Rules by country

Statutory basis

No general statute on overnight parking or free camping; protected-area and coastal rules are the operative restrictions.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Few formal rest areas; fuel stations are the practical stop.

Camping in protected areas

varies

Languages

sq

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Widely tolerated where parking is legal, but nothing states it is permitted. Treat as unregulated rather than allowed.

  Enforced by: State Police / municipal inspectorate

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Commonly tolerated outside town centres; coastal municipalities increasingly restrict camper stays in summer.

  Enforced by: State Police / municipal inspectorate

• Camping with a camperUnknowncamping law

  No national rule found. Beaches and protected areas are where restrictions actually appear.

• Caravan or trailerUnknowncamping law

  No national rule found for detached trailers; coastal municipalities are where restrictions appear.

• Tent or bivouacUnknownland-access law

  Tent camping is broadly tolerated on unenclosed land; protected areas and private land are the exceptions. Not a codified right.

Sources

• Ministry of Interior — Republic of Albania (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Llei de camping i caravàning and comú (parish) parking regulations.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

No motorways; mountain passes have lay-bys, often signed against camping.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

ca, es, fr

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Only where parking is legal; the parishes restrict overnight parking in the ski valleys and require signed areas in season.

  Enforced by: Comú (parish) police

• Sleeping in a camperNoparking law

  Overnight camper stays outside designated areas are prohibited in most parishes; use the signed camper areas.

  Enforced by: Comú (parish) police

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside a licensed campsite or designated area is prohibited.

  Fine: reported in the low hundreds of eurosEnforced by: Comú (parish) police

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Caravans outside campsites are prohibited.

  Fine: reported in the low hundreds of eurosEnforced by: Comú (parish) police

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  High-mountain bivouac is tolerated well above the villages, one night, pitched late and struck early. Not permitted near roads or in reserves.

  Conditions: High mountain only · One night · No fire

Sources

• Butlletí Oficial del Principat d'Andorra — Govern d'Andorra (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

StVO (parking) federally; camping (`Campieren`) is Land law — each Bundesland's Campingverordnung / Naturschutzgesetz decides, and several Länder ban it outright.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

ASFINAG rest areas allow a rest stop; camping behaviour is prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

de

Police

059133 (Landespolizeidirektion switchboard)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  Sleeping in a legally parked car is a parking question and generally unproblematic. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Enforced by: Municipal authority / Polizei

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  A camper may stand where parking is allowed and occupants may sleep; the moment anything is deployed it becomes `Campieren`, which Land law restricts. Tirol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg are the strictest.

  Enforced by: Municipal authority / Polizei

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside campsites and designated pitches is prohibited in most Bundesländer, with the heaviest fines in alpine protected areas.

  Fine: €35–€14,500 depending on the Land and the protected statusEnforced by: Bezirkshauptmannschaft

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Caravans outside campsites are prohibited; a detached trailer is also separately restricted on public roads.

  Fine: €35–€14,500 depending on the Land and the protected statusEnforced by: Bezirkshauptmannschaft

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Not a right. Alpine bivouac above the treeline is tolerated in parts of the eastern Alps but explicitly prohibited in many protected areas; forest law requires the landowner's consent below the treeline.

  Fine: up to €14,500 in some LänderEnforced by: NaturschutzbehördeConditions: Land law varies · Prohibited in most protected areas

Worth knowing

• Above-treeline bivouac rules differ per Bundesland and per protected area — check the Land's Naturschutzgesetz.

Regional overrides

Sources

• Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (RIS) — Republik Österreich (government), date unknown
• ÖAMTC — ÖAMTC (club), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Regional tourism/forest law bans camping outside registered terrain (Flanders: Logiesdecreet + Bosdecreet; Wallonia: CoDT); parking is federal traffic law, but the municipal politiereglement/règlement de police decides overnight parking.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Rest stops permitted; camping prohibited, and overnight security is poor on the E-roads.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

nl, fr, de

Police

101 (non-emergency police, Belgium-wide)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  Sleeping in a legally parked car is not an offence in itself. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Fine: €58–€116 (municipal levy)Enforced by: Local police / municipal GAS officer

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  A camper is an ordinary vehicle while parked; sleeping in it is commonly tolerated unless the municipal by-law or a sign says otherwise. Many coastal and city municipalities do say otherwise.

  Fine: €58–€116 (municipal levy)Enforced by: Local police / municipal GAS officer

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside a registered terrain is prohibited by regional law. Deploying an awning or chairs is what makes it camping.

  Fine: €50–€500 (regional, GAS fines common)Enforced by: Local police / regional agency (ANB, DNF)

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Caravans outside registered terrain are prohibited; several municipalities also ban parking detached trailers on the public road.

  Fine: €50–€500 (regional, GAS fines common)Enforced by: Local police / regional agency (ANB, DNF)

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited outside registered terrain and designated bivouac zones. Flanders and Wallonia both operate small networks of official bivouac spots — use those.

Sources

• Belgisch Staatsblad / Moniteur belge — Belgian State (government), date unknown
• Agentschap Natuur en Bos — Flemish Government (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Entity and cantonal tourism/forest rules; no clear federal statute.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Limited motorway network; rest areas on the A1 tolerate a stop.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

bs, hr, sr

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Tolerated where parking is legal; no statutory permission to point to.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Tolerated outside towns and at fuel stations; national-park entrances and city centres restrict it.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Camping with a camperUnknowncamping law

  No clear rule found. Ask the nearest campsite or the municipality.

• Caravan or trailerUnknowncamping law

  No clear rule found for caravans; assume a campsite is needed and ask the municipality.

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Broadly tolerated on open land, prohibited in national parks outside designated sites. ⚠️ Landmine contamination persists in parts of the country — stay on hard standing and cleared ground.

  Conditions: Landmine risk off cleared ground

Worth knowing

• Landmine contamination: never pitch off cleared, used ground. Check BHMAC maps.

Sources

• BH Mine Action Centre — BHMAC (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Black Sea Coast Spatial Development Act restricts camping and caravanning on the coast to designated areas; protected-area law restricts the rest.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Rest stops tolerated; camping prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

bg

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Tolerated where parking is legal.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Tolerated inland; the Black Sea coast is actively enforced against camper stays outside designated areas in season.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping and caravanning on the coastal strip outside designated areas is prohibited by statute; inland it needs the landowner or municipality.

  Fine: reported from ~BGN 300 (coastal enforcement)Enforced by: Municipality / Ministry of Environment

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Same coastal statute names caravans explicitly.

