Tips for visiting Ventspils with a dog
12.10.2022 - 13:07
For quite some time now, there has been an increasing tendency among travellers to take their pets on leisure trips. Four-legged friends have become an integral part of both our everyday life and weekends.
In order to respond to one of the most frequently asked questions of Ventspils guests - Where to go with a dog in Ventspils? - the Ventspils Tourism Information Centre has prepared a summary that lists dog-friendly places with a map showing dog-friendly tourist accommodations, food service locations, specially adapted walking areas and sightseeing places where no one will mind your docile pet being there.
See Ventspils map with dog-friendly leisure areas HERE.
DOG-FRIENDLY TOURIST ACCOMODATIONS AND FOOD SERVICES
Most tourist accommodations in Ventspils gladly host overnight guests with their pets, free of charge or for a separate fee, but before going on vacation we highly recommend you to contact the hosts and make sure if you can stay overnight with your particular pet and what the additional costs might be. Most food service locations in Ventspils willingly welcome people with their four-legged friends and give them some water.
WALKS
One of the best specially designed walking places where you can take rest with your dog is the well-maintained infrastructure of the south-western part of the city at Saulrieta Street and 10th entrance to the sea. Seaward-oriented wooden paths cross the Grey Dune area of the European-significance protected territory. At the beginning of the path, next to the information stands, there is also a special waste container for dog excrements. This beach is already popular with many dog owners: dozens of man's best friends rest on the beach every day.
Moreover, one of the most beautiful parks in Ventspils - 'Reņķa dārzs' - is located very close to the city centre and it is adapted for children, sport lovers, and for walks with pets. International dog exhibitions and dog training sessions regularly take place here.
Another place to go with your dog is a promenade at the Southern Pier which is a favourite place for strolls among residents and guests of Ventspils where one can enjoy both the view of the setting sun and the might of the stormy sea all year long. On your way to the lighthouse you will see a 4 meter high sculpture 'Sailor Cow', fishing vessels 'Azova' and 'Grots', as well as a giant 'Chair'. Finally, ships entering the port can be observed there from the 12 m high observation tower.
There are several places in Ventspils where you can go for a walk with your dog even without a leash, i.e. in the specially created areas for dogs at 110A Saules Street, 27A Brīvības Street and 33 Rindas Street. These are the places for your dog to run about in a safe and fenced area and follow the owner's commands using dog training equipment. Moreover, these areas are provided with necessary amenities - benches and waste bins. In total, there are 24 special dog waste bins in Ventspils having free-of-charge bags to collect excrements of your dog.
Visiting public places
When leaving your home for vacation, it is often impossible to take your four-legged friend with you - many cafés, restaurants and other places of rest do not allow animals. Although not everywhere because there are several places in Ventspils where dogs will be welcomed. However, it must be said that it is small dogs that can be easily picked up which the preference is expressed for, while visiting premises of a facility with large dogs can be problematic. Docile pets are welcomed at all structural units of the Ventspils Museum - Castle of the Livonian Order, House of Crafts, Seaside Open-Air Museum and Herberts Dorbe Memorial Museum 'Senču Putekļi'. Docile pets are those who are able to remain well-behaved both at home and at somebody else's place and whose presence does not pose a threat to visitors and whose behaviour the owner assume full responsibility for.
There are a few more public places in Ventspils you may visit with your docile dog - observation platform of the Science Centre 'VIZIUM', 'Adventure Park', 'Writers' and Translators' House', stadium of the Olympic Centre 'Ventspils', 'Ventspils Digital Centre', exhibitions of the Theatre House 'Jūras vārti'. Small dogs that may be picked up by their owners are welcome at the Main and Pārventa Library, Planetarium and Observatory of the Ventspils Creativity House, as well as at 'Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre'.
DOG HOTEL
If dog owners have difficulty leaving their pet at home when going on a long trip or on a business trip, there is a place in Ventspils to help them! Guests of our city can also use this service if they want to visit a place where dogs are not allowed. There is a dog hotel at 98 Robežu Street run by professional dog handler Sarmīte Šlisere. Dogs are offered comfortable and pleasant staying conditions - they may walk in a large yard or through the forest, have meal and fresh drinking water, living in comfortable homelike conditions without cages, and health care is also provided for pets if necessary.
TAG AND SHARE IN SOCIAL NETWORKS
Dog owners are welcome to share photos in social networks taken at flower sculptures, fountains, cows, cafés, overnight accommodations, and other popular places in Ventspils, tagging them as follows: #VisitVentspils and #VentspilsĶepas
