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DISCOVER DENMARK

What are the rules on wild camping in Denmark?

Regardless of whether you plan to visit Denmark for the holidays or if you already live in the country, wild camping can be quite a memorable experience – as long as you respect the rules that apply.

Camping
Even though official campsites may provide better amenities, they can often become crowded. As a result, it's not surprising that wild camping is gaining popularity in Denmark. Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash

As mass tourism spreads throughout Europe, more and more people are looking for ways to avoid crowds, and campers are no exception.

Despite the higher level of amenities that they might offer, official campsites can get a bit busy. It is no surprise, then, that wild camping is taking off in Denmark.

However, it’s important to note that there is no “right to roam” that would guarantee your right to set up camp in the Danish wilderness (such rights are relatively common in Scandinavia – in Norway, the allemannsretten (“everyman’s right”) allows people to roam uncultivated land in the country freely).

That means that you can enjoy wild camping only in designated areas in forests or nature where the authorities allow for it.

Fines for camping outside of these areas can go up to ca. 4,000 kroner, so there’s no need to push your luck – especially as there are over 1,000 designated areas for wild camping, which means you’ll be able to find a number of unique natural camping opportunities.

However, should you decide to opt for such an experience, it’s important to follow the rules that regulate wild camping.

The four options for wild overnight outdoor stays

Staying overnight in the outdoor area owned by the Danish State is regulated, and the Danish Nature Agency provides campers and other would-be visitors with guidelines.

There are four options for outdoors enthusiasts to explore if they plan to stay in the Danish outdoors overnight – and while some are truly wild, other offer some basic facilities (such as lean-tos).

The first is sleeping outside on the forest floor. As the Nature Agency points out, visitors to Danish forests can sleep on a mat, in a sleeping bag, with a blanket or tarp, or a hammock.

If you’re using a tarp, note that it can’t have the same function as a tent, and you need to be especially attentive in setting it up in a way that it doesn’t damage the surrounding plants.

Your second option is to opt for small primitive campsites (primitiv overnatningsplads in Danish). These can also have a lean-to, often with water and basic toilet options.

In order to identify a small primitive campsite, use this website (just remember to pick the right option). A small primitive campsite might be a good choice if you’re planning a short camping trip (there’s a limit of 2 overnight stays) in a small group. Generally speaking, these sites will have enough space to set up between four and eight tents.

Tent 1

There are over 1,000 designated areas for wild camping in Denmark. Photo by Nicholas Selman on Unsplash

The third option is well-suited for large groups, as the name – large primitive campsites (lejrplads in Danish) – suggests. You can find these sites, and pre-book them, on the webpage of the Nature Agency.

These campsites can be pre-booked for groups of 15 persons or more. Booking comes with the advantage of getting priority to the lean-tos on the site. However, if you don’t pre-book, you’ll still be able to use the remaining spaces and lean-tos and set up your tents on the site.

Last but not least, there’s ‘free tenting’ (fri teltning in Danish).

Under the rules governing camping with tents in specified forest areas, the Danish Nature Agency has designated over 275 woodlands in the country where people can set up their tents and stay the night.

The term for doing so in Danish is fri teltning, which can be translated to free tenting.

You can find the areas designated for free tenting on this map provided by the Nature Agency.

Key rules to remember

Overnight stays in Denmark in any of the four abovementioned options are free, but there is usually a limit to the number of nights you’re allowed to spend at each location.

As these are wild spots with pristine nature, access is usually not allowed for vehicles (unless there’s a special sign indicating otherwise on-site or if you carry a special permit), and you need to pick up any trash behind you before leaving.

The bird breeding season in Denmark usually spans from March to August. During this period, there may be additional limitations on camping in specific areas and along certain Danish coastal areas.

In the forest, you can gather dry branches and twigs from the ground for your fire, but cutting down firewood is prohibited. Additionally, you are permitted to collect woodland plants, berries, and fruit – as long as it’s for your personal consumption.

Make sure to read up on the Danish Nature Agency’s detailed guidelines regulating wild camping before you embark on your camping trip.

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The best places to camp in Denmark this summer (that are close to Aarhus and Copenhagen)

With the summer break around the corner, we've some idyllic places in Denmark where you can set up a tent, gather around a camp fire and gaze at the stars -- and won't have to travel for hours to do so.

The best places to camp in Denmark this summer (that are close to Aarhus and Copenhagen)

Møns Klint

Located south of Copenhagen, this place is nicknamed the Cold Caribbean because of its crystal clear water, created by the 70 million-year-old chalk cliffs gentling crumbling into the Baltic Sea. Møns Klint is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the beach is full of ancient fossils, making it a special place to visit.

The area is Scandinavia’s first Dark Sky Park; an area completely free of light pollution, making stargazing, with the added reflection from the sea below, a magical experience.

The camping site here offers options of tents, caravans and either basic or family cabins. There are lots of amenities such as kitchen, washing and drying facilities, outdoor heated pool in the summer, mini golf course, playground, football pitch, tennis court, a fenced-in dog park with washing facilities.

The campsite also has a small kiosk and pizza restaurant and WIFI-internet which covers most of the area. Horse riding, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, sailing, fishing are all activities you can enjoy nearby. 

Møn is around a two-hour journey from Copenhagen, making it the longest journey from one of Denmark’s two largest cities on this list. But it’s such a beautiful place, we think it’s worth the extra effort.

Photo by Levin Kohrt on Unsplash

Vejle

Around an hour south of Aarhus is Denmark’s ninth largest city, Vejle. The town is surrounded by nature including Vejle Fjord, where the low forested hills, something of a rarity in Denmark, were shaped by glaciers during the last ice age. 

The campsite is located close to Vejle Fjord and Albuen Strand. Here you can pitch up your tent, caravan or motorhome, or rent out one of the 13 luxury cabins. Facilities include a kitchen, playground, TV room and equipment for fishing. 

Just outside the campsite is the forest Nørreskoven with the deer park, Dyrehaven. Nørreskoven is well-known for its large beech trees from the early sixteenth century. You can enjoy the forest from above in the treetop climbing park, Gorilla Park, or enjoy an obstacle course or mountain bike trail, organised by the sports college, Vejle Idrætshøjskole.

The campsite is also close to the family-friendly sandy Albuen beach, which has benches, picnic tables, a playground, beach volley court and kiosk