Wild camping in Europe - where it is allowed and forbidden

Hotel prices increase every year, and in summer this hits your wallet especially hard. Therefore, it makes sense to consider an outdoor vacation.

So, you can buy a tent and set off on a European nature trip. But to do this, you need to figure out where you can pitch a tent anywhere. And in which European countries wild camping is strictly prohibited.

But almost everywhere there are exceptions, so I suggest that before planning such a trip, you carefully examine what legal alternatives exist to wild camping. This wild camping guide in Europe will help you plan a tent trip and enjoy the nature of Europe.

Wild Camps and Ecology

Before dealing with permissions and prohibitions on wild camping, let’s note an important general rule—you should leave nothing behind in nature.

Here are some things to remember during your outdoor holiday:

Pack up all your trash and take it with you.
Be careful when choosing a spot for your tent so as not to destroy the vegetation.
Use only natural soap when washing dishes and yourself in rivers or lakes. It’s best to collect water in a pot, wash it, and pour it somewhere on the ground so as not to pollute running water.
Your toilet should also be at least 30 meters away from water sources. It’s best to dig a hole and then cover it with earth.
Be quiet so as not to disturb animals (or other people).
Be careful with fires—in most places, it is strictly forbidden due to fire risks. Therefore, use gas canisters and a gas stove to cook food. Or make a fire in permitted places.
Respect wildlife.
Don’t camp on private land without permission.

Wild Camping Rules in Different European Countries

Wild camping means the familiar hikes through nature, where you can pitch your tent in the mountains, or near a river or lake, in a field or in a forest—wherever you want. For Ukrainians, this is completely normal since wild camping is fully legal in our country (as long as you don’t pitch your tent in someone’s yard or garden).

But in Europe, it’s a completely different story—there are laws and restrictions here. Read on to learn about them in each country.

Austria

Wild camping in Austria is prohibited, and the fines are high. Locals most often refuse requests to pitch a tent on private land, so you can only stay here in campgrounds.

Albania

Wild camping in Albania is permitted.

Belgium

Wild camping in Belgium is prohibited. Here, as in the Netherlands, there are not many wild and deserted areas. Absolutely do not try to pitch a tent on the coast—a big fine awaits you.

Alternative to wild camping in Belgium:

Bivouac zones — these are small camping spots, usually without any facilities (some of them may have showers and toilets). Bivouac zones are available only for non-motorized hikers and are located throughout the country, both in Flanders and Wallonia.
Important information:
– Some campsites are open only in summer.
– Sometimes advance booking is needed (free).
Welcome to my garden – this Belgian project allows people to let you pitch a tent in their garden for one night free of charge. Only hikers and cyclists may use it. You need to contact the host in advance. Thanks to this platform, you can camp even in the center of Brussels. The site has more than 2,300 hosts in Belgium, so it will be very easy to find a place to stay and enjoy interacting with locals.

Bulgaria

Wild camping is theoretically prohibited in Bulgaria, but locals do it all the time. You may run into problems with this on the coast, while in the Bulgarian mountains, on the contrary—you can calmly observe fantastic landscapes from your tent.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Wild camping is allowed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but you need to be especially careful. Even 27 years after the Bosnian war, some areas of this country are still contaminated with mines. By 2019, the country planned to clear all mines, but did not succeed. According to a new assessment, all landmines will be removed by 2024.

Now most of the country is safe. Usually, dangerous areas are marked with red signs with skulls and crossbones. It is also better to check with local residents.

United Kingdom

Wild camping is prohibited in England and Wales. However, it is allowed in uninhabited mountainous areas. In Scotland, free camping is permitted. In the Dartmoor National Park, there are even designated areas where this is allowed. See the map of where you can pitch a tent here.

In remote areas of Scotland and Wales, you can also use shelters with no amenities such as water, beds, or electricity. But you can stay in them for free. You can find a map of these shelters here.

Greece

Wild camping in Greece is illegal, but widely accepted. However, do not do this on beaches or in tourist areas. No one will mind if you pitch a tent somewhere far in the mountains.

Denmark

Wild camping in Denmark is prohibited by law.

Alternative to wild camping in Denmark:

There are several open shelters where you can spend the night. You can find a map of their locations here .
There are several legal free campsites (sometimes with primitive wooden shelters). You can find them at udinaturen.dk—the official website of the Danish Nature Agency.

Estonia

Wild camping in Estonia is legal. If you are looking for great camping spots and hiking trails in Estonia, the RMK mobile app will come in handy.

Ireland

Wild camping is officially prohibited in Ireland.