  Fine: reported from ~BGN 300 (coastal enforcement)Enforced by: Municipality / Ministry of Environment

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Tolerated on open land inland and in the mountains; prohibited on dunes, beaches outside designated zones, and in reserve cores.

  Conditions: Not on beaches or dunes · Designated sites in reserves

Sources

• Ministry of Environment and Water — Republic of Bulgaria (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Zakon o ugostiteljskoj djelatnosti (Hospitality Act) — camping and overnight staying in campers outside registered campsites and designated areas is prohibited nationwide.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

HAC rest areas allow a driving rest; camping behaviour is prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

hr

Police

192 (police, national)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  A legally parked car is a parking matter, but Croatian enforcement has treated sleeping in vehicles as camping outside a campsite. Coastal municipalities are strict in season.

  Fine: municipal tariffEnforced by: Municipal police

• Sleeping in a camperNoparking law

  Overnight staying in a camper outside registered campsites or designated areas is prohibited nationally and actively fined on the coast. This is one of the strictest regimes in Europe.

  Fine: municipal tariffEnforced by: Municipal police

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Prohibited outside registered campsites.

  Fine: reported €150–€900 for individualsEnforced by: Tourist inspectorate / police

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside registered campsites.

  Fine: reported €150–€900 for individualsEnforced by: Tourist inspectorate / police

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited outside registered campsites; national parks enforce heavily.

  Enforced by: Park rangers

Sources

• Zakon.hr — Croatian legislation — Republic of Croatia (government), date unknown
• Ministry of Tourism and Sport — Republic of Croatia (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Forestry and camping regulations: camping is confined to licensed campsites and Forestry Department designated sites.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Motorway lay-bys only; no formal rest-area network.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

el, tr, en

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Tolerated where parking is legal; beach car parks are often signed against overnight use.

  Enforced by: Police / municipality

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Tolerated away from tourist beaches; the Forestry Department's designated sites are the safe option.

  Enforced by: Police / municipality

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside licensed or designated sites is prohibited.

  Fine: reported low hundreds of eurosEnforced by: Department of Forests

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside licensed or designated sites.

  Fine: reported low hundreds of eurosEnforced by: Department of Forests

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited outside licensed campsites and the Forestry Department's designated camping sites (which are free and well marked).

Sources

• Department of Forests — Republic of Cyprus (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Nature and Landscape Protection Act (114/1992) bans camping and open fire outside designated places in national parks and protected landscape areas; elsewhere the landowner decides. Parking is traffic law.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas allow a driving rest; camping prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

cs

Police

158 (police)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter; sleeping in a legally parked car is not itself an offence. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allowed where parking is allowed, nothing deployed. Some municipalities restrict camper parking by size or by night.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside campsites needs the landowner's consent and is banned outright in national parks and CHKOs.

  Fine: up to CZK 20,000 in protected areasEnforced by: Municipality

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Same as campers, plus municipal limits on standing trailers.

  Fine: up to CZK 20,000 in protected areasEnforced by: Municipality

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  No right to roam: on private or state land it needs consent, and in national parks and protected landscape areas it is prohibited outside designated places. Forest bivouac is tolerated in practice, not permitted in law.

  Enforced by: Nature Protection Agency (AOPK) / park guardsConditions: Landowner consent · Prohibited in protected areas

Sources

• Zákony pro lidi — Czech legislation — Czech Republic (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Naturbeskyttelsesloven restricts overnight stays in nature; the Nature Agency's rules open state forests to free tenting at designated and some undesignated spots. Parking is traffic law plus municipal parking by-laws.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas permit a driving rest; signage governs the maximum stay.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

da

Police

114 (non-emergency police)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  Sleeping in a legally parked car is a parking matter. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Fine: DKK 510+ municipal chargeEnforced by: Municipal parking authority

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Campers may park where parking is allowed; several municipalities restrict overnight camper parking specifically, and coastal car parks are often signed.

  Fine: DKK 510+ municipal chargeEnforced by: Municipal parking authority

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside campsites and designated autocamper-pladser is prohibited.

  Fine: reported DKK 700+Enforced by: Naturstyrelsen / municipality

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside campsites; detached trailers are also restricted on residential streets.

  Fine: reported DKK 700+Enforced by: Naturstyrelsen / municipality

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Free tenting is allowed in a large part of the state forests (one night, small tents, out of sight of roads and houses) and at the network of primitive campsites — but not on beaches, dunes or private land.

  Conditions: State forest or designated site · One night · Small tent

Sources

• Naturstyrelsen (Danish Nature Agency) — Kingdom of Denmark (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Everyman's-right customs plus the State Forest Management Centre (RMK) network of free designated campsites; motor vehicles are excluded from the roaming right.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas along the main roads permit a stop.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

et

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  Parking law governs; sleeping in a legally parked car is unproblematic.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allowed where parking is allowed. The roaming right does not extend to vehicles leaving the road.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Camping with a camperYes, butcamping law

  Only at campsites and RMK sites that admit vehicles; off-road driving to reach a pitch is a separate offence.

  Fine: reported low hundreds of euros in protected areasEnforced by: RMK / Environmental BoardConditions: RMK or campsite

• Caravan or trailerYes, butcamping law

  Campsites and RMK sites that admit caravans only.

  Fine: reported low hundreds of euros in protected areasEnforced by: RMK / Environmental BoardConditions: RMK or campsite

• Tent or bivouacYesland-access law

  Tent camping is broadly allowed on unfenced land away from homes, and RMK maintains hundreds of free designated campsites with fireplaces. Protected-area cores restrict it to designated sites.

  Conditions: Away from dwellings · Not in reserve cores

Sources

• Riigimetsa Majandamise Keskus (RMK) — Republic of Estonia (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Jokamiehenoikeudet (everyman's rights) permit temporary tent camping on unfenced land; the Off-Road Traffic Act separately prohibits driving off road, so the right covers people, not vehicles.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas (levähdysalue) permit a driving rest; many allow a night, signage decides.

Camping in protected areas

varies

Languages

fi, sv

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter. Sleeping in a car at a rest area or legal parking place is normal practice.

  Enforced by: Municipal parking enforcement

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Campers may stand where parking is allowed; everyman's rights do not let a vehicle leave the road or track.

  Enforced by: Municipal parking enforcement

• Camping with a camperYes, butcamping law

  Camping with a vehicle needs the landowner's consent or a campsite; the roaming right does not cover it.

  Fine: conservation fines in national parksEnforced by: MunicipalityConditions: Landowner consent or campsite

• Caravan or trailerYes, butcamping law

  As campers — landowner consent or a campsite.

