Grunewaldsee(südlicher Teil)

On the southern part of Grunewaldsee in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, dog owners will find two spacious sandy beaches where dogs are officially allowed in the water. Grunewaldsee is the only lake in Berlin with designated dog bathing areas, embedded in approximately 800 hectares of leash-free forest.

Why is the southern Grunewaldsee Berlin’s most popular meeting point for dogs and their owners?

With approximately 800 hectares, Grunewald is Berlin’s largest contiguous dog exercise area. Anyone who has been here once immediately understands why. Bathing is allowed because Grunewaldsee is the only lake in Berlin where dogs are officially allowed to swim. However, this does not apply to people: Grunewaldsee is not suitable for bathers, as bathing has been forbidden for them there since 2004.

Dog Beach at Grunewaldsee: What Awaits on the Southern Shore

On the southern side of Grunewaldsee, there are two larger sandy beaches where dogs can swim. There is also plenty of space for owners to relax. Between the two beaches, there are also some narrower beach spots. It’s not for nothing that the lake is also known as “Dog Lake” among visitors. Especially on weekends, it gets lively, so an early start is worthwhile. The southern end of Grunewaldsee is easily accessible from Hüttenweg. Here lies Forsthaus Paulsborn, a historic inn where a beer garden attracts hikers and walkers in the summer.

Walk with Your Dog Around Grunewaldsee

A loop around Grunewaldsee takes about 40 to 50 minutes, depending on your pace, and with the many path forks, you can create short daily loops or multi-hour tours. While the higher western path offers interesting insights into the nature reserve and a beautiful overview of the lake and castle, the eastern path leads past a small meadow to the impressive hunting lodge, which is located directly on the lakeshore. Important to know: Designated nature reserves are fenced off and must not be entered, as they serve as a retreat for wild animals. Parts of Grunewald even belong to the European NATURA 2000 protection program because rare and endangered animal and plant species have their habitat here. The southern part of Grunewaldsee is one of a total of six NATURA areas in Grunewald. How to get there: From Grunewald S-Bahn station (S7), you can reach the forest area after a few minutes’ walk through the residential area. Those coming by car will find an official parking lot southwest of the lake.