Camping - Camping

Camping with a caravan (Greece)

This article deals with the topic "Camping". Here general tips are given and the differences between the individual countries are shown, but individual places are not listed.

Overview

Camping is one of the best ways to get to know a country and its people. If you want to find out about camping or parking spaces in advance, there are various camping and parking space guides in book form, via internet portals or as an app.

Camping

Camping has been experiencing a real renaissance for a number of years; Not only with the tent as the smallest possible, light weather protection for the night, but also with large family tents for children and the family on annual vacation. As rented glamping "safari lodges", tents should enable a completely new way back to nature.

Wild camping

Yes, they still exist, the holidaymakers who are out and about by bike or motorcycle, sometimes also by car or horse, and are looking for a soft meadow in the evening where they can set up camp for the night. However, wild camping is not permitted in many countries. It is possible in Sweden, Finland and Norway thanks to the Scandinavian Everyone's right, but also in Scotland and Israel Wild camping is allowed - subject to certain basic rules.

In Germany and Austria Wild camping is generally prohibited, but there is a legal gray area: camping without a tent in a bivouac sack or on an exposed sleeping mat. Sleeping in a hammock with a tarpaulin stretched over it is also part of this gray area, whereby you should make sure to use a tree-friendly suspension. As long as you behave properly, the fines in Germany range between € 5 and € 80. In the Switzerland there is no general ban on wild camping, but there are regional restrictions and prohibitions.

Basically, the following rules must be observed when camping in the wild:

  • Don't leave any rubbish behind (dig in toilet paper or take it with you).
  • Avoid damage to nature and the landscape.
  • Keep calm.
  • Do not disturb or feed wildlife.
  • Avoid making a fire (at Forest fire hazard In the dry summer months, bans on open fireplaces are often pronounced!) or dig a hole for the fire that you absolutely have to fill up again before you move on.

These are just general rules; the regional circumstances should be taken into account.See also:Wild camping

Camping on campsites

Most campers - regardless of whether they are traveling with a tent, caravan or mobile home - prefer to use the facilities and amenities of a campsite. In addition to the basic rules of conduct for wild camping, additional rules apply here. Most places do not accept guests at any time of the day (not at night, often not even at lunchtime). The overview of fees is not always a prime example of transparency. In addition to the basic costs, there are often surcharges such as B. for showering or garbage disposal (often shyly called "environmental tax") or the awning. Most campsites mark the allocated space (parceling out).See also:Winter on campsites in southern EuropeSee also:Winter camping

Camping on pitches

Not only have many cities set up parking spaces for campers, the ongoing motorhome boom is leading to an ever wider range of offers - also in scenic regions, at farms, restaurants and winegrowers.

These parking spaces are usually only intended for a short stay - an overnight stay or a few days. In many of these places you can stay overnight free of charge. Originally only intended for motorhomes, a considerable number of these parking spaces now also allow carriages.

However, for every parking space, the rear should be stabilized and the motorhome should be in a horizontal and stable position. The so-called Jacks.

See also:Traveling by camper

Hay hotels

A suitable bad weather emergency solution for hikers and cyclists, at least in Germany, is also the Hay hotels. If the weather is too gruesome and you can safely do without the thought of running to the wash house through continuous rain at night, hay hotels with your own sleeping bag are cheap and dry additions to the camping landscape.

Camping in Europe

Germany

Mainly in the holiday regions there is a very large range of camping and parking spaces for every taste. It is common for tourists and long-term campers to share a space in very different proportions. As a rare exception, there may be restrictions (no tents, no large RVs, etc.).

Often, small places without special facilities are particularly cheap - such as facilities operated by rowing or other “water-based” clubs. This also applies to the neighboring countries Switzerland and Austria.

Switzerland

There is also a wide range of campsites in Switzerland; many places with a high proportion of long-term campers. Apart from the exposed places, such as around the various lakes and in the mountains, there are seldom places to stay overnight.

