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Bella Italia! Every year up to 50 million tourists are travelling to the country with the legendary boot shape. And that’s hardly surprising thanks to the diversity that Italy’s landscape has to offer.
Whether you want to climb mountains and glaciers, relax on the beach or explore the many romantic little villages and towns – Italy has got it all! And our guess is we don’t have to convince you of the Italian cuisine. So what could be better than a camping road trip through Italy? But are you allowed to camp wild in your van? We have all the important facts you need to know about wild camping in Italy.
Is wild camping allowed in Italy?
First of all, we have some sobering news for you: Wild camping or campeggio libero (as it is called in Italy) is unfortunately generally prohibited. Although there are no generally applicable rules, the individual regions are responsible for the respective laws. Those who choose to spend the night in their tent, camper or motor home in the open countryside have to expect fines ranging from 100€ to 500€. Especially in tourist areas and by the sea there are strict controls and usually you have to pay around 300€ as a fine. Several authorities take care of this in Italy.
Only in the mountains you should hardly be confronted with problems when hiking for several days with a one-man tent or bivouac. On beaches you should not wild camp under any circumstances because here controls are even more strict.
In general, the issue of wild camping in Central and Southern Europe is mostly a question of tolerance and one’s own willingness to take a risk. If you behave inconspicuously, avoid the most popular tourist hotspots and camp mostly inland or spend the night on the side of the road in your camper you run a much lower risk of incurring a fine. In addition, experienced campers know that spending the night in your own vehicle to restore your driving ability is a grey area.
Do you prefer to play it safe? Then you won’t be disappointed either thanks to our tips and alternatives!
What are the alternatives to wild camping?
Since unfortunately we are not allowed to choose our pitch for the night completely freely we have to look for alternatives. Fortunately, there are several of these. Quite classic: the campsite. Of course, this is not a big surprise and maybe not how a wild camper imagines their ideal vacation but there are also campsites with little to no touristy Adriatic flair. These usually offer only a meadow to stand on and sanitary facilities. It's always a good option for a stopover and a welcome change especially after spending days without electricity and running water.
If that’s still too much hustle and bustle for you you can also opt for one of the many pitches offered by farms. Who doesn’t want to wake up in the morning and look out of the roof tent onto endless vineyards? You can find them on this website: https://www.greatlittlecampsites.co.uk/italy/. There, you'll not only find idyllic peace and quiet but also often a farm store which provides you with fresh food.
Besides farms there are private landowners who also offer their land for camping. Either you inquire with the residents or you visit the site https://www.gardensharing.it/en/ where some pitches are offered. This way, you can also come into contact with the locals in adition to getting a unique pitch for your stay.
If you have a look you'll also find that in some regions of Italy there are designated parking areas where free standing is permitted. These are often located near national parks. What distinguishes free-standing from wild camping is the set-up of the pitch: when free-standing you should in no case place chairs or tables in front of the camper or extend the awning. The more inconspicuous the better!
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Most of us camp for the love of nature and the incomparable feeling of freedom. Unfortunately, in many cases this harms both nature and the local economy. Here are a few tips that you should keep in mind when wild camping.
Leave the place as clean as you found it!
Be careful not to disturb animals and nature through noise or fire!
Dispose of gray water at designated stations!
Be considerate of residents and fellow campers!
Support the local tourism and give back to your vacation destination!
Conclusion
At first glance, the laws in Italy seem strict and perhaps even deterrent. Even though the classic idea of wild camping in nature will probably not come true here there are numerous alternatives to still make your vacation an adventurous one. There are also some testimonials that suggest that considerate behavior and a short stay is often greeted with tolerance from local residents. Nevertheless, we do not want to encourage anyone to break clear rules of the law. The fines in Italy are high and can easily ruin the mood on your vacation. If you want to be on the safe side inquire in advance and take one of the many alternatives to free wild camping. Finally, we would like to appeal to every camper out there to always leave their pitch clean and be respectful of people and nature. After all, the next camper should be just as happy with their pitch as you were.
