Bolzano/Bozen is a very cycle-friendly city, crossed by an extensive network of cycle paths running through the valley along the main waterways: the Talvera/Talfer cycle path, the Isarco/Eisack cycle path and the Adige/Etsch cycle path all connect the city centre with the surrounding municipalities and form part of major regional cycling routes such as the Via Claudia Augusta and the Adige/Etsch Valley Cycle Route.

If you are travelling with your dog, please bear in mind an important rule: Art. 182, paragraph 3 of the Italian Road Traffic Code prohibits cyclists from leading animals on a lead while cycling. This rule applies throughout the entire country. On the cycle paths in and around Bolzano/Bozen, it is therefore not permitted to bring your dog.

Should your dog need medical attention during your stay in Bolzano/Bozen, below you will find the main veterinary contacts in the city, including emergency numbers and regular practices.

Emergencies / 24-hour availability

• VetBZ – Veterinary Clinic City of Bolzano, Via Resia / Reschenstraße 20 — Tel. 0471 204212 / emergencies: 338 5256333 — info@vetbz.it — vetbz.it
• Tierklinik Drei Heiligen / Clinica Tre Santi – Veterinary Practice Folchini & Sanin, Viale Druso / Drususallee 71 — Tel. 0471 272818 — 24h: Dr. Sanin 349 3408777 / Dr. Folchini 333 9377009 — clinicatresanti.it
• Veterinary Association of Bolzano / Tierärztekammer Bozen — voluntary 24h on-call service on weekends and public holidays — tieraerztekammer.com/it/servizi-di-reperibilita

Regular veterinary practices

• VetClinic Bolzano/Bozen – Dr. Georg Moser & Dr. Simon Kirchler, Via Tre Santi / Dreiheiligengasse 1F — Tel. 0471 283040 — info@vetclinic.bz — Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10–12 / 16–19; Sat–Sun 12–20 (emergencies only)
• Old Town Veterinary Clinic / Tierärztliche Klinik Altstadt, Via dei Vanga / Wangergasse 51 — Tel. 0471 976158 — Opening hours: Mon–Fri 9–13 / 16–19; on-call for emergencies also on Saturdays and public holidays — clinicacentrostorico.it
• Europa Veterinary Practice / Tierärztliche Praxis Europa, Viale Europa / Europaallee 128/A — Tel. 0471 911916 — ambveteuropa@libero.it — Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10–12 / 16–19 (by appointment only)

Bolzano/Bozen has a rich and varied cultural scene, and many of its museums and landmarks welcome visitors with four-legged companions. Access policies vary from venue to venue: some museums accept dogs freely, others only small dogs carried in arms, and others only assistance dogs. We recommend checking the current conditions directly with each venue before your visit.


Dogs allowed

• Treasure of the Dome Museum
• Eccel Kreuzer Museum (currently closed)

Dogs allowed with restrictions

• South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology/Ötzi — small dogs carried in arms; box at the entrance for large dogs
• South Tyrol Museum of Natural History— small dogs carried in arms; guide dogs allowed
• Cinè Museum — small dogs carried in arms
• Runkelstein Castle — dogs allowed in the courtyard and tavern; not in the interior rooms

Assistance dogs only

• Museion – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
  
  

Dogs NOT allowed

• Messner Mountain Museum Firmian
• Municipal Museum
• Permanent exposition within the Monument to Victory
• School Museum
• Maretsch Castle
• Pons Drusi Museum
• Mercantile Museum
• Clock Museum
• Krippenmuseum Muri‑Gries
• Permanent exposition within the "Semirurali House"
• Antonio Dalle Nogare Foundation (dogs not allowed inside; may be left outside)

In general, organised outdoor pools and lidos in the area do not allow animals for hygiene reasons. An exception is Lake Costalovara / Wolfsgrubener See on the Renon/Ritten Plateau, where dogs are welcome in the natural areas around the lake, but not in the designated swimming area.


Bolzano Outdoor Pool (Lido di Bolzano) — dogs NOT allowed
The internal regulations (Municipal Council resolution No. 44/2024) state explicitly in Art. 2: "No animals are permitted".


Lake Costalovara (Renon/Ritten) — dogs allowed in natural areas

• Bathing lake on the Renon/Ritten Plateau; dogs allowed in the natural areas, but not in the designated swimming area.
• Reachable by Renon Cable Car + Renon Railway (stop Costalovara/Wolfsgruben) + 5/10 minutes on foot.
• Swimming area season: from mid-June to end of August, daily 10.00–19.00 (may vary depending on weather).

San Genesio /Jenesien Outdoor Pool — dogs NOT allowed

Laives /Leifers Outdoor Pool — dogs NOT allowed

Lake Caldaro and Lakes of Monticolo — dogs NOT allowed
Dogs not allowed during the bathing season (15 May – 15 September).