Wild camping is regulated differently, numerous communities have issued a wild camping ban. In the hinterland the tent can often be set up somewhere with a farmer if asked, the bold ones set up their dome tent after dark on the most beautiful lakeside location, but have to expect to be turned away - because the boisterous tent feasts of the Swiss youth on weekends with corresponding legacies have become a nuisance in many places. In Ticino, wild campers are sometimes searched for by helicopter.

Scout groups and youth groups can often find a place with a farmer on a meadow or clearing, especially during Whitsun and during the summer holidays, numerous tent camps can be found all over the country. However, everything necessary (supply / disposal, compensation) must be clarified with the landowner sufficiently early.

France

Hardly any other country offers such a great variety of camping sites as France, so many campsites call themselves Hotel du plein air. As everywhere, the prices are sometimes quite high during the short main season in the coastal regions. It is cheaper to spend the night in the hinterland, usually in clean places, often under municipal management. In France in particular, many campsites have turned into bungalow and mobile home pitches.

In the summer, many small and temporary places are open in some regions for several weeks - similar to the French school holidays. These places are mostly only suitable for tent tourists.

In the south of France, wild camping is sometimes not permitted (danger of forest fires on the Côte d'Azur, for example). If you have found a place with a very high proportion of French campers, the atmosphere is more friendly than in places that are heavily frequented by different nations.

Spain

Spain offers - especially in the coastal regions of the Mediterranean - a large number and variety of well-equipped campsites. Motorhome parking spaces are still rather rare, but they are definitely on the rise. Many places in the regions of the southern Mediterranean and Atlantic experience a second high season in winter and are then in many cases almost fully booked by sun-hungry winter refugees for months.

Greece

The number of campsites is sufficient, at least on the mainland and during the season, and the standards vary widely. In the places with an international clientele, the places are rather parceled out and the standard is high, on the "Greek" places the tents are set up rather close together, as it happens, the atmosphere is very relaxed.

Wild camping is prohibited across the country.

Italy

Especially in the season, numerous campsites with different comfort classes and prices invite you, often bungalows; Mobile homes and caravans are offered for rent. The number of places open all year round is low. More in the south of the country - Apulia, Calabria and Sicily - there are a large number of year-round places that the "Northern Lights" of Central Europe like to visit for the winter. There is now also a larger selection of RV sites.

Free camping is usually forbidden, possibly ask at an agriturismo (farm that offers simple guest rooms) whether you can put the tent or the camper. As a rule, it is forbidden to park a mobile home in the vicinity of camping sites (and can also be checked by the police), although there are usually no objections to simple parking (without setting up tables, deck chairs and privacy screens ...) somewhere in the hinterland. You can often stay overnight in restaurant parking lots after eating.

Netherlands

The Dutch themselves are "camping people", but for overnight stays you are obliged to go to a campsite, which is usually not a problem. For the main season or for weekends, there have even been spaces for short campers near the beach. Even the farms a little inland almost all have a small space.

An alternative in bad weather is to rent small houses on the campsites. These mini log huts or hiking log huts are often called "Trekkershutten" in the Netherlands and offer the bare minimums you need to stay overnight. These cabins are well suited for Cycle touristswho only want to stay one night.

Scandinavia

Everyone's right

The Everyone's right (save everyone) in Norway and Sweden, allows wild camping. The right of everyone in Finland is it [called jokamiehenoikeus.

However, there are a few rules to be observed here.

  1. The right of everyone only applies to people who are not motorized (e.g. pedestrians, cyclists or boaters).
  2. Nature is not to be harmed in the process.
  3. You can stay in the same place for a maximum of two days (nights).
  4. The space must be outside of residential areas. A minimum distance of 150 meters to the next utility building is required (this also includes sheds!). Rule of thumb: Out of sight of buildings.
  5. The place must not be on cultivated land.
  6. Making a fire is forbidden in Norway between April 15th and September 15th. And even if allowed, leave the fireplace as natural as possible. It is forbidden to fire on bare stones. It should go without saying that the fireplace may only be left after it has been ensured that it has cooled down and is therefore no longer a danger.
  7. Take all rubbish with you, this also applies to cigarette butts!
  8. If there are toilets nearby, use them. Otherwise, faeces must be buried at least 50 meters from an open water point and at least 20 cm deep. The toilet paper counts as waste and must therefore be taken with you and disposed of properly.
  9. The right of everyone can be restricted by municipalities and park administrations. Be sure to consult the national park instructions and other sources of information. Prohibition signs are of course to be observed.

