurant and special boat trips with food do not tolerate four-legged friends. We show you below how the individual shipping companies in Switzerland deal with this.

13 shipping companies in Switzerland and their dog regulations

Sea/River	Society	Specials
Rhine	Basler Personenschifffahrt	Dogs travel free
Lake Constance	Lake Constance Navigation	not allowed for themed excursions
Lake Biel	BSG	not allowed on events
Lake Geneva	CGN SA
Lago Lugano	SNL
Lago Maggiore	Navigazione Lago Maggiore
Lake Neuchâtel and Murten	Société de navigation lacs de Neuchâtel et Morat
Lake Thun and Lake Brienz	BLS	Dogs are allowed inside and in the restaurant (scheduled boats)
Lake Untersee and Rhine	URh
Lake Lucerne	SGV	not allowed for themed excursions
Walensee	Walensee Schifffahrt	Dogs travel at half price
Lake Zug	Lake Zug Navigation	not allowed for theme excursions
Lake Zurich	ZVV

On the Walensee with the dog

By the way, Lake Walen is a good destination for dog owners. You can walk here with your dog wonderfully over the meadows, partly also without leash. But you should keep to the usual rules: When you pass cows, be sure to keep your distance, there is always a leash requirement on huts and, of course, you have to take your pet's droppings with you. In the woods it is compulsory to be on a leash everywhere.

In Weesen you will find an unofficial dog beach at the Walensee. The beach consists of sand and gravel and is located behind the Gäsi beach. A hiking trail takes you from the parking lot at the camping site through the forest directly to the beach.

Swiss Activities Tip: You can combine a hike to the small car-free village of Quinten on Lake Walen with a boat trip.

Taking the dog to the zoo or animal park

Many zoos and animal parks do not allow dogs to be taken. Dogs might worry the animals too much. However, some zoos or animal parks have areas where dogs are allowed, sometimes for free.

14 Areas in Zoos or Animal Parks Where Dogs Are Allowed

|Zoo|Location|Areas Where Dogs Are Allowed|

|-------|------|------| |Arosa Bear Land|Arosa|Visitor platform, on a leash|

|Bear Park|Bern|on a leash|

|Lange Erlen Animal Park|Basel|all paths|

|Langenthal Animal Park|Langenthal|Animal park|

|Walter Zoo|Gossau, St. Gallen|in the zoo on a short leash|

|Brienz Wildlife Park|Brienz|on a leash|

|Bruderhaus Wildlife Park|Winterthur|on a short leash|

|Peter and Paul Wildlife Park|St. Gallen|in the wildlife park on a short leash|

|Roggenhausen Wildlife Park|Aarau|all paths, on a leash, not recommended on weekends|

|Heitern Wildlife Park|Zofingen|on a leash|

|Mühletäli Wildlife Park|Starrkirch-Wil (Solothurn)|on a leash|

|Zürich Wilderness Park Langenberg|Langnau|only in the Langenberg East section, on a leash|

|Bern Zoo|Bern|in the fee-free area of the zoo, on a leash|

|John's Little Farm Zoo|Kallnach, Bern|all paths, on a leash|

Going to the Museum with Your Dog

Taking your dog to a museum is generally only allowed in open-air museums. The only exception is for guide dogs. In open-air museums, dogs must be kept on a (short) leash.

6 Museums You Can Visit with Your Dog (Outdoors)

Museum	Location	Special Features

|Open-Air Museum Ballenberg|Hofstetten near Brienz|historical buildings and craftmanship| |Open-Air Museum Steinbruch Antonini|Wassen (Urner Alps)|Quarry from the time of the Gotthard railway construction| |Open-Air Museum Mendrisio|Mendrisio|historical villages in the Muggiotal| |Urchigs Terbil|Mountain Village Törbel (Vispertal)|historical mountain village| |Village lacustre de Gletterens|Gletterens|Reconstruction of a Neolithic farmhouse (pile dwelling) at a historical site| |Ballyana|Schönenwerd|Industrial history of the Schönenwerd region|

Dog runs and free running zones

Dog runs are not only used for romping around. Dog training sessions often take place here as well. You should therefore better briefly find out when it is free and you can actually use it.

16 locations for dog runs in Switzerland

Dog park	Location	Information	Costs
Dog Free Area Losone	Losone, Ticino	area parallel along the Maggia river, registration required	about municipality of Losone
Eulachpark Winterthur	Winterthur	fenced area, registration required	single ticket or subscription
Dog meadow Allmend	Lucerne	open around the clock	none
Allmend Brunau grass sports facility	Zurich	park with free-walking zone for dogs	none
Horburgpark	Basel	Park with free-walking zone for dogs	none
Churchillquai	Lucerne	5000 m² free running zone and dog bathing area, info Churchillquai	none
Dog Free Area Ellighausen (TG)	Kemmental	10000 m² free area reservation at SinTakt AG	subscription or by time
Dog Run Zurich Unterstrass	Zurich	0.1 ha large park with free running zone for dogs	none known
Dog park Zurich Werdwies	Zurich	0.1 ha park with free running zone for dogs	none known
Dog park Zurich Aussersihl	Zurich	0.1 ha park with free running zone for dogs	none known
Dietikon dog park	Dietikon	0.2 ha park with free running zone for dogs	none known
Dog park Sempach (LU)	Sempach	Park with free running zone for dogs	none known
Dog park Thierachern	Thierachern	0.1 ha park with free running zone for dogs	none known
Dog park Hasle	Burgdorf	0.1 ha park with free running zone for dogs	none known
Dog run Monthey	Monthey	1.8 ha park with free running zone for dogs	none known
Dog park Vevey	Vevey	0.1 ha Park with free running zone for dogs	none known

This list is by no means complete. Besides, such locations can change quickly. So please check in advance if the dog run or free run zone really still exists.

Visit a Cave or Gorge with Your Dog

The Höllgrotten are limestone caves located in the Lorzentobel in Baar near Zug. The rock formations that formed over millions of years spark the imagination. The illuminated caves have a truly fairy-tale-like quality. Dogs are welcome here and can join you for free, but naturally, they need to be on a leash.

You can also visit the St. Beatus Caves at Lake Thun with your dog. The dragon has long been driven away, making it a peaceful walk. On your way to the cave, you’ll pass a roaring waterfall. You can reach this place by boat; the BLS boat station is at Beatenbucht Sundlauenen. From there, it takes about 20-25 minutes to hike up to the cave entrance.

The Grindelwald Glacier Gorge also allows dogs, who can accompany you for free. The cliff walls rise up to 300 meters high in the gorge. Special lighting conditions create unique effects.

Traveling to Switzerland with your dog

If you come to Switzerland from abroad, you can bring your dog without major problems. Among other things, the following points are important:

• valid rabies vaccination (at least 21 days before crossing the border)
• responsible person for the trip (no change of owner planned) with EU pet passport
• dog has microchip or other identification

Nevertheless, please inform yourself thoroughly about the entry regulations to Switzerland in advance.

Here are some sources you can make good use of:

• Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office BLV
• Lawyer Org
• Dog Vacation
• Dog Vacation

Rent a dog

Yes, in Switzerland you can borrow a dog. 😃 The St. Bernard dog is a special landmark of Switzerland. He has been bred since the Middle Ages in the hospice of the Augustinian canons on the Great Saint Bernard.

At that time the dog carried loads, later it was also trained and used as an avalanche search dog. By appointment nowadays you can borrow a St. Bernard for a hike in the border area between Switzerland and France.