Iceland

For non-motorized (on-foot or by bike) travelers, wild camping in Iceland is still legal along public routes, provided that landowners do not restrict access to settlements and there are no official campsites nearby. You can only stay for one night. Do not make wild camps in national parks if there is an official campsite nearby.

In practice, most land around villages is private. If you ask the owner for permission to pitch a tent on their property, they will most likely tell you where the official campsite is. In the low season (May 15 – September 15), campsites are either free or you need to pay in a special collection box. More information can be found on the official website of the Icelandic Environmental Agency.

Spain

The legal status of wild camping in Spain is complicated. On the coast and in national parks, it is strictly forbidden. In the regions of Andalusia, Valencia, Navarre, Galicia, Extremadura, and Asturias, wild camping is strictly forbidden.

Wild camping in Spain can be somewhat complicated, as rules are local rather than national. The police or “civil guard” in Spain will not hesitate to fine you if you camp in the wrong place.

National law states that you are allowed to do this if you follow certain rules; You are not allowed to camp closer than 100 meters from the sea, national and natural parks are prohibited,
private property is prohibited, including historical monuments,
military zones and urban areas are prohibited.

According to article 46.1, national wild camping rules apply in the following zones.

The Basque Country, Catalonia, Madrid, Castile and León, and Castile-La Mancha.

(section 46.1 of the order of July 28)

You cannot be a group of more than 10 people and three tents. Tents located within 500 meters of each other are also considered one group.

Overnight stays in one region may not exceed three nights, and tents and other used materials can only be set up 1 hour before sunset and 1 hour after sunrise.

In all other areas of Spain there are some local rules that prohibit wild camping in some way.

Italy

In Italy wild camping is strictly forbidden. It is allowed outside tourist areas. So you can try it in remote places. We stayed only in campgrounds when hiking in the Dolomites.

Cyprus

Wild camping in Cyprus is legal, except for some protected areas. Just remember that fires are not allowed and get acquainted with the current rules, since a fire in the hottest months can cause a lot of damage.

Kosovo

The legal status of wild camping in Kosovo is unclear, but free camping in Kosovo is widely accepted.

Latvia

Wild camping is allowed in Latvia. The only exceptions are national parks and protected areas.

Lithuania

As in other Baltic countries, wild camping is also allowed in Lithuania.

Luxembourg

Wild camping in Luxembourg is prohibited, and the country is so densely populated that there simply isn’t any space for it.

Malta

Wild camping in Malta is officially prohibited. However, on the island of Comino there is an official free campsite.

Moldova

Wild camping in Moldova is legal.

Netherlands

Wild camping in the Netherlands is illegal, and you may face a hefty fine for it. In this densely populated country, it is almost impossible to find a quiet spot in nature. Until 2020 there was a way to legally camp for free—Paalkamperen—simple campsites with basic facilities. Unfortunately, the state forest service closed them because tourists left trash and did not respect nature.

Alternative to wild camping in the Netherlands:

Welcome to my garden – this Belgian project also has several members in the Netherlands.

Germany

Wild camping in Germany is prohibited by law. You can be fined up to 500 euros. But bivouacking without a tent (in a bivouac) for one night is allowed.

Alternative to wild camping in Germany:

1nitetent.com – a platform where people allow you to stay in their garden or on their land. Usually you need to call or write them in advance.
Schutzhütten—wooden shelters for travelers located in mountainous areas. They are intended for emergencies, and most of them have no amenities. They are good for one night. A map of these shelters can be found here.
Camping in Eifel —a beautiful area for hiking in Germany. Here for 10 euros you are allowed to camp for one night. However, you cannot absolutely choose any place to set up camp. There are special sites equipped with a wooden platform, table, and composting toilet. Information about wild camping in Eifel.
Camping in Schleswig-Holstein—in this region of Germany there are many different sites to choose from. There are designated areas in different trekking zones where you can pitch a tent. So again, it’s not a campsite in the wilderness, but it’s also not a campsite with other people. Information about wild camping in Schleswig-Holstein.
Camping in Pfälzerwald forest—for a separate fee of 10 euros you can pitch your tent in one of the designated places in the trekking zone. Information about wild camping in Pfälzerwald.
Camping in the Black Forest—in the Black Forest, there are many places for outdoor recreation. And it is also permitted to hike and pitch tents here. But for this, there are designated sites in the forest, and you cannot choose freely. Information about wild camping in the Black Forest.

Norway

Norway is one of the few countries in Europe where wild camping is legal. Thanks to allemannsretten (the right of public access), you may pitch your tent almost anywhere. There are two rules you must follow:

Stay at least 150 meters away from the nearest house or other buildings, and you also cannot pitch a tent on cultivated farmland.
You may not camp in one place for more than two nights. Respect nature and wildlife, take your rubbish with you and keep quiet.
From April 15 to September 15 open fires in nature are prohibited, so use only a gas canister. During droughts, a full ban on camping stoves is possible (check yr.no for warnings).

