Poland is not quite as strict. Some of our favourite parkups have been completely free aires we’ve found on our travels. Others have been campsites. In Eastern Europe, there are not really a lot of laws in place that prohibit wild camping. Wild Camping POI Covers the UK and France, with listings of wild camping spots, aires and motorhome-friendly pubs and water taps etc. They are very strict about this and with good reasons, it can be very dangerous. Make sure to stay away from the touristic places if you want to go wild camping. Wild camping in the UK, France, Spain and Portugal is not difficult at all. This isn’t really surprising since this part of the world is very densely populated and there isn’t that much nature left. However, I simply couldn’t write an article about wild camping without mentioning the leave no trace principles. There are no laws in Romania to prohibit wild camping. Wild camping in Russia is legally allowed, but there are certain restrictions. Wild camping in Iceland is technically legal on uncultivated ground as long as there are no more than 3 tents and that you only stay one night. There are some restrictions in National Parks, but they are not strictly enforced. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. If you are close to an official camping ground you should make use of them. Not only in the age group 65plus, but especially young city dwellers are becoming more and more attracted to the outdoors. This is one of these countries where they might as well remove that law because it is not being enforced at all. Wild camping, known in French as "le camping sauvage", involves setting up your tent, or parking your caravan or motorhome, for a night or two, outside of a proper campsite. Northern Europe is generally very wild camping friendly. Go4awalk.com, a fantastic resource on wild camping, also recommends a couple of sp… A planned bivouac means that using an improvised shelter is allowed, but setting up a tent is not. Wild camping in Monaco is illegal. If you have some additional information, or you disagree with certain things in this article, please let me know. Introducing Our Bumble Wild Camping Database This is a list of all our sleepy spots and more! The legalities of wild camping in Europe In most European countries, wild camping is generally prohibited. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. A lot of locals also do this. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. While there are some generalizations that can be made about camping in Europe, like how they charge per person at campgrounds, each … You might want to keep this in the back of your mind if you want a break from sleeping in a tent for a night. Wild camping in Turkey is completely legal. Excluded are specially marked areas and nature reserves. Wild camping in Finland is legal, but there might be certain exceptions/restrictions. When we first started travelling in our motorhome, the thought of wild camping TERRIFIED me. That said, as long as you are modest, discreet and you find a remote place where people won’t find you, you should not run into any trouble. A few obstacles arise when wanting to pitch a tent in Spain. Wild and free camping for us is not just about budget. That's it. Northern Europe is generally very wild camping friendly. The same applies to places in the immediate vicinity of sights. I assume the worst thing that could happen is that a corrupt ranger would ask you a small fine. I would not advise against wild camping in Bulgaria, but make sure to stay discreet. Last researched: Autumn 2020 Sweden — … So, if there is a wild camping law on the book, no one is paying any attention to it. Anyone can upload locations and post comments for locations found. Let’s start first with the countries where it IS legal to pitch a tent and sleep under the stars. That said, if you decide to stay away from the touristic places and you go to a very remote place, you are probably not going to run into trouble. Wild camping in Denmark is legally not allowed, you cannot pitch your tent anywhere you want. I assume that a planned bivouac is allowed for one night, but I couldn’t find a solid source that could verify this. Albanians have a habit of ignoring traffic laws, smoking regulations, and pretty much any rule. Here's our overview. I'm pretty sure my husband and I had a full-on fight about it! Wild camping in Luxembourg is illegal. However, this doesn’t mean that there are no opportunities to offer for an adventure holiday in the great outdoors. In short: Camping is in. This differs from country to country, there might even be different rules for certain areas in the same country. But even Denmark provides plenty of alternatives. There is something called “bivouac zones” or “pole camping’s”. The only time you might have trouble finding a wild camping spot is on the beach in the summer. Close your laptop, lock the front door, get into your camper or motorhome, and leave the stress behind. Anyway, I can’t be 100% sure about everything. Is wild camping allowed in Germany? In this country, hospitality is still a thing, highlander