  Fine: conservation fines in national parksEnforced by: MunicipalityConditions: Landowner consent or campsite

• Tent or bivouacYesland-access law

  Temporary tenting is allowed on unfenced land at a reasonable distance from dwellings, without fire. National parks channel camping to designated areas — Metsähallitus publishes the rules per park.

  Fine: day-fine basedEnforced by: MetsähallitusConditions: Away from dwellings · No open fire without permission · Park-specific rules apply

Regional overrides

Sources

• Metsähallitus / Nationalparks.fi — Republic of Finland (government), date unknown
• Everyman's right — Ministry of the Environment (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Code de la route (stationnement) treats a parked camper as any other vehicle; Code de l'urbanisme (art. R111-32 ff.) and coastal/heritage law restrict `camping` — and mayors restrict both by arrêté municipal.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Aires de repos permit a driving rest, typically limited to a few hours; camping prohibited. Security is a real concern on the A9/A7 corridors.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

fr

Police

17 (police secours) — for enquiries use the mairie or the local gendarmerie's own number

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  Sleeping in a legally parked car is not an offence. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Fine: €17–€135Enforced by: Police municipale / gendarmerie

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  A camper parked on a public road or car park is simply parked, and administrative case law has repeatedly protected that — but the mayor may restrict camper parking by arrêté, and thousands of communes have. Look for the sign at the entrance.

  Fine: €17–€135Enforced by: Police municipale / gendarmerie

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  `Camping` — awning, chairs, table, blocks, waste — is prohibited outside campsites and aires: on the shore, in classified sites, in national parks and wherever an arrêté says so.

  Fine: €68–€1,500 depending on the groundEnforced by: Mayor / gendarmerie

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Caravans outside campsites are prohibited; parking a detached caravan on the public road is separately restricted, and many communes limit it to a few days.

  Fine: €68–€1,500 depending on the groundEnforced by: Mayor / gendarmerie

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Camping sauvage is prohibited on the shore, in classified and protected sites, near water abstraction points and historic monuments, and wherever an arrêté prohibits it. Bivouac (dusk to dawn, no deployment) is tolerated in several national parks' outer zones under their own charters.

  Fine: up to €1,500 in national parksEnforced by: Park rangers, ONF

Worth knowing

• France Passion and municipal aires are the real overnight network — thousands of free/cheap legal pitches.
• Bivouac rules differ per national park charter (Écrins, Mercantour, Vanoise, Cévennes).

Regional overrides

Sources

• Légifrance — Code de la route, Code de l'urbanisme — République française (government), date unknown
• Service-Public.fr — République française (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

StVO §12 (parking) plus the settled reading that one night's sleep to restore driving fitness (`Wiederherstellung der Fahrtüchtigkeit`) is not camping; camping itself is restricted by Land forest and nature-conservation law.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas and Autohöfe permit a rest; a one-night stop is normal and camping behaviour is not.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

de

Police

110 (emergency) — Dienststellen have local numbers for enquiries

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  One night's sleep to restore driving fitness is accepted wherever parking is legal. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Fine: €10–€55Enforced by: Ordnungsamt / Polizei

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  The classic German answer: you may sleep one night in a camper wherever it may legally park, because that is restoring driving fitness — not camping. Nothing outside the vehicle, and gone in the morning.

  Fine: €10–€55Enforced by: Ordnungsamt / Polizei

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Deploying anything makes it Camping, which is prohibited outside campsites and Stellplätze under Land law.

  Fine: €10–€2,500 depending on the Land and protected statusEnforced by: Ordnungsamt

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Caravans outside campsites are prohibited; many Stellplätze admit motorhomes but not caravans, and detached trailers are restricted on public roads (and must be moved regularly).

  Fine: €10–€2,500 depending on the Land and protected statusEnforced by: Ordnungsamt

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Wildzelten is prohibited on forest and open land in nearly every Bundesland without the landowner's consent; several Länder now run permit-based Trekkingplätze instead (Schwarzwald, Eifel, Pfalz, Mecklenburg).

  Fine: up to €50,000 in the strictest Land nature actsEnforced by: Untere Naturschutzbehörde, Forstamt

Worth knowing

• Landvergnügen and Stellplätze are the legal network; a Stellplatz is not automatically open to caravans.
• Umweltzonen require a green Feinstaubplakette in most cities.

Regional overrides

Sources

• StVO — Bundesrepublik Deutschland (government), date unknown
• ADAC — ADAC e.V. (club), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Tourism law confines camping to licensed organised campsites; free camping and free-standing caravans/campers outside them are prohibited, with confiscation possible.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Motorway service areas permit a rest; camping prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

el

Police

1033 (Hellenic Police information line)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Sleeping in a legally parked car is generally left alone, but the free-camping ban has been applied to vehicles, especially on beaches.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Sleeping in a camperNoparking law

  Staying overnight in a camper outside an organised campsite is prohibited nationally. Enforcement is uneven and season-dependent, and coastal police and port authorities do fine.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Prohibited outside licensed campsites.

  Fine: reported €150–€3,000; vehicle removal possibleEnforced by: Hellenic Police / port authority on the coast

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside licensed campsites; free-standing caravans are named explicitly.

  Fine: reported €150–€3,000; vehicle removal possibleEnforced by: Hellenic Police / port authority on the coast

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited outside licensed campsites, including on beaches and in archaeological zones.

Sources

• Ministry of Tourism — Hellenic Republic (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Forest Act permits access on foot to state forests but not camping; nature-conservation law restricts protected areas. Parking is traffic law plus municipal decrees.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas permit a driving rest; camping prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

hu

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Enforced by: Municipal enforcement

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allowed where parking is allowed; Budapest and the Balaton municipalities restrict camper parking specifically.

  Enforced by: Municipal enforcement

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside campsites needs consent; prohibited in protected areas.

  Fine: reported HUF 30,000+ in protected areasEnforced by: Municipality

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  As campers: prohibited outside campsites, and municipal rules on standing trailers apply too.

  Fine: reported HUF 30,000+ in protected areasEnforced by: Municipality

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  No roaming right: state forest access is for walking, not camping, and national parks restrict camping to designated places. Some forestry directorates designate bivouac spots.

