Wild Camping In Europe: The Ultimate Guide

No guidebook lists the best places to spend the night outdoors. These spots are often tucked away between hills, forests, or lakes. Places not sought out, but chanced upon. Perhaps after a long day’s trekking, when your legs feel like lead and the sun’s setting. When your gaze wanders to a small clearing or a tranquil bank of a lake appears. Then you sense this is the right location.

As a fan of the great outdoors, you’ll be all too familiar with that feeling. That freedom to roam and stop where you like and not where signs tell you to. For many nature lovers, this is the quintessence of a true outdoor experience. And all the more so if you need a place to lay your head at night. But many European countries don’t allow what sounds such a simple and obvious delight. Many places forbid wild camping and even impose heavy fines on anyone breaching regulations.

Which is why sleeping outside requires more than just a keen eye for attractive spots. Knowing the rules and regulations is a must. But what is actually allowed? Where can you put up tents without risking a fine? And what freedoms are guaranteed by everyman’s right, which Scandinavia is well known for? This article explains European legislation in depth and where to sleep outdoors without getting into trouble.

Wild camping suggests freedom, adventure, and a whisper of rebellion. But despite sounding so simple, the reality is very different. Because the rules and definitions of wild camping and the equipment permitted differ depending on the country and region.

Basically, wild camping means sleeping outdoors in a location that’s not a designated campsite or campground. To many outdoor enthusiasts, it’s the epitome of freedom. It appeals to adventure-seeking hikers or bikepackers armed with just a bivvy bag. Or it attracts people travelling on a shoe string and seeking a low-cost place to sleep. And, of course, van lifers on a quest for freedom. However, in legal terms, it’s a whole different ball game whether you pitch a tent outside, spend the night under the stars in a sleeping bag, or park a campervan near a forest.

Anyone talking about wild camping will come across the Scandinavian everyman’s right sooner or later. In the outdoor world, it’s hard to find another concept that’s so frequently romanticised but equally frequently misunderstood. Forums, blog posts and social media are awash with claims that you can camp anywhere in Scandinavia. But this freedom isn’t quite as unlimited as it seems.

Where everyman’s right stems from

In Swedish, everyman’s right is called Allemansrätten, in Norwegian Allemannsretten and in Finnish Jokamiehenoikeus and deeply rooted in Nordic culture. It’s based on the principle that nature belongs to and should be accessible to everyone. It’s nothing new, but a historical right that has evolved over time and is enshrined in law today. In Sweden, it was even incorporated into the constitution in 1994. However, it added the proviso that public access required people to be responsible.

What everyman’s right allows

In Scandinavia, everyman’s right allows people the freedom to walk, cycle, ski, or canoe throughout the country. You can pick mushrooms, gather berries, swim in lakes, or spend the night in tents as long as you do so responsibly and respectfully. In other words, the dos and don’ts are as follows:

• You can wild camp in a tent for one night, but not on fields, in gardens, or nature conservation areas.
• And you need to be at least 150 metres away from buildings or homes.
• You can stay in the same place for two nights maximum and then move on.
• Campfires are only permitted, preferably on existing fire pits, if there’s no risk of forest fires.
• Respect nature by taking rubbish with you, not picking plants or disturbing animals.
• You’re allowed to pick berries, mushrooms, and flowers for yourself, unless these are protected species.
• Swimming and boating are usually permitted, but mooring on the banks of lakes or rivers or private jetties is restricted.
• Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash during the breeding season.
• Hunting and fishing require permits – find out about rules and licences beforehand.

While Sweden, Norway and Finland’s everyman’s rights offer plenty of outdoor freedom, it’s often another matter in other parts of Europe. Wild camping is prohibited in most countries, or only allowed to a very limited extent. Anyone wishing to err on the side of caution should keep to the rules:

If you want to sleep outdoors but avoid getting into trouble, many European countries have lots of fantastic alternatives to wild camping. More and more regions are offering special deals for enthusiasts of sleeping outdoors. Options that are legal, often free of charge and allow people to be in harmony with nature.

• Trekking sites: Germany, Belgium, France, and the Czech Republic offer trekking sites – basic places to pitch tents in forests or nature parks, often with zero infrastructure but with a fire pit and a compost toilet. You usually need to book in advance and can only stay for one night.
• Shelter und Windschutzhütten: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, or the Baltic countries in particular offer lots of free-of-charge wooden shelters. These are often in beautiful countryside, open to all and have places to sleep. Many local authorities provide relevant maps or apps. The Scottish mountain bothies also fall under this category.
• Offizielle Naturzeltplätze: many national parks – for instance in Slovenia, Estonia, and France – have designated areas for camping in tents. These places are usually purposely minimalistic and strike a balance between experiencing and conserving nature.
• Privatplätze über Plattformen: to be on the safe side, you can book a spot on private property through platforms such as Campanyon. You often pitch tents on meadows, in gardens or at the edge of forests – with the owners’ permission and sometimes even with a toilet or shower thrown in. Platforms and apps such as Park4Night, Nomady.camp and Landvergnügen offer countless options to nature lovers wishing to stay in campervans away from campsites.

In Europe, wild camping isn’t a given, but possible with the right planning and attitude. Perhaps you’re traversing Scandinavia with a tent in tow, staying in a shelter in Scotland or setting up camp at a trekking site in Germany.  Wherever you are, if you know the rules, treat nature with respect and leave nothing behind, your outdoor experience can be fantastic.

Because sometimes, at the end of a long day, you sense you’ve found the right place when a clearing between trees, or a tranquil bank to a lake or river pops up. That’s when you realise it was all worth it. Not because it’s permitted. But because you’re allowed to be outside. In harmony with nature, bothering nobody and secure in the knowledge you’ve done everything right.