A sightseeing trip around Europe in a camper van is a great way to spend your holiday. That said, you need to prepare for it properly. Check our guide to find out what you should know before your first camper van trip, where you can wild camp overnight, and how to secure your vehicle for the night and protect it from potential theft.
Your first camper van trip – keep this in mind
Planning a camper van trip this summer? Great idea! Just remember to prepare properly before you set off on your first camper van journey:
- Check the technical condition of the vehicle before you leave to avoid unpleasant surprises on the road.
- Make sure you have up-to-date information on parking spots and places where wild camping is allowed.
- Familiarise yourself with the rules on parking camper vans in each country, as well as the equipment the vehicle must carry.
- Look after the natural environment and respect other people’s privacy! Don’t leave rubbish or waste at stopping places or along the route.
Remember to factor rest time into any long route – it’s a matter of safety for you and other road users. Driving for long stretches is tiring, and it also dulls your perception and concentration.
Can you wild camp in a camper van in Poland?
Yes, you can also spend the night in a camper van outside official sites in Poland, but you need to find places designated for parking and not set up camp. Camper vans can park wherever passenger cars are allowed to. This can be very useful if you have to cover many kilometres before you leave Poland and continue your journey across Europe.
Which European countries allow wild camping in a camper van?
Wild camping – staying overnight outside designated spots and campsites – is a great option for anyone who values peace and quiet and being close to nature. Unfortunately, it isn’t that easy to organise. In some European countries, wild camping in a camper van is prohibited. So where is it allowed?
Wild camping in a camper van in Scandinavia
The Scandinavian countries – are practically made for wild camping in a camper van. All you need to do is avoid obstructing traffic and park well away from populated areas. In Norway and Sweden, you can also wild camp in car parks, unless signs prohibit it. Importantly, after 24 hours or on the next working day, you have to move to a new location.
Wild camping in the Baltic states
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – offer plenty of freedom for wild camping in a camper van. It’s prohibited in national parks, nature reserves and on private land, but you may well come across free parking spots along your route.
Scotland – limits on wild camping in a camper van
Scotland – you can stop in a camper van in many places, but for no longer than two or three nights.
Albania – where can you wild camp on a camper van trip?
Albania – wild camping is not allowed in national parks, nature reserves, near government buildings or on private land. Outside these locations, you have complete freedom.
Germany – considerable restrictions on wild camping
Germany – has considerable restrictions, but you’re allowed to stay overnight for a maximum of one night in public car parks, provided the purpose is to rest before continuing your journey. Barbecues and setting up camp are prohibited. Wild camping is not allowed in Austria, Tyrol and Vienna.
Switzerland – where can you wild camp?
Switzerland – allows wild camping, but only outside nature reserves and for a maximum of 1 or 2 nights. The rules vary from canton to canton, so be sure to check them before your trip.
Where is wild camping in a camper van prohibited?
Wild camping in a camper van is prohibited in France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Greece – and you can be hit with a hefty fine for it! In addition, in Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia you’re not allowed to sleep in a camper van or caravan even on private land.
A night in a camper van
Under Polish law, a camper van with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes is treated as a passenger car. This means it can be parked in designated spots, in the proper manner. Make sure in advance that the spot you’ve chosen isn’t on private land, where additional rules may apply.
If you find a good spot and park your camper van so that it doesn’t obstruct other vehicles, you’ll be able to spend the night in it. Remember that camping isn’t allowed everywhere! This means you can’t set out chairs and tables or light a barbecue around the camper van.
Cooking is also banned in parking spots, even inside the vehicle, as it will be treated as camping.
The situation is different at designated campsites. There you can camp, barbecue and even set up furniture around the vehicle.
When crossing a border, make sure you know the current rules on overnight stays in a camper van and on camping in the country you’re in.
Sleeping in a camper van – how to prepare?
If you stay at campsites, you have access to infrastructure, so you won’t have much trouble topping up water, emptying the toilet or disposing of rubbish.
If you’re wild camping, it’s best to stock up in advance on water, a power generator and a battery – then you shouldn’t run short of anything.
Remember to look after the environment too – don’t pour dirty water onto the grass or into a lake. It’s better to use a petrol station along the way, if the staff agree. Don’t leave rubbish behind – it can harm animals and even start a fire.
Lock the camper van at night and don’t leave anything outside, so as not to tempt wild animals to approach the vehicle – they could damage it or injure themselves on its parts.
Camper van travel – how to stay safe?
When heading off on a camper van trip, don’t forget about security, especially if you’re planning a few nights of wild camping – although things can happen at campsites too. That’s why it’s worth securing your camper van properly.
Securing a camper van – how to avoid being robbed?
Gas detector – one method of robbing a camper van is to pump sleeping gas inside. To avoid exposing yourself to this, it’s worth installing a gas detector with a siren. It will also come in handy for monitoring leaks of the propane-butane in your gas cylinder.
Motion sensor – can be installed in the living area and will react to movement, e.g. if a thief gets inside.
Remote camper van immobiliser – lets you remotely stop the vehicle while it’s moving, e.g. when the thief stops at traffic lights, they won’t be able to drive off again.
Mechanical locks / wheel locks / gear lever locks – these are basic security measures that prevent the vehicle from being driven off. They’re more of a deterrent for thieves than 100% effective protection against vehicle theft.
notiOne GPS PLUS tracker – allows you to pinpoint a stolen vehicle precisely, including abroad, thanks to its international roaming option. It comes with an anti-theft alert that is triggered when the device is set in motion. It will let you know if someone tries to make off with your camper van. notiOne GPS PLUS works via a GPS module that receives signals transmitted by satellites, then determines the location and passes it on to the owner.
notiOne go! PLUS tracker – a good way to keep your camper van keys safe. It’s a practical key fob that you can attach to your keys. It makes them much easier to find (it sends the location to your phone via the notiOne community – a network of participating phones known as finders) and can also help protect a spare set of keys that you keep hidden somewhere else.