  Enforced by: National park directorateConditions: Landowner or directorate consent

Sources

• Nemzeti Jogszabálytár — Hungary (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Nature Conservation Act 60/2013 art. 22: campers, caravans, tent trailers and similar may only stay overnight in registered campsites or with the landowner's permission; single tents on uncultivated land are treated separately.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

No motorways; Ring Road lay-bys are not overnight places and are often signed.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

is

Police

444 1000 (Capital Area police, non-emergency)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Sleeping in a car outside a campsite sits in the same statute as campers in practice; police have enforced against it at popular sites. Use campsites — they are everywhere and cheap.

  Enforced by: Police / municipalityConditions: Campsite strongly advised

• Sleeping in a camperNoparking law

  Explicitly prohibited outside registered campsites and designated areas without the landowner's permission. This is the law Iceland is known for and it is enforced.

  Enforced by: Police / municipality

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Prohibited outside registered campsites.

  Fine: reported from ISK 50,000; off-road driving fines are far higherEnforced by: Police / Environment Agency

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Named explicitly in the statute.

  Fine: reported from ISK 50,000; off-road driving fines are far higherEnforced by: Police / Environment Agency

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Up to three conventional tents for one night on uncultivated land away from dwellings is allowed unless the landowner has prohibited it or a sign says otherwise — but not in national parks and protected areas outside designated sites.

  Enforced by: Umhverfisstofnun, park rangersConditions: Uncultivated land · One night · Not in protected areas

Sources

• Umhverfisstofnun (Environment Agency of Iceland) — Republic of Iceland (government), date unknown
• Nature Conservation Act 60/2013 — Althingi (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

No right to roam: camping needs the landowner's permission. Local authority parking by-laws govern overnight vehicle stays, and several counties prohibit overnight occupation of car parks.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Few formal rest areas; service stations tolerate a rest stop.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

en, ga

Police

Local Garda station (non-emergency numbers listed by station)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter where the car park by-law allows overnight parking; a growing number of coastal car parks prohibit it by sign.

  Fine: €40–€150 local authority chargeEnforced by: Local authority / An Garda Síochána

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allowed where the by-law allows overnight parking. Scenic-route car parks in Kerry, Clare and Donegal are frequently signed against camper overnights.

  Fine: €40–€150 local authority chargeEnforced by: Local authority / An Garda Síochána

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside a campsite needs the landowner's permission; Coillte forest car parks and NPWS sites prohibit it.

  Fine: by-law dependentEnforced by: Local authority

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  As campers, plus by-laws on standing trailers.

  Fine: by-law dependentEnforced by: Local authority

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Requires the landowner's permission. Upland wild camping is widely tolerated in practice away from farmland, but it is permission, not a right.

  Enforced by: NPWS, CoillteConditions: Landowner permission

Sources

• National Parks and Wildlife Service — Government of Ireland (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Codice della Strada art. 185 — a camper may park like any vehicle and its occupants may rest inside; `campeggio libero` is prohibited by regional law and comune ordinanze.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Aree di servizio permit a rest; camping prohibited, and theft from campers is a real risk on the A1/A14.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

it

Police

113 (police) / comune's polizia locale for enquiries

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  Parking law: resting inside a legally parked vehicle is provided for. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Fine: €25–€173Enforced by: Polizia locale

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Art. 185 protects the parked camper and the rest taken inside it — level jacks down, awning out, chairs on the ground and it becomes camping. Thousands of comuni restrict camper parking by ordinanza, especially on the coast and in the Cinque Terre / Amalfi / lake towns.

  Fine: €25–€173Enforced by: Polizia locale

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Campeggio libero is prohibited by regional law almost everywhere; use a campsite or an area di sosta camper.

  Fine: €100–€500 typical comune tariff, higher in protected areasEnforced by: Polizia locale / Carabinieri

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited, and a detached caravan cannot claim art. 185's parked-vehicle protection at all.

  Fine: €100–€500 typical comune tariff, higher in protected areasEnforced by: Polizia locale / Carabinieri

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited outside campsites by regional law; above 2,000 m some regions and park authorities tolerate a single-night alpine bivouac struck at dawn — check the park's own regolamento.

  Fine: park-specific, up to several thousand eurosEnforced by: Corpo forestale, park authority

Worth knowing

• ZTL (restricted traffic zones) are camera-enforced in most historic centres — a fine per entry.
• Aree di sosta camper are the legal network; many admit motorhomes only, not caravans.

Regional overrides

Sources

• Normattiva — Codice della Strada — Repubblica Italiana (government), date unknown
• Touring Club Italiano — TCI (club), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

No general statute found; municipal and protected-area rules apply.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas on the R6/R7 tolerate a stop.

Camping in protected areas

varies

Languages

sq, sr

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Tolerated where parking is legal; nothing states it is permitted.

  Enforced by: Kosovo Police / municipality

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Tolerated; ask locally, especially near the border areas.

  Enforced by: Kosovo Police / municipality

• Camping with a camperUnknowncamping law

  No rule found for this activity; a registered campsite is the only reliably lawful option.

• Caravan or trailerUnknowncamping law

  No rule found for this activity; a registered campsite is the only reliably lawful option.

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Tolerated on open land; national parks (Sharri, Bjeshkët e Nemuna) restrict camping to designated places.

Sources

• Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure — Republic of Kosovo (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Forest Act allows public access to forests on foot; camping needs the landowner's consent, and protected areas confine it to designated sites.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Lay-bys and rest areas along the A-roads permit a stop.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

lv

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allowed where parking is allowed; Jūrmala and the coastal municipalities restrict it.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Camping with a camperYes, butcamping law

  Campsites and designated places; elsewhere the landowner's consent.

  Fine: reported low hundreds of eurosEnforced by: MunicipalityConditions: Landowner consent or campsite

• Caravan or trailerYes, butcamping law

  As campers: a campsite or the landowner's consent, and the roaming right does not help here.

  Fine: reported low hundreds of eurosEnforced by: MunicipalityConditions: Landowner consent or campsite

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Access to forests is open, camping is not: consent or a designated site. Protected areas and the coastal dune belt are restricted.

  Enforced by: Nature Conservation AgencyConditions: Landowner consent · Not on dunes

Sources

• Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde — Republic of Latvia (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Communal parking regulations and nature-protection law; camping outside sites prohibited.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

No motorways of its own.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

de

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter where parking is allowed.

  Enforced by: Landespolizei / Gemeinde

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Communes restrict overnight camper parking; the single official Stellplatz-style option is the campsite at Bendern.

  Enforced by: Landespolizei / GemeindeConditions: Commune by-law

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside the campsite is prohibited.

  Fine: reported from CHF 100Enforced by: Gemeinde / Amt für Umwelt

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside the campsite.

