Can I wild camp in Austria?
Mostly no — wild camping is largely prohibited in Austria. Under § 33 of the Forest Act you may enter the forest, but overnighting in a tent in the forest is banned without the owner's consent or official permission. Above the tree line it's a provincial matter and varies sharply: strictly banned in Tyrol, Carinthia and Lower Austria, but in Styria and Upper Austria (and parts of Salzburg, Vorarlberg) camping above the tree line is more tolerated. A planned bivouac counts legally as wild camping; only a genuine emergency bivouac (unplanned, for safety) is permitted. In short: no, except with permission or in the permitted high mountains.
📋 The rules
- Tent camping in the forest banned without permission
- Above the tree line: provincial matter
- Strictly banned: Tyrol, Carinthia, Lower Austria
- More tolerated: Styria, Upper Austria (above tree line)
- Planned bivouac = wild camping; only emergency bivouac allowed
🔓 Exceptions
- Styria: freedom of movement in the mountains allows camping in the alpine zone
- Upper Austria: the tourism act opens the alpine zone
- With the landowner's consent, camping is legal anywhere
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Penalties for wild camping vary by province; an illegal planned bivouac in alpine terrain can be punished in the strictest provinces with fines up to around €14,500. In the forest the ban applies nationwide; above the tree line the relevant provincial law decides. Beware a myth: "freedom of movement means I can pitch a tent anywhere in the mountains" is false — the right of access allows walking and passing through, not overnighting; camping is separately regulated and mostly banned. Tip: use one of the official trekking or bivouac sites.
📎 Official sources
- Alpine Club · camping & bivouacking →
- Bergwelten · wild camping in Austria →
- vienna.at · wild-camping rules & fines →
❓ Frequently asked
Is wild camping allowed in Austria?
Generally no. Camping in the forest is banned under the Forest Act without the owner's permission. Above the tree line it's a provincial matter and very differently regulated. In Tyrol, Carinthia and Lower Austria, wild camping is strictly prohibited.
Where is it more permitted?
Above the tree line, camping is more tolerated in Styria and Upper Austria, and partly in Salzburg and Vorarlberg. In Styria, the freedom of movement in the mountains allows camping in the alpine zone; in Upper Austria, the tourism act opens up that zone.
What's the difference from an emergency bivouac?
A planned bivouac counts legally as wild camping and is therefore usually banned. Only a genuine emergency bivouac — unplanned and for safety, such as in a sudden storm or from exhaustion — is permitted. Anyone planning to sleep outdoors from the start is bivouacking, and thus wild camping.
What does a breach cost?
Penalties vary by province. In the strictest provinces, an illegal bivouac in the high mountains can bring fines of up to around €14,500. In the forest, you also risk penalties for unauthorised camping.
Can I camp with permission?
Yes. With the landowner's consent or an official permit, camping is legal even in the forest. To stay outdoors safely and legally, use one of the more than 200 official trekking and bivouac sites.
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