Poznan

One of Europe's largest medieval market squares, laid out in 1253 and ringed by colourful Renaissance townhouses. At its centre, the Renaissance Town Hall houses the famous mechanical goats that butt heads every day at noon. Leashed dogs are welcome on the cobbles and most café terraces, though the indoor museum and the Royal Castle admit assistance dogs only.

The cradle of the Polish state, where King Mieszko I was baptised in 966. The island holds the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul and a network of cobbled lanes that stay remarkably calm all day. Leashed dogs are welcome everywhere outdoors; the cathedral interior admits assistance dogs only.

Poznań's largest park, around 100 hectares of wooded ridges on the site of a former Prussian fortress. The park holds Magdalena Abakanowicz's Unrecognized installation (112 cast-iron headless figures), a Soviet war cemetery, and a panoramic terrace over the Old Town. Dogs on leash everywhere, except inside the two military museums.

A 64-hectare artificial lake built in 1952, with the Malta Ski slope (open year-round), the New Zoo on the north shore, and a 5 km promenade loop. Leashed dogs welcome on the promenade and in green areas year-round; excluded from the lifeguarded swim zone in summer.

A graceful 13-hectare Art Nouveau park designed in 1907, with three connected ponds, ornate footbridges, and weeping willows. The dog meadow (wybieg) on the western edge is fully fenced and equipped with agility ramps and benches.

A 75 km² national park 30 km south of Poznań, founded in 1957 to protect glacial lakes and pine forests. Twelve marked trails total over 100 km. Dogs allowed on marked trails on leash; reachable by train from Poznań Główny via Mosina in 25 minutes.