  Fine: reported from CHF 100Enforced by: Gemeinde / Amt für Umwelt

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited outside the campsite; alpine areas are protected.

Sources

• Gesetzesdatenbank LiLEX — Fürstentum Liechtenstein (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

State forest and protected-area rules confine camping to designated recreational sites; elsewhere landowner consent.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas on the A1/A2 permit a stop.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

lt

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allowed where parking is allowed; the Curonian Spit and coastal municipalities are strict.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Camping with a camperYes, butcamping law

  Designated recreational sites and campsites only.

  Fine: reported €30–€300Enforced by: Municipality / State Forest EnterpriseConditions: Designated site

• Caravan or trailerYes, butcamping law

  Designated recreational sites and campsites only; a detached caravan elsewhere is treated as camping.

  Fine: reported €30–€300Enforced by: Municipality / State Forest EnterpriseConditions: Designated site

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Designated forest and park campsites (many free); wild pitching elsewhere needs consent and is prohibited in reserves.

  Enforced by: Protected area directorateConditions: Designated site or consent

Sources

• State Service for Protected Areas — Republic of Lithuania (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Camping law confines camping to licensed sites; overnight camper stays are channelled to designated aires. Communal police regulations govern parking.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas permit a driving rest; camping prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

lb, fr, de

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Enforced by: Police Grand-Ducale / commune

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allowed where parking is allowed and not signed against; the country's aires are the intended option.

  Enforced by: Police Grand-Ducale / commune

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside licensed sites is prohibited.

  Fine: reported €25–€250Enforced by: Commune

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside licensed sites.

  Fine: reported €25–€250Enforced by: Commune

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited outside licensed sites; a small network of official bivouac shelters exists in the Mullerthal and Éislek.

Sources

• Legilux — Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Camping requires a permit from the competent authority; land is scarce and largely private or protected.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

No motorways.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

mt, en

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Tolerated where parking is legal; coastal car parks are watched in summer.

  Enforced by: Local council / police

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Very limited space; overnight camper parking is restricted by local councils and there are only a couple of legal sites.

  Enforced by: Local council / policeConditions: Local council rules

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping needs a permit and a designated site.

  Fine: permit-based enforcementEnforced by: Environment and Resources Authority

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Needs a permit and a designated site.

  Fine: permit-based enforcementEnforced by: Environment and Resources Authority

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Camping outside permitted sites/events is prohibited.

Sources

• Environment and Resources Authority — Republic of Malta (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

No general statute found; protected-area and municipal rules apply.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Fuel stations are the practical stop.

Camping in protected areas

varies

Languages

ro, ru

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Tolerated where parking is legal.

  Enforced by: Police / municipality

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Tolerated; campers are rare and attract attention. Ask permission at a guesthouse or winery.

  Enforced by: Police / municipality

• Camping with a camperUnknowncamping law

  No rule found for this activity; a registered campsite is the only reliably lawful option.

• Caravan or trailerUnknowncamping law

  No rule found for this activity; a registered campsite is the only reliably lawful option.

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Tolerated on open land; reserves restrict it.

Sources

• Ministry of Environment — Republic of Moldova (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Sovereign ordinances and police regulations; campers are effectively excluded from the principality's parking.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

None.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

fr

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carNoparking law

  Overnight occupation of vehicles is not tolerated; parking is almost entirely in height-restricted underground garages.

  Fine: police tariffEnforced by: Sûreté Publique

• Sleeping in a camperNoparking law

  Campers are barred from the underground car parks by height and are not permitted to stay overnight. Park in Cap d'Ail or Beausoleil (France).

  Fine: police tariffEnforced by: Sûreté Publique

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping is prohibited throughout the principality; the nearest legal options are the campsites and aires in the French communes inland.

  Fine: prohibited outrightEnforced by: Sûreté Publique

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited throughout the principality, as is parking a detached trailer.

  Fine: prohibited outrightEnforced by: Sûreté Publique

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited throughout the principality — there is no open land to pitch on.

Sources

• LégiMonaco — Principauté de Monaco (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Tourism law channels camping to registered sites; national-park rules restrict the mountains and coast.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Short motorway; fuel stations elsewhere.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

sr, cnr

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Tolerated where parking is legal.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Tolerated inland and in the mountains; the Budva–Kotor coastal strip restricts and charges.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside registered sites is prohibited; small eco-campsites are plentiful and cheap.

  Fine: reported from €50Enforced by: Tourist inspectorate

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside registered sites.

  Fine: reported from €50Enforced by: Tourist inspectorate

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Mountain camping is widely tolerated away from the parks' core zones; Durmitor and Lovćen restrict it to designated places.

  Enforced by: National park serviceConditions: Not in park core zones

Sources

• Government of Montenegro — Montenegro (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Since the Wet op de openluchtrecreatie was repealed, camping outside a campsite is governed by each gemeente's APV (Algemene Plaatselijke Verordening) — and nearly every APV prohibits `kamperen buiten kampeerterrein`.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Verzorgingsplaatsen permit a rest; overnight camper stays are prohibited at many by sign, and theft is a known problem.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

nl

Police

0900-8844 (police, non-emergency)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter; sleeping in a legally parked car is not an APV offence in most gemeenten. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Fine: €70–€110Enforced by: Gemeente / BOA

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  A camper on its wheels is parked, and most APVs allow it — many limit camper parking to 3×24 h or exclude residential streets, and coastal gemeenten (Zandvoort, Texel, Zeeland) restrict it hard in season.

  Fine: €70–€110Enforced by: Gemeente / BOA

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  `Kamperen buiten kampeerterrein` — awning, chairs, cooking outside — is an APV offence.

  Fine: €100–€500 (APV)Enforced by: Gemeente / BOA

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited; most APVs additionally cap parking a detached caravan on the public road at three consecutive days.

  Fine: €100–€500 (APV)Enforced by: Gemeente / BOA

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited outside campsites, except at the official paalkampeerterreinen and natuurkampeerterreinen (Staatsbosbeheer's free posts — one night, small tent, no fire).

  Fine: Natuurmonumenten/Staatsbosbeheer penaltiesEnforced by: Staatsbosbeheer, Natuurmonumenten

Sources

• Wetten.overheid.nl — Kingdom of the Netherlands (government), date unknown
• Staatsbosbeheer — Staatsbosbeheer (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Tourism and protected-area rules; no clear general statute on overnight parking.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas on the A1 tolerate a stop.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

mk, sq

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Tolerated where parking is legal.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Tolerated away from Ohrid's regulated lakefront, which charges and restricts.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Camping with a camperUnknowncamping law

  No clear rule found; campsites around Ohrid and Mavrovo are the safe option.