General tip: Remember that in Scandinavia it likes to rain. Therefore, you should choose your tent location so that you are not surprised by the water. Moats have to be filled in again.

In Scandinavia, care is increasingly being taken to ensure that the use of the right to stay overnight in the wild that is guaranteed in the Allemannsrätten is not overused and abused. In the interest of all following travelers by foot, bike or boat as well as the locals, it is urgently necessary to adhere to the above rules. In some regions of Norway, for example, the right of public access is now restricted, so in Lofoten it is no longer desirable to spend the night outside of campsites.

Czech Republic

The Czechs, like the French, are great friends of this type of holiday. There is an autokemp in almost every major town. Sometimes there are no or only outside showers. However, since these places are mostly on lakes and rivers, this plays a subordinate role. The quality ranges from very simple to upscale (and therefore no longer affordable for many locals).

Many places offer the opportunity to grill over an open fire. There is also always at least one kiosk or shop with a snack / restaurant connected to the places.

Interestingly, some new places have been taken over or set up by Dutch operators in recent years. Some have developed into corresponding colonies.

United Kingdom & Ireland

Many campsites belong to clubs, but usually also accept non-members. However, membership can be worthwhile to take advantage of member discounts. The parking spaces themselves are typically wholly or partially gravel. Bank holidays and weekends often have higher rates and minimum stays, and it can be difficult to get a seat without membership and reservation.

In rural regions you can also ask the next farm whether you can camp “wild” here or there.

Camping in other continents

Camping in Israel

In the parking lot / entrance area of ​​various national parks resp. There are "Nature Reserves" in various places, campsites, toilets and infrastructure of the nature park can then be used. As a rule, there is little infrastructure in Israel, i.e. a simple dome tent, non-sparking grill or gas cooker for coffee and sleeping mats are usually sufficient. Parceled out campsites with house tents, hedges and geranium boxes in front of the permanent camper dwellings are unknown in Israel. Since Israel can hardly be reached by car from the surrounding countries, there is also hardly any campervan tourism to be found, and the first motor homes are being offered for rent in a few isolated cases.

In the nature reserves resp. Nature reserves, to which a large part of the scenic areas belong, are only allowed between sunrise and sunset; After dusk, the park area belongs to the animals alone, who have to come to the watering holes undisturbed. Overnight stays are only allowed in so-called "campsites" or "camping areas", which you are not allowed to leave during the night. These are often really only gravel places to pitch the tent, which are separated from the environment with rocks as a barrier for off-roaders. Waste may not be left behind (or only in any provided waste bins), open fire is strictly forbidden because of the high risk of forest / bush fires (dead wood also serves as a habitat for animals and must not be burned!), In many cases not only food, but also the drinking / utility water for the overnight stay must be brought along. These places, intended for hiking tents, fill up on the weekend, as an overnight stay under the starry sky and a day tour on the following day are popular weekend fun for many young Israelis.

A visit from the police, who asks what you are up to, or from nature park rangers must be expected. Caution, more remote areas ("Firing Zones" are often used for military purposes; it is essential to clarify beforehand with the military office whether a hike - possibly with an overnight stay - can be carried out! Certain areas may only be hiked through on Shabbat!

South America

An organized camping culture can now be found in many countries, especially in Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguaywhere almost every village has a campsite. In the Andean countries there are only a few organized sites, where it is customary to ask the property owner if you can pitch your tent there (possibly for a small sum of money). The same goes for places where there are no campsites - there is usually always something to be found.

Wild camping is usually officially forbidden, but it is still practiced - most of the time you will only have problems in areas with mass tourism. Wild camping there can also pose a security risk, especially in regions with high crime rates such as Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela.

See also

Web links

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