Bolzano is connected to its high plateaus by three cable cars and the charming Renon Railway, all of which are accessible with your dog. Below you will find the rules and fares for each means of transport.


Renon Cable Car (Bolzano/Bozen – Soprabolzano/Oberbozen)

• Dogs allowed on a lead and with a muzzle
• Small pets (in bag/carrier, max. 70x30x50 cm): free
• Medium/large dogs: single ticket € 2.00 / day ticket € 3.50
• Guide dogs: free
• Dogs may not occupy seats
• Single ticket (person): € 8.50 / return € 13.50
• Valid tickets: single ticket, Mobilcard, AltoAdige Pass

Renon Railway (Soprabolzano/Oberbozen – Collalbo/Klobenstein)

• Dogs allowed on a lead, with muzzle and ticket
• Small pets: no muzzle or ticket required
• Medium/large dogs: single ticket € 2.00 / day ticket € 3.50
• Single ticket (person): € 5.50 / return € 8.50

Kohlern Cable Car (Bolzano/Bozen – Colle/Kohlern)

• Dogs allowed on board
• Small pets (in bag/carrier): free
• Medium/large dogs: free
• Single ticket (person): € 4.00 / return € 8.00

San Genesio Cable Car — CLOSED
Out of service since 24 November 2020, pending new installation. San Genesio/Jenesien reachable by bus No. 156 (timetables: altoadigemobilita.info). For dogs: general public transport rules apply


SASA and public buses

• Dogs allowed on all public transport
• Lead and muzzle required (small pets exempt)
• Small pets (in bag/carrier): free
• Medium/large dogs: single ticket € 2.00 / day ticket € 3.50
• Max. 1 dog per passenger
• Guide dogs: always free

Bolzano/Bozen and the surrounding area offer plenty of opportunities for walks with your dog, from the banks of the Talvera/Talfer river to the high plateaus of Renon/Ritten and Kohlern. Before heading out, it is worth familiarising yourself with the local rules to make the most of your time together.


General rules

• Dogs must be kept on a lead in all public spaces, including outside built-up areas — maximum length 1.5 metres
• You must always clean up after your dog
• Muzzle required in crowded areas or where indicated by signs
• Watch out for "Dogs on lead / Hunde an die Leine" signs along the trails, especially near pastures and livestock
• Fines (Municipality of Bolzano/Bozen Ordinance No. 20672/2002):
  • Unattended dog or failure to clean up: from €50 to €500
  • Failure to use lead/muzzle: from €25 to €250

Walks in the city
Bolzano/Bozen offers several dog-friendly routes surrounded by nature, just a short distance from the city centre:

• Lungo Talvera/Talferpromenade — the "green lung" of Bolzano/Bozen, perfect for long walks along the riverbank, with pedestrian bridges and separate cycling and walking paths
• Sant'Osvaldo Walk — connects Sant'Antonio/St. Anton with the wine-growing area of Santa Maddalena/St. Magdalena, approx. 6 km through oak and hornbeam woods with views of the Rosengarten
• Guncina Walk — approx. 4 km along the slopes of the Guncina/Guntschna hill, from the Gries district through labelled Mediterranean flora with panoramic benches and city views; connects to the Lungo Talvera/Talferpromenade via the rio Fago/Fagerschlucht
• Rebe Walk — a path through the vineyards above Bolzano/Bozen

Renon/Ritten Plateau
The Renon/Ritten Plateau is one of the best areas for hikes with your dog, with marked trails through forests, meadows and the famous earth pyramids. Pay attention to signs near pastures and livestock.

San Genesio/Jenesien
The Salto forests and trails around San Genesio/Jenesien are walkable with a dog on a lead. Reachable by bus No. 156 (cable car currently out of service).

Colle/Kohlern
Kohlern is Bolzano's home mountain, reachable in just 5 minutes by the Kohlern Cable Car / Kohlerer Bahn (dogs allowed, see Cable Cars section). From the top station, a network of marked trails opens up through forests, meadows and mountain farms, suitable for walks with your dog at various levels of difficulty.


Off-lead dog areas
The Municipality of Bolzano/Bozen has 25 fenced and equipped off-lead areas where dogs can run freely without a lead. The main ones near the walking routes:

• Lungo Talvera / Talferpromenade – Museion (10,000 m²) — the largest
• Lungo Talvera – vicolo Sabbia / Talferpromenade – Sandgasse (900 m²)
• Parco Petrarca / Petrarcapark – Gries-San Quirino / Gries-Quirein district
• Via Roen – parco Pompei / Roenstraße – Roenpark (880 m²) – Gries-San Quirino / Gries-Quirein district

All areas are equipped with a water fountain, fencing and waste disposal facilities.

Bolzano and the surrounding area offer a wide range of pet-friendly accommodation options that warmly welcome your four-legged companion. Below you will find an updated list of pet-friendly stays with all the information you need to find the right fit for you and your dog.