• Caravan or trailerUnknowncamping law

  No clear rule found for caravans; assume a campsite is needed and ask the municipality.

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Tolerated in the mountains; the national parks restrict camping to designated places, and the Ohrid UNESCO zone is regulated.

  Enforced by: National park service

Sources

• Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning — North Macedonia (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Friluftsloven §§ 8–9: tenting on utmark (uncultivated land) at least 150 m from any inhabited house, up to two nights without asking — and it applies to people on foot, not to motor vehicles (Motorferdselloven governs those).

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas permit a driving rest; many tolerate one night unless signed.

Camping in protected areas

varies

Languages

no

Police

02800 (police, non-emergency)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  Parking law decides where the car may stand; sleeping inside it is not itself restricted.

  Fine: NOK 300–900Enforced by: Municipality / police

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  The roaming right does **not** cover vehicles: a camper may only stand where parking is permitted, and driving onto utmark to overnight is an offence under Motorferdselloven. Sleeping in it where it may legally park is fine.

  Fine: NOK 300–900Enforced by: Municipality / police

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping with a vehicle away from a campsite or designated area is not covered by friluftsloven; several municipalities have introduced explicit bans on camper overnighting in scenic areas (Lofoten, Vestland fjords).

  Fine: conservation fines in protected areasEnforced by: Municipality

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Not covered by the roaming right; campsite or designated area only.

  Fine: conservation fines in protected areasEnforced by: Municipality

• Tent or bivouacYesland-access law

  The classic allemannsrett: tent on utmark, ≥150 m from an inhabited house, max two nights in one place without asking (longer in the high mountains and remote areas). National parks and reserves may add their own rules.

  Enforced by: Statsforvalteren, Statens naturoppsynConditions: Utmark only · ≥150 m from dwellings · Max 2 nights

Worth knowing

• Svalbard is a separate regime — see the regional overrides.
• Motorferdselloven: no driving off public roads and tracks, which rules out most 'wild' vehicle spots.

Regional overrides

Sources

• Friluftsloven — Kingdom of Norway (government), date unknown
• Miljødirektoratet — Norwegian Environment Agency (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Forest Act prohibits camping in state forests outside designated places, with the Lasy Państwowe `Zanocuj w lesie` programme opening named forest districts to bivouac; national parks confine camping to designated sites.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

MOP rest areas permit a rest; camping prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

pl

Police

997 (police)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Enforced by: Municipal guard (straż miejska)

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allowed where parking is allowed; the Baltic coast municipalities restrict camper parking in season.

  Enforced by: Municipal guard (straż miejska)

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside campsites and designated areas is prohibited; the `Zanocuj w lesie` programme is for people on foot, not vehicles.

  Fine: PLN 100–500 mandate; up to PLN 5,000 in national parksEnforced by: Forest guard (Straż Leśna)

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside licensed sites; the island has no space for informal trailer pitches.

  Fine: PLN 100–500 mandate; up to PLN 5,000 in national parksEnforced by: Forest guard (Straż Leśna)

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Prohibited in state forests except in designated places and in the `Zanocuj w lesie` forest districts (max 2 nights, groups ≤9, no fire); national parks allow it only at designated sites.

  Enforced by: National park serviceConditions: Designated forest district · Max 2 nights · No fire

Sources

• Lasy Państwowe — Zanocuj w lesie — State Forests (government), date unknown
• ISAP — Polish legislation — Republic of Poland (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Código da Estrada as amended in 2021: campers may park on public roads but overnight staying (`pernoita`) is prohibited outside designated areas in protected areas and where signed; camping outside campsites is separately prohibited.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Áreas de serviço permit a rest; camping prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

pt

Police

GNR/PSP local station numbers; 112 is emergency only

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter where parking is legal.

  Fine: €30–€150Enforced by: PSP / GNR / câmara municipal

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  The 2021 rules let a camper park like any vehicle but prohibit overnighting outside designated areas within protected areas, and municipalities have signed large stretches of the Algarve and the west coast against it. Look for the crossed-out camper sign.

  Fine: €30–€150Enforced by: PSP / GNR / câmara municipalConditions: Not in protected areas · Municipal signage decides

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside campsites and designated areas is prohibited; enforcement on the Algarve and Costa Vicentina is active.

  Fine: €60–€300 typical; higher in protected areasEnforced by: GNR / câmara municipal

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside campsites and designated areas.

  Fine: €60–€300 typical; higher in protected areasEnforced by: GNR / câmara municipal

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited outside campsites; protected areas and beaches are enforced.

  Fine: ICNF penaltiesEnforced by: ICNF

Regional overrides

Sources

• Diário da República — Portuguese Republic (government), date unknown
• ICNF — Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Protected-area regulations confine camping to designated sites; outside them landowner consent and municipal rules apply.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas on the A1/A3 permit a stop; fuel stations elsewhere.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

ro

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Enforced by: Local police

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allowed where parking is allowed; mountain trailhead car parks and Black Sea resorts have their own rules.

  Enforced by: Local police

• Camping with a camperYes, butcamping law

  Campsites and designated areas; the Carpathian parks restrict vehicle camping to marked places.

  Fine: reported RON 100–1,000 in protected areasEnforced by: Local policeConditions: Designated site

• Caravan or trailerYes, butcamping law

  Designated recreational sites and campsites only; a detached caravan elsewhere is treated as camping.

  Fine: reported RON 100–1,000 in protected areasEnforced by: Local policeConditions: Designated site

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Mountain tenting is widely practised and tolerated outside reserve cores; the parks confine it to designated areas and bear-safety rules matter.

  Enforced by: Protected area administration, RomsilvaConditions: Not in reserve cores · Bear country — food storage

Sources

• Portalul legislativ — Romania (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

State regulations; no campsites and no free camping.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

None.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

it

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Tolerated in the lower car parks where parking is legal.

  Enforced by: Polizia Civile

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Designated camper parking exists below the historic centre; overnight elsewhere is discouraged.

  Enforced by: Polizia CivileConditions: Designated camper parking

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping is prohibited; there are no campsites in the republic, so the nearest legal pitch is in Emilia-Romagna or the Marche.

  Fine: state tariffEnforced by: Polizia Civile

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited, and there is nowhere to leave a detached caravan.

  Fine: state tariffEnforced by: Polizia Civile

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited — the territory is entirely built up or farmed.

