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Wild camping - Poland, Czech Republic and Germany ? Wild camping - Poland, Czech Republic and Germany ?
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  #1  
Old 26 Mar 2014
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Wild camping - Poland, Czech Republic and Germany ?
Can anyone help please ?

I am doing a trip around Europe in a few months and will be camping most of the way - part of my route will come through Poland, Czech Republic, and Germany - does anyone know what the position is on wild camping in these countries ?

I suspect it is illegal in Germany but not sure about the Poland/Czech Republic ?
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Old 26 Mar 2014
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I personally don't care what the 'official position' of any country is on wild camping... I've wild camped all over including Poland and Germany... Here's my skinny on it:

The Straight Dope On Wild Camping | Adventure Vagabond
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Old 27 Mar 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stephen.stallebrass View Post
I personally don't care what the 'official position' of any country is on wild camping... I've wild camped all over including Poland and Germany... Here's my skinny on it:

The Straight Dope On Wild Camping | Adventure Vagabond
A useful read - thanks
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Old 12 May 2014
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In Poland there is no official permission to stay and camping anywhere like in Scandinavian countries. Like always - If you would find convinient spot and especially police will not see you - you can try there,people should not make any problems
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Old 14 May 2014
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Germany is a bit strange, you're not allowed to camp on private ground (without asking), in national owned forest, but you are allowed to camp at the edge of national owned forest, but only from dusk until dawn.

I don't know how true that is, and I can't remember where I found it.

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Old 15 May 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stephen.stallebrass View Post
I personally don't care what the 'official position' of any country is on wild camping... I've wild camped all over including Poland and Germany... Here's my skinny on it:



The Straight Dope On Wild Camping | Adventure Vagabond

Great guide. Would be interested in grabbing how you wild camped in Russia. Heading that way next year on a very tight budget so camping will bey hotels
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Old 15 May 2014
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We always do wildcamping where we travel, too in Switzerland, Germany, France and Spain.

Just look that you choose an area what isnt that populated. Thats easy with looking with Google Maps / Satellite View.

You can buy local Simcards and use the 3G Network and your Smartphone to detect these spots, or use the free Wifi of McDonald, Starbucks or others, or Internet Cofe`s.

There are also ways for download Satellite View of bigger areas easily:



But for europe this look a bit over-equipped, because there are many free Wifi and a good 3G coverage available ;-)

Surfy
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Old 16 May 2014
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Wild camping is illegal in Germany!!! This should not discourage you from doing so.

Stay off the beaten track so that you can´t be seen from people passing by. Keep your camp clean. Don´t build a campfire, don´t trash the place, bury your poop.

If somebody came along, why would he get upset about a patch of trampled grass? What I would avoid is private property like orchards, meadows, garden plots. If you´d camp on my orchard without my permission, I would consider it rude. If you would camp in the woods behind it, I´d check you out and most probably mind my own business. It´s a territorial thing.

Sometimes you might find recreational areas complete with fire ring, playground and shelter along the roadside. Not the worst place to hang out for a night. Just keep your bike out of sight.

Many times you will find wandering maps displayed on trailheads / parking spots in the woods. Usually shelters will be marked there, too. Of course, this will not be about stealth camping. If the weather is crap, though, it might be worth checking them out.
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Old 28 May 2014
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Many of the folks holding hunting rights in Germany consider that land as theirs and you will for sure run in trouble getting caught. Also avoid all kinds of protected areas, which are normally marked by signs (Geschützter Landschaftsbestandteil, Naturschutzgebiet, Naturdenkmal, etc).

And you will for sure have a meeting with the police, if you get caught starting a campfire in the forests!

When people here in Sweden are asking me why I moved to Scandinavia, one of my answers is "Allemansrätten", the right to roam freely. Germany is simply too densly populated to have the same freedom.
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