Wild camping rules in Europe: a country-by-country guide

Wild camping is legal and common in the Nordic countries and Scotland, tolerated in a few other places and banned in most of Central Europe. The dividing line is usually whether a country has a traditional right of public access, such as Norway’s allemannsretten, or whether forest and nature protection laws restrict overnight stays. Inside national parks the rules are almost always stricter than in the countryside around them.

Important: this is a summary as of October 2026, written for trip planning. It is not legal advice. Rules differ between regions, change over time and depend on the exact land you are on. Always check with the local park authority or tourist office.

Overview by country

Country	Wild camping	Key points
Norway	Allowed	Right of public access; pitch at least 150 m from inhabited houses, up to two nights in one spot without permission (longer in remote mountains)
Sweden	Allowed	Right of public access; a night or two, out of sight of houses, not on farmland
Finland	Allowed	Everyman’s right permits temporary camping at a reasonable distance from homes; fires need landowner permission
Estonia	Largely allowed	Right of public access, plus many free forest campsites run by the state forest agency RMK
Scotland	Allowed	Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code; small, lightweight, short stays; permit zones around Loch Lomond in season
England and Wales	Generally not allowed	Landowner permission needed; Dartmoor is the notable exception on its commons
Germany	Generally not allowed	Forest laws ban camping in the forest; a few states allow one night outside forests and reserves; use trekking sites
Austria	Generally not allowed	Federal forest law requires the owner’s consent in forests; state laws regulate the rest, often with bans
Switzerland	Regulated by cantons	No national ban; often tolerated for one night above the treeline, banned in the Swiss National Park and wildlife rest zones
Czechia	Generally not allowed	Forest law prohibits camping in forests outside designated places
Poland	Designated areas	Camping in forests only where allowed; the state forests run a programme with designated overnight zones
France	Varies	No national right; banned in many protected and coastal areas; some national parks allow a bivouac from evening to morning

The Nordic countries

Norway, Sweden and Finland are the classic wild camping countries. Their access rights let you walk, pick berries and pitch a tent on uncultivated land, including private forest, as long as you are considerate. The core rules are similar: keep your distance from homes, do not stay too long in one spot, do not damage trees and take everything home. Fire rules are tighter than many visitors expect, with seasonal bans in dry periods. Our guide to the taiga forests of Scandinavia and Finland covers the landscapes where these rights matter most.

Scotland, England and Wales

Scotland’s access legislation gives a statutory right to responsible wild camping on most unenclosed land. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code asks you to camp in small numbers, for two or three nights at most, away from roads and buildings. Around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, camping management zones require a permit in the main season.

In England and Wales there is no general right to wild camp. Dartmoor is the exception: after a long court dispute, backpack camping on its commons remains possible under the national park’s byelaws, in permitted areas. Elsewhere, ask the landowner.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland

In Germany, the federal nature conservation law lets you enter open countryside, but not camp. State forest laws ban camping in forests outside designated sites, and protected areas add their own bans. A few states, including Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, allow hikers a single night outside forests and protected areas under conditions such as landowner consent. The practical solution is a bookable trekking site.

In Austria, the federal forest act allows camping in forests only with the owner’s consent. Outside forests, each state has its own rules, and several ban camping outright. Emergency bivouacs in the mountains are treated differently from planned camping.

In Switzerland, rules are set by cantons and municipalities. Above the treeline, a single night is widely tolerated as long as you are not in a protected area. The Swiss National Park, nature reserves and wildlife rest zones are off limits.

The rest of Europe

Poland’s state forests allow overnight stays in designated forest zones, which you can find on their maps; elsewhere in the forest, camping is not permitted. Czechia and Slovakia ban camping in forests and national parks outside designated places. In France, there is no single rule: many areas ban it, but some national parks allow a bivouac between evening and morning near trails. Spain, Italy and Portugal have strict rules in many regions, often enforced on the coast.

Camping responsibly where it is allowed

A legal right is not a licence to leave a mark. Pitch on durable ground, keep away from water, use a stove instead of an open fire and pack out everything. Our guide to leave no trace in the forest explains the principles, and the gear checklist helps you pack light enough to move on easily. If camping is not an option, a remote forest cabin is often the next best thing.