Sources

• Consiglio Grande e Generale — Republic of San Marino (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Tourism law channels camping to registered sites; protected-area rules restrict the rest.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas on the A1 permit a stop.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

sr

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Tolerated where parking is legal.

  Enforced by: Communal police

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Tolerated; ask at a restaurant or fuel station for a safe overnight spot, which is the local practice.

  Enforced by: Communal police

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside registered sites is prohibited.

  Fine: reported from RSD 5,000Enforced by: Tourist inspectorate

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside registered sites.

  Fine: reported from RSD 5,000Enforced by: Tourist inspectorate

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Tolerated on open land; nature parks (Tara, Đerdap, Fruška Gora) confine it to designated places.

  Enforced by: Protected area manager

Sources

• Pravno-informacioni sistem — Republic of Serbia (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Nature and Landscape Protection Act 543/2002 prohibits camping and bivouacking outside designated places in protected areas (all national parks); elsewhere landowner consent.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas permit a driving rest; camping prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

sk

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter outside protected areas. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allowed where parking is allowed; trailhead car parks in the Tatras prohibit overnight stays and are checked.

  Enforced by: Municipal police

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Prohibited outside campsites and designated areas.

  Fine: up to €330 for individualsEnforced by: State Nature Conservancy

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside campsites; the High Tatras trailhead car parks exclude trailers entirely.

  Fine: up to €330 for individualsEnforced by: State Nature Conservancy

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Camping and bivouacking outside designated places is prohibited in protected areas, which covers the entire High Tatras — use the mountain huts.

  Enforced by: Mountain rescue / park guards

Sources

• Slov-Lex — Slovak legislation — Slovak Republic (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Camping outside registered campsites is prohibited; the Triglav National Park Act and nature-protection law add stricter rules, and campers may park but not camp.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas permit a driving rest; camping prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

sl

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Enforced by: Municipal warden (redar)

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  A parked camper is parked; sleeping inside is generally tolerated where parking is legal and not signed. Bohinj, Bled and the Soča valley are heavily signed and enforced.

  Enforced by: Municipal warden (redar)

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside registered campsites is prohibited and actively fined in the alpine valleys.

  Fine: reported €100–€1,200; higher in Triglav NPEnforced by: Police / inspectorate

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside registered campsites.

  Fine: reported €100–€1,200; higher in Triglav NPEnforced by: Police / inspectorate

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  Prohibited outside campsites; Triglav NP enforces, and high-mountain bivouac is only tolerated in emergencies.

  Enforced by: Triglav NP service

Sources

• Pravno-informacijski sistem — Republic of Slovenia (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Reglamento General de Circulación lets a camper park where parking is permitted and distinguishes `pernoctar` (sleeping inside, parked) from `acampar`; `acampada libre` is prohibited by autonomous-community law, and municipal ordenanzas restrict camper parking.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Áreas de servicio permit a rest; camping prohibited, and break-ins are a known problem on the AP-7.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

es, ca, gl, eu

Police

092 (policía local) / 062 (Guardia Civil)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter; sleeping inside a legally parked car is `pernoctar`, not `acampar`. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Fine: €80–€200Enforced by: Policía local

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  The distinction Spain is built on: a self-contained camper on its wheels, within its parking bay, windows unobscured, nothing outside, is parked and may be slept in. Hundreds of municipal ordenanzas nonetheless prohibit camper parking outright — the sign at the entrance is what binds.

  Fine: €80–€200Enforced by: Policía local

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Levelling blocks, awning, chairs, waste on the ground, or occupying more than the bay makes it `acampada`, prohibited by community law everywhere and fined hard on the coast and in the islands.

  Fine: €100–€3,000 depending on the community and the groundEnforced by: Policía local / Guardia Civil / SEPRONA

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Caravans cannot claim the parked-camper reading: unhitching is treated as camping, and many municipalities prohibit parking detached trailers on the public road.

  Fine: €100–€3,000 depending on the community and the groundEnforced by: Policía local / Guardia Civil / SEPRONA

• Tent or bivouacNoland-access law

  `Acampada libre` is prohibited by autonomous-community law (regimes and fines differ per community); some communities permit high-mountain bivouac above a set altitude, and the Canary and Balearic islands run permit systems.

  Fine: up to €600,000 in the strictest protected-area regimes (serious cases)Enforced by: Park authority, SEPRONA

Worth knowing

• Autonomous communities differ sharply — see the regional overrides for the Canaries, Balearics, Catalonia and Andalusia.
• Áreas de autocaravanas are the legal network and are widespread and cheap.

Regional overrides

Sources

• Boletín Oficial del Estado — Reino de España (government), date unknown
• Dirección General de Tráfico — DGT (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Allemansrätten permits tenting for a night or two on unfenced land away from dwellings; Terrängkörningslagen prohibits driving off road, so the right does not extend to vehicles. Road law caps parking at 24 h on weekdays where not otherwise signed.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas permit a rest and commonly a night; signage governs.

Camping in protected areas

varies

Languages

sv

Police

114 14 (police, non-emergency)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  A parking matter — the 24 h weekday parking limit is the practical constraint.

  Fine: SEK 400–1,300Enforced by: Municipality / police

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allemansrätten does not cover vehicles: the camper must stand where parking is legal (24 h default), and driving onto land to overnight is an offence. Sleeping in it there is fine.

  Fine: SEK 400–1,300Enforced by: Municipality / police

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping with a vehicle is not part of allemansrätten; use a campsite or a ställplats. Municipalities near the coast increasingly ban camper overnighting outside them.

  Fine: conservation fines in protected areasEnforced by: Municipality

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Not covered by allemansrätten.

  Fine: conservation fines in protected areasEnforced by: Municipality

• Tent or bivouacYesland-access law

  Tent for a night or two on unfenced land, out of sight of houses and away from cultivated land, no damage, no fire in dry conditions. Reserves and national parks may restrict it.

  Enforced by: Länsstyrelsen, NaturvårdsverketConditions: Unfenced land · Away from dwellings · 1–2 nights

Sources

• Naturvårdsverket — Allemansrätten — Kingdom of Sweden (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

No federal ban: sleeping in a vehicle where parking is legal is a cantonal/communal matter, and camping outside sites is restricted by cantonal law and by federal wildlife and forest protection (Wildruhezonen, hunting reserves, water-protection zones).

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Rest areas permit a driving rest; camping prohibited.

Camping in protected areas

prohibited

Languages

de, fr, it

Police

117 (police)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  Generally permitted for one night where parking is legal; the commune's Parkierungsreglement decides. The binding answer is municipal: a local by-law or a sign at the spot overrides this national baseline.