culture is very strict about taking care of their guests. Croatia campgrounds are like full resorts with bars overlooking the water. Firstly, just about every piece of land in Spain is privately owned. Our advice is still to ask permission on privately owned land – better to be safe (and polite) than sorry! Wild camping in Germany is similar to wild camping in Austria or in the Czech Republic. Wild camping in Liechtenstein is illegal. Testing the Scarpa DragoAbsolute winners: The best down jackets money can buyTom Livingstone’s Latok I Expedition Kit List. In most European countries, wild camping is generally prohibited. There are even a lot of official campsites with some public facilities that are completely free. The ultimate app for finding places to stay in Europe! However, a planned bivouac (for one night) is mostly tolerated as long as it’s outside one of the prohibited areas. Wild camping in Greece is legally not allowed, but tolerated in certain parts of the country. If we see somewhere that is suitable for motorhome overnight parking then record the GPS location within our database. Wild camping is legally allowed in Moldova. However, a planned bivouac (for one night) is tolerated as long as it’s outside one of the prohibited areas. There are certain areas that you should absolutely avoid, even during low season, especially beaches should be avoided. Certain countries in this area of the world do not only legally allow wild camping, they even encourage it. Let’s start first with the countries where it … There was a time when it was the order of the day to stay in expensive boutique hotels, to book all-inclusive if possible and to be looked after from early in the morning until late in a tourist resort. That said, there are a couple of things to keep in mind before you go wild camping in the UK. Wild camping in Austria is legally not allowed. Scotland – Camping must be lightweight, done in small numbers, and only for two or three nights in one place. Expect to pay penalties If you stay outside campgrounds with a caravan. Wild camping in Montenegro is legally not allowed, but tolerated in certain areas. In a lot of European countries, wild camping is legally not allowed without permission of the landowner. Certain countries in this area of the world do not only legally allow wild camping, they even encourage it. Southern Europe is probably the least interesting place in Europe to go for wild camping. These things could happen in poor countries, but in my experience, these people are very friendly. You probably already know this, but if you don’t, make sure to learn and apply these rules. Definitely stay away from crowded/touristic places unless you are absolutely sure that wild camping is allowed. Whether an awning or a tarp is to be deemed a tent, lies at the discretion of the local official who’s discovered you. Wild camping in Cyprus is legal, with certain restrictions. Wild camping is legally allowed in Armenia. An alternative to city hall is the church, where the priest might be able to tell you whether the local church owns some field in the countryside. You would need some serious bad luck. You are allowed to do a one night bivouac. In the last 20 years, there hasn’t been one single sentence imposed for wild camping – at least in the northern area. I couldn’t find any restrictions. Practically every European country has different rules and regulations on wild camping. Is wild camping allowed in Europe? So make sure to bring a bivouac sack instead of an actual tent if you are planning on wild camping in Germany. A more adventurous summer destination is the dramatic Lofoten islands, inside the Arctic Circle, where camping comes with the added perk of the midnight sun. Because of this, they came up with the word bivouac. It’s recommended to do your research before you leave for your trip, especially if you are going to an island. If you were thinking about camping in the Slovakian part of the Tatra mountains, you must know that this is legally not allowed. Make sure to check that wild camping is legal in the area you want to go, but in most of the country it is completely legal. The rest of Europe. There is a lot of wild places that are perfect for camping, you shouldn’t expect any trouble. Wild camping in any of the National Parks is illegal, and these Parks are frequently patrolled by foresters. However, it is widely tolerated. Extra caution should be taking for wild camping in Switzerland. