Is it possible to spend New Year's Eve at the airport with a dog?

Perhaps you're familiar with this: New Year's Eve is a major challenge for many dog ​​owners every year! Deafening rockets and loud fireworks on New Year's Eve drive many people crazy weeks before the turn of the year. But where can you find refuge with your particularly anxious furry friend?

In recent years, airports have become a well-kept secret for anxious dogs as firework-free zones on New Year's Eve – but is it really that simple, and is it truly a good solution? We've done the research for you and summarized the most important information.

Warum ist Silvester mit Hund am Flughafen eine gute Idee ?

Airports sind eine gute Option für viele Angsthunde: Wenn dein Hund die Silvesternacht bisher als echte Herausforderung erlebt hat, kann der Flughafen eine echte Alternative zum Zuhause sein.

Denn aufgrund des Flugverkehrs gelten am Flughäfen strenge Vorschriften: In einem Radius von 1,5 km um Flugplätze herum dürfen keine Feuerwerkskörper gezündet werden, entsprechend deutlich geringer fällt also der Lärmpegel am Airport aus. Das macht es für Hundebesitzer mit ängstlichen Vierbeinern besonders attraktiv, die Silvesternacht in Flughafennähe zu verbringen. 

Die Vorteile, Silvester mit Hund am Flughafen zu verbringen

• Böllerfreie Bereiche: In unmittelbarer Nähe zu einem Airport ist es verboten, Raketen, Böller und Feuerwerkskörper zu zünden. Das heißt: weniger Knaller, weniger Angst und weniger Stress für Vierbeiner mit empfindlichen Ohren!
• Sichere, ruhige Gebäude: Im Terminal selbst ist der Lärm zudem sehr gedämpft. Daher bekommt dein Vierbeiner innen von der Knallerei draußen meistens kaum etwas mit.
• Hunde erlaubt: An vielen deutschen Flughäfen dürfen Hunde grundsätzlich im Terminal mitgeführt werden, solange sie angeleint sind oder in einer Hundebox transportiert werden. Aufschluss über die geltenden Regelungen vor Ort gibt die jeweils geltende Flughafenbenutzungsordnung (FBO).
• Genug Platz: Die großzügigen Wartebereiche am Flughafen bieten genug Platz für Hund, Frauchen und Herrchen – so lassen sich dort bequem einige Stunden verbringen.

Why is spending New Year's Eve with your dog at the airport a good idea?
 

Airports are a great option for many anxious dogs: If your dog has previously found New Year's Eve a real challenge, the airport can be a real alternative to home.

Due to air traffic, strict regulations apply at airports: Fireworks are prohibited within a 1.5 km radius of airfields, resulting in significantly lower noise levels. This makes it particularly attractive for dog owners with anxious pets to spend New Year's Eve near the airport.

The advantages of spending New Year's Eve with your dog at the airport
 

•  Firework-free zones: It is forbidden to set off rockets, firecrackers, and fireworks in the immediate vicinity of an airport. This means fewer bangs, less fear, and less stress for dogs with sensitive ears!
   
• Safe, quiet buildings: The noise is also very muffled inside the terminal. Therefore, your dog will usually hardly notice the fireworks outside.
   
• Dogs allowed: At many German airports, dogs are generally permitted in the terminal as long as they are on a leash or transported in a dog crate. The applicable airport regulations (FBO) provide information on the specific rules in place.
   
• Plenty of space: The spacious waiting areas at the airport offer ample room for dogs and their owners – making it easy to spend a few hours there comfortably.

New Year's Eve with your dog at German airports: Where is it possible?
 

We've taken a closer look at 15 German airports to see if you can bring your dog.

Checklist for your New Year's Eve with your dog at the airport
 

We've put together a checklist of things that might be useful at the airport:

• A cozy blanket or dog bed for the cold floor
• If necessary, a dog crate
• Bowls, plenty of water and food
• Treats, chew toys, a lick mat, or similar items to calm your dog
• Favorite toy
• Poop bags
• Harness and leash (ideally a well-fitting safety harness)
• Grooming products (if your dog is sensitive)
• If necessary: ​​Medication or sedatives after consulting your veterinarian
• Drinks and snacks for yourself

Airport Alternative: Staying at an Airport Hotel with Your Dog
 

If you're willing to pay a little extra for a peaceful New Year's Eve and don't want to be stuck in the middle of the terminal, or if it's too stimulating for your dog among the other four-legged friends, then a comfortable room at an airport hotel is the perfect alternative! Many airport hotels explicitly welcome pets and are located so close to the terminal that fireworks are prohibited.

Advantages of spending New Year's Eve with your dog at an airport hotel:
 

• Not just for travelers: You don't even have to fly – you can simply book an overnight stay, park at the airport, and enjoy a peaceful end to the year with your furry friend.
• A peaceful night's sleep despite fireworks in the surrounding area, as many hotels near the airport boast better soundproofed windows, so you'll barely hear the fireworks, if at all.
• Many hotels are dog-friendly and offer blankets, water, or snacks.
• Breakfast in the morning ensures a relaxed start to the new year.
• No crowds – just you, your four-legged friend, or family and friends!
• Rooms on higher floors often offer a great view of distant fireworks – without any noise!

Weitere Alternativen für eine ruhige Silvesternacht

Einige Hundebesitzer – sei es, weil keine Hotelzimmer am Flughafen mehr buchbar sind, es ihnen zu kostspielig ist oder der Aufenthalt mit Hund im Terminal nicht möglich ist – suchen nach anderen Möglichkeiten. Wir haben 3 Ideen für dich: 

1. Autobahn: Da Böller und Raketen den Verkehr gefährden könnten, ist ein Feuerwerk auch an Autobahnen und dortigen Rastplätzen verboten.
2. Ruhige Parkplätze, am besten abgelegen, fernab von Ortschaften, versprechen ebenfalls einen ruhigen Jahreswechsel.
3. Übernachtung in dünn besiedelten Gebieten: Dort ist es oft völlig ruhig oder der Spuk zumindest deutlich schneller vorbei als in der Stadt. Pensionen, einsame Ferienhäuser, oder Wellnesshotels, die Hunde erlauben, könnten eine gute Lösung für dich und deinen Vierbeiner sein.

More Alternatives for a Peaceful New Year's Eve
 

Some dog owners—whether because hotel rooms at the airport are unavailable, too expensive, or because taking their dog into the terminal isn't possible—are looking for other options. We have three ideas for you:
 

1. Highways: Since firecrackers and rockets could endanger traffic, fireworks are prohibited on highways and at rest stops.
2. Quiet parking lots, preferably secluded and far from towns, also promise a peaceful New Year's Eve.
3. Staying overnight in sparsely populated areas: It's often completely quiet there, or at least the noise is over much sooner than in the city. Guesthouses, secluded vacation homes, or wellness hotels that allow dogs could be a good solution for you and your four-legged friend.

Sources:
*https://www.mdf-ag.com/media/user_upload/Leipzig_Halle/PDF/22-07-01_FBO.pdf [Abruf: 13.11.2025]