⛺ Can I pitch a tent and camp in the wild?

With conditions

Quick answer

Partly — you can camp in nature, but only in places set up for it, not just anywhere in the "wild" forest. Under the Forest Visiting Rules, in state forests you may stop and pitch a tent only in equipped public-use spots — rest areas, resting places, campsites and camping grounds marked with the relevant signs. The popular myth that "the forest belongs to everyone, so pitch your tent wherever" does not match reality: wild camping by a road, beside a lake or among the trees is a breach. In protected areas (national and regional parks) even stricter rules apply, and in nature reserves access is restricted altogether. On private land you need the owner's consent. Break the rules and you face a warning or a 20–50 € fine, and if you damage nature, compensation on top. So the safest option is an official campsite.

📋 The rules

In a forest you may camp only in equipped rest areas, campsites and camping grounds
Wild camping anywhere in a forest — a warning or 20–50 € fine
Protected areas have special limits; in reserves access is restricted
On private land the owner's consent is required
Damaging nature or leaving litter — extra liability and compensation for the damage

🔓 Exceptions

At equipped campsites and camping grounds you may camp, following their rules and signs
On private property with the owner's permission a tent is allowed, if protected-area rules are not breached
Some parks run special campsites with advance booking or a fee

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The base sanction is small, but it is easy to make it worse. For breaching the Forest Visiting Rules an individual faces a warning or a 20–50 € fine, and responsible managers of legal entities 50–110 €. Camping in a protected area outside a designated spot brings higher fines, because protected-area regulations are breached. What people do not expect: camping often comes with other offences logged alongside it — a fire outside a fire pit, parking a car in the forest or by the water, littering — and each is fined separately. Damaging vegetation, leaving waste or creating a fire hazard adds compensation for environmental damage, which can far exceed the fine itself. Control is carried out by the Environmental Protection Department and protected-area officers, so checks at popular spots are routine.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I pitch a tent anywhere in a forest?

No, in state forests you may stop and pitch a tent only in equipped public-use spots such as rest areas, campsites or camping grounds. Wild camping elsewhere is a breach of the Forest Visiting Rules, punished with a warning or a fine.

What is the fine for wild camping?

For breaching the Forest Visiting Rules an individual faces a warning or a fine of 20 to 50 euros. If nature is damaged as well, or protected-area rules are breached, the sanctions grow, and compensation for the damage may be added to the fine.

Can I camp in a national park?

In national and regional parks you may camp only at designated, often pre-marked or bookable campsites. In nature reserves access is restricted altogether, so before your trip it is worth checking the visiting rules of the specific protected area.

Can I camp by a lake or river?

By water bodies the same rules apply — you may camp only in equipped spots, not on just any shoreline. In addition, in the shore protection strip parking and lighting fires are restricted, so a poorly chosen spot can bring several fines at once.

Can I camp on private land?

Yes, on private property a tent is allowed, but only with the land owner's consent. If the private land lies within a protected area, you must also follow the visiting and camping limits set for that area.

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