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. We like to do a mix, but to keep costs down we try and stay on aires or wild camp as much as possible. Here are some things that will help prepare you for camping in Europe. Wild camping in Spain is complicated. If you ask the locals, you’ll often hear that camping is not a problem. But even in the National Parks, these rules are not strictly enforced. However, this doesn’t mean that there are no opportunities to offer for an adventure holiday in the great outdoors. That said, recently Bulgaria added a new law that explicitly forbids camping outside the camping spots. However, this doesn’t mean that there are no opportunities to offer for an adventure holiday in the great outdoors. Your email address will not be published. In these countries they generally don’t have any issue with this. Simply park your car or pitch your tent wherever you are. It's not illegal because of the environment. Helas comme les quelques autres, vos conseils sont tres utiles mais il n’y a aucun moyen de savoir concretement comment cela se passe sur place … , S’il faut batailler et que l’amende est aleatoire et a la tete du client, ca risque de vite devenir invivable … France as mentioned does have a lot of facilities for overnighting and mostly for free. However, most of the national and regional parks have their own rules. A view of Spain In the highlands there are less restrictions when it comes to wild camping. They are not meant to target a hiker who doesn’t make a mess, stays discreet and only stays for one night. One thing I wanted to mention is that Cypriots don’t really care if you camp wild, but they do care that you light a fire during the hottest months. Eco-camping in West Sussex, pitches in Hertfordshire, tent-only camping in East Sussex, feel at one with nature at one of these campsites. According to various online forums, the best places for wild camping in France include the Ardennes, the Morvan peaks, and Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer. From what I understand, they might give you permission. This article is a complete overview about wild camping in Europe. I know you came here to learn about where it’s legal and/or tolerated to camp wild and not to learn about “leave no trace”. If you go deep enough into the wilderness and don’t make a fire you should be fine, but know that it’s legally not allowed. The country is full of wild places where you can easily camp. I want to optimize this article as good as possible. Stories told of climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts of meeting up with Swiss law enforcement at 4 am is something to be avoided! Wild camping in Bulgaria is illegal, but mostly tolerated. In other countries overnight motorhome parking is neither legal nor illegal and in many countries wild camping is forbidden. Belgium is a very small and densely populated country, there are isn’t really that much nature. But… Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the most severe landmine problems in the entire world. Therefore, they (kind off) do enforce this law. To simplify things, these are the areas of Europe where responsible wild camping is encouraged, even if not strictly legal: 1. Which European countries allow it? If you are in a remote place, you shouldn’t worry to much about getting a fine. Aim for the southern bits, well out of range of the army firing ranges in the north. I created HikeHeaven to share experiences, research, tips, tricks and recommend products - or simply to help other hikers. Ski touring for beginners: Get it right, from the get-go, Ski Touring with the kids: Some pointers for starting out, This is what you need for cycling through winter, From mountain addicts for mountain addicts, Wild camping in Europe: where it’s allowed and where not. From free camping, with little to no facilities to those with amenities such as onsite restaurants and pools. 2. So make sure to bring a bivouac sack instead of an actual tent if you are planning on wild camping in Austria. You can find more information about these rules in this article: Wild camping in France: Complete guide. Macedonia is a very beautiful country, with a lot of places where you can wild camp without bothering anyone. Wild camping is part of the Estonian culture so you shouldn’t expect any trouble. Be careful if you want to go wild camping in any of the popular places (Lake Bed, Triglav National park), there might be rangers there and you could risk a fine. In fact, the Guardia Civil has a special section that actively tries to find wild campers. Lithuania is very similar to Latvia when it comes to wild camping. I could not find any restrictions. Even rest periods with caravans in parking lots or at stop areas is prohibited in these countries. Wild camping is the dream of the adventurer, the true meaning of camping and experiencing nature firsthand. Wild camping is legally allowed in Georgia. That said, in most places in Spain, wild camping is forbidden. However, for some countries there was simply not enough information to be found online. Hint: If you want to search for a certain country simply click Ctrl + f. Please note that this is a hiking wild camping guide (information does not necessarily apply for RV’s). However, there are a lot of regulations (especially in the touristic/crowded areas) and it is kind off discouraged. It seems that wild camping is not really appreciated when you stay multiple nights. The laws are not on a national level, but on a local level. Wild Camping in Europe in a Motorhome - The Important Stuff Most countries have laws regarding wild motorhome camping. If you do get caught, there is a pretty good chance that they will not send you away. In the past few years, the number of camping vehicles sold has been on the rise, there is an increasing number of magazines celebrating life in nature and camping products are becoming real lifestyle essentials. Wild camping is legally allowed in Belarus. The chance that you get a fine is very low, but theoretically possible. Wild camping in Malta is illegal. Not advisable to pitch directly under the Eiffel Tower – this can cost you a heady penalty of 1,500 euros if you are caught! There is only one country in Northern Europe where wild camping is not legal, Denmark. As we travelled on a tight budget we tended to stick to free or low-cost sites. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Similar to France and Italy, the wild camping rules are made up locally and not nationally. Wild camping in Sweden is completely legal and even encouraged. There are also not really any restrictions or limitations. Wild camping in Latvia is legal, but there are certain exceptions/restrictions. It’s illegal in most countries and only tolerated in a few of them. In the mountains and on public grounds it’s definitely tolerated. We find a perfectly idyllic location and think it’d be wonderful to spend the night there. Wild camping in Scotland is legal, but there are some exceptions. You can pretty much pitch a tent anywhere outside of town for a maximum of 2 days. Quickly realising that an office wasn't for him, he exchanged a tie for a camping kit. Only in the national Parks they are a little more strict about it. My introduction to wild camping was crossing Europe back in 2007, when a lack of money made it a necessity. However, in Germany they have started to recognize that not everyone wants to do camping at a “all inclusive” campsite. Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal and eastern Europe have similar rules to England and Wales: you cannot camp on private land unless you have the express permission of the local landowner. Without a tent (e.g bivy sack) you may sleep almost anywhere for a night outside on private property in Germany. Wild camping in Hungary is legally allowed, but very restricted. Wild camping in Slovenia is illegal, but tolerated in certain areas. Certain countries in this area of the world do not … Wild camping in Albania is very tolerated. However, as long as you are discreet, stay out of sight and leave no trace, you are most likely not going to get in trouble. Wild camping in Portugal is illegal. To protect wildlife, you are not allowed to camp in national or regional natural parks. Wild camping in Lithuania is legal, but there are certain exceptions/restrictions. The rules are strictly enforced in certain areas. They do, however, also have “bivouac zones” or “pole camping’s” that you can use. J’ai surtout l’impression que le camping sauvage a long terme est clairement irrealisable …. The right to roam is enshrined in the Swedish law. As we travel around Europe we often stop on a car park for the day, rest areas for afternoon tea or in nice cove for a spot of lunch. Wild camping in Slovakia is legally allowed, but not in any of the National Parks. Italy and Germany don’t have a wild camping culture and it’s not widely tolerated. Just make sure to be discreet and leave no trace. I'm a hiking enthusiast who's mainly been active in Europe. During low season however, nobody is probably going to bother you. Estonia. Therefore, Belgium is one of the few countries where I really do not recommend wild camping. Wild free camping in a motorhome is legal in some countries in Europe. The country is so small that it’s not too hard to catch wild campers. Showing respect, courtesy and using common sense will keep you in the right direction. No, unfortunately, wild camping and standing free is not officially allowed in Germany. If you find yourself in a very remote area in the middle of the mountains, you shouldn’t run into any trouble. How to find wild camping and aires for motorhomes in Europe. Our Favourite Countries in Europe for Aires + Wild Camping (So Far) June 12, 2020. Wild camping in Norway is enshrined in the Allemannsretten which is basically every man or woman’s right of public access. Wild camping in the Czech Republic is very similar to wild camping in Austria. It’s my personal opinion that wild camping should almost always be allowed, but you absolutely have to respect “leave no trace”. If you don’t like the idea of having to stay at a bivouac zone, I would recommend to cross the border to France, where the laws are more flexible. There is only one country in Northern Europe where wild camping is not legal, Denmark. They also seem to very strict about this. Central Europe is not as wild camping friendly as the northern countries, but most countries will at least allow a planned bivouac (one night). It has wild camping, camp sites, aires, even car parks. In general, the laws around wild camping are meant for camping cars, gypsies, long-term wild campers, etc. Wild camping for many has the scent of adventure. The shortest answer on this question is:in some places it’s legal, in most places it’s illegal. 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