  Fine: CHF 40–120Enforced by: Kantonspolizei / commune

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  One night in a camper on a legal parking space is widely accepted (and explicitly allowed in several cantons) as long as nothing is deployed. Tourist communes in Graubünden, Valais and Ticino restrict it by regulation.

  Fine: CHF 40–120Enforced by: Kantonspolizei / commune

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside campsites and Stellplätze is restricted or prohibited in most cantons.

  Fine: CHF 50–500 typical; higher in reservesEnforced by: Commune / cantonal police

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Prohibited outside sites; many mountain communes ban standing trailers.

  Fine: CHF 50–500 typical; higher in reservesEnforced by: Commune / cantonal police

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Above the treeline a single-night alpine bivouac is broadly tolerated, but it is prohibited in Wildruhezonen, federal hunting reserves, nature reserves and the Swiss National Park, and needs the landowner's consent below the treeline.

  Fine: cantonal, up to several thousand francsEnforced by: Cantonal nature-protection office, gamekeepersConditions: Above the treeline · One night · Not in Wildruhezonen or reserves

Worth knowing

• Wildruhezonen (wildlife rest areas) are seasonal and mapped — they are the trap for alpine bivouac.
• TCS and communal Stellplätze are the legal network.

Regional overrides

Sources

• Fedlex — Swiss federal law — Swiss Confederation (government), date unknown
• Touring Club Suisse — TCS (club), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Camping is channelled to licensed and municipal sites and to designated areas in national parks and state forests; coastal municipalities regulate camper stays.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Motorway service areas permit a rest and are commonly used for overnight stops.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

tr

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  Tolerated where parking is legal; avoid military zones and border areas entirely.

  Enforced by: Zabıta (municipal police) / Jandarma

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Widely practised and often tolerated; Aegean and Mediterranean municipalities have cleared and banned informal camper spots, and signage is increasing.

  Enforced by: Zabıta (municipal police) / JandarmaConditions: Municipal rules on the coast

• Camping with a camperYes, butcamping law

  Legal at licensed sites, municipal camping areas and designated forestry/national-park areas — of which there are many and they are cheap.

  Fine: municipal and forestry tariffsEnforced by: Municipality / General Directorate of ForestryConditions: Designated site

• Caravan or trailerYes, butcamping law

  Licensed sites, municipal camping areas and designated forestry areas only.

  Fine: municipal and forestry tariffsEnforced by: Municipality / General Directorate of ForestryConditions: Designated site

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Designated areas in national parks and state forests; tolerated in remote areas but prohibited in military zones, and fire restrictions are strict in summer.

  Enforced by: National park directorateConditions: Designated areas · No military zones · Summer fire bans

Sources

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry — Republic of Türkiye (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

Protected-area and forest rules confine camping to designated places; martial-law restrictions, curfews and military zones override everything else.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Not established as a distinct protection here.

Motorway rest areas

Fuel stations are the practical stop; curfew hours apply nationally.

Camping in protected areas

designated only

Languages

uk

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carYes, butparking law

  ⚠️ Martial law: a nightly curfew applies and being out in a vehicle during curfew hours is an offence. Check the current curfew for the oblast before planning any overnight stop.

  Enforced by: National PoliceConditions: Curfew hours · Martial law restrictions

• Sleeping in a camperYes, butparking law

  Same curfew and military-zone restrictions; near front-line and border oblasts do not attempt it.

  Enforced by: National PoliceConditions: Curfew hours · No border/front-line oblasts

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Not a realistic or lawful activity under the current restrictions outside registered sites.

  Enforced by: National Police / park administration

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  As campers: prohibited outside campsites, and municipal rules on standing trailers apply too.

  Enforced by: National Police / park administration

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Carpathian designated sites operate; elsewhere martial-law restrictions, mined areas and military zones govern. Take official advice locally.

  Conditions: Mine risk · Curfew

Worth knowing

• Curfews change by oblast and by week — the oblast military administration publishes them.

Sources

• Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine — Ukraine (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.

Statutory basis

England, Wales and Northern Ireland: no right to camp — the landowner's permission is required, and local authority by-laws govern overnight parking. Scotland: the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives a statutory right of responsible access that includes wild camping on foot, but not in a vehicle.

One night's rest for driving fitness

Recognised — this is the hook that makes sleeping legal where camping is not.

Motorway rest areas

Motorway services permit a stay (typically 2 h free, then charged); sleeping in a vehicle there is normal.

Camping in protected areas

varies

Languages

en

Police

101 (police, non-emergency)

Per activity

• Sleeping in a carPark onlyparking law

  Sleeping in a legally parked car is not an offence in itself (drink-driving law still applies if you are in charge of the vehicle). Many council car parks prohibit overnight parking or occupation by by-law.

  Fine: £50–£100 local authority PCNEnforced by: Local authority / police

• Sleeping in a camperPark onlyparking law

  Allowed where the car park's by-law allows overnight parking; height barriers and `no overnight sleeping` signs are widespread, and the NC500 corridor and Snowdonia/Eryri have added restrictions.

  Fine: £50–£100 local authority PCNEnforced by: Local authority / police

• Camping with a camperNocamping law

  Camping outside a licensed site needs the landowner's permission; Scotland's access rights explicitly exclude motor vehicles.

  Fine: by-law dependent; Loch Lomond permit-zone offences are criminalEnforced by: Local authority / landowner

• Caravan or trailerNocamping law

  Needs the landowner's permission; caravan site licensing law is strict.

  Fine: by-law dependent; Loch Lomond permit-zone offences are criminalEnforced by: Local authority / landowner

• Tent or bivouacYes, butland-access law

  Scotland: a statutory right of responsible wild camping on foot under the 2003 Act (with the seasonal Loch Lomond & Trossachs permit zones as the exception). England/Wales/NI: landowner permission, with Dartmoor's commons the one place backpack camping is a right. Tolerated in upland England in practice.

  Enforced by: National park authorityConditions: Scotland: SOAC rules · Loch Lomond permit zones · England/Wales: permission

Worth knowing

• Britstops and CL/CS sites are the cheap legal network.
• London ULEZ and other clean-air zones charge non-compliant vehicles daily.

Regional overrides

Sources

• Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 — UK Government (government), date unknown
• Scottish Outdoor Access Code — NatureScot (government), date unknown

⚠️ Unreviewed seed entry — written from secondary knowledge, not from a line-by-line reading of the cited law. Treated as “official, derived” confidence at best.