There are also many open shelters (gapahuk) in the Norwegian mountains. Some of them have a supply of firewood and food (sometimes you will find a bank account number where you can transfer money if you take firewood or food). Access to the map of shelter huts here .

Also see this map of shelters in Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

North Macedonia

Theoretically, wild camping is prohibited in North Macedonia. In practice, it is widely accepted by both locals and authorities.

Poland

Wild camping in Poland is allowed near lakes and rivers (if there are no signs prohibiting it). And also in specially designated areas in forests. You can find a map of these areas here.

In the mountains you can also find temporary wooden shelters—visit this website (which also has some shelters in other European countries). Another site with information about wild camping in Poland .

Portugal

Since 2021, wild camping in Portugal is legal. But this is prohibited on the coast, in Nature 2000 zones, and in protected areas.

Romania

There are no laws prohibiting wild camping in Romania. This is a widely accepted and popular way to holiday. Most landowners will also agree if you ask their permission to pitch a tent on their land.

Serbia

Wild camping is permitted in Serbia. Exception: national parks and protected areas.

Slovakia

Wild camping in Slovakia is legal, except in national parks, forests, and protected areas (although sometimes you can find special places for bivouacs there).

Slovenia

Wild camping is prohibited in Slovenia, but many locals often do it. I would not recommend wild camping in popular tourist areas.

Turkey

Wild camping in Turkey is fully legal, and there are almost no restrictions here. The Turkish Tourism Board also has plenty of information regarding wild camping. Personal recommendation—remember where you pitch your tent. I had to pitch a tent in Turkey once during a trip—we didn’t have much time to choose a spot, and we ended up near a city, and were woken up by locals.

I hiked with a tent along the Lycian Way – here there are even special spots with beautiful sea views. But without any amenities—the best you can hope for is a well with water nearby. You need to carry water with you, collecting it from wells and public taps in villages along the way.

Hungary

Wild camping is allowed in Hungary, except in nature parks. Nevertheless, sometimes it may be hard to find a good place that is not private property or a protected area.

Ukraine

Wild camping in Ukraine is legal.

France

Wild camping in France is prohibited by law. An exception is when you have the landowner’s permission. However, in some natural areas this is allowed if you stay for just one night with a light tent or bivouac after 7 p.m. and take it down by 9 a.m. That’s what we did when we walked in the Chamonix Valley.

There may be some local restrictions. It’s best to check the laws of the region you are visiting. To learn more, visit this website.

Finland

As in other Scandinavian Peninsula countries, in Finland everyone has the right to roam. If you keep some distance from homes and estates, you can camp almost anywhere (for one night).

Finland has an impressive network of open shelters (check the map here and see how densely they cover the whole country). In fact, you can travel Finland without a tent and find a place to stay every night.

Croatia

Forget about wild camping while traveling along the coast of Croatia—it is forbidden here. On the Adriatic beaches you risk a fine of up to 400 euros. Stay away from beaches and national parks. In remote areas, you can easily find a place to camp without disturbing anyone.

Czechia

Wild camping is prohibited in Czechia. However, it is allowed to stay for one night in a bivy bag.

Alternative to wild camping in Czechia:

In the Czech mountains you can find wooden shelters called bouda or utulna. You can find a list of these huts here .

Montenegro

The situation in Montenegro is similar to Croatia: wild camping is officially prohibited. But there is enough space for everyone, and if you pitch your tent in remote regions and are discreet, no one will mind. Just don’t do it in tourist areas.

Wild Camping in Sweden

As in Norway, Swedish law guarantees your freedom to roam. That is, you can legally wild camp for one night almost anywhere. In many wild areas there are also free shelters and simple huts where you can stay overnight. You can find a map on this site.

Wild Camping in Switzerland

Wild camping in Switzerland is more or less illegal, and, as with everything in this country, the fines are terribly high. However, you can camp in the mountains above the tree line (above 1500 m) for one night. Tested personally—we pitched our tent at the forest’s edge, and to be safe, did so before sunset. And at dawn—we got up and packed the tent so that no one would have questions about our overnight stay in the mountains.

Some cantons are more liberal, others more restrictive, so check the laws of the region you are visiting before pitching camp.

Important: it is forbidden to do this in national parks and protected areas.

More comprehensive information can be found here.

Useful articles and links:

Schedule of routes and tickets for buses – at InfoBus.ua
Travel medical insurance – at HotlineFinance
Hotel and apartment reservations – Booking.com