Bremen

Gerhard Marcks's emblematic 1953 bronze on the western side of the Town Hall depicts a donkey, dog, cat and rooster stacked atop one another, after the Brothers Grimm tale. Tradition: rubbing the donkey's front legs brings good luck. Germany's most photographed dog statue, visit before 09:00 for best light and no queues.

UNESCO medieval square dominated by the Weser Renaissance Town Hall (1409, façade 1612) and the Roland statue (1404, 5.5 m), Germany's largest free-standing medieval statue. Public space open year-round to leashed dogs. The vaulted Ratskeller cellar restaurant welcomes dogs indoors.

Bremen's oldest quarter, a pedestrian maze of narrow cobblestone alleys lined with 15th-17th century half-timbered houses. Today filled with artisan workshops, galleries and cafés; many have water bowls outside the door. The most charming dog walk in the centre, best early morning or early evening.

Grand 200-hectare central park opened in 1866 and entirely funded by citizen donations. English-landscape lakes, meadows, beech woodland and a small wildlife enclosure. A fenced Hundeauslauffläche on the western edge lets dogs run off-leash year-round.

The medieval city's moat and ramparts converted into a 2 km green park belt looping around the centre. The old Herdentorswallmühle windmill, swan pond, shaded curving paths, Bremen's most central dog walk, ideal as a 30-minute loop.

Historic Hanseatic riverside promenade on the eastern Weser bank, running the length of the medieval centre. Restored sailing ships moored alongside, beer-garden terraces, river-bank step access. Bremen's prime dog-and-coffee strip, most terraces serve a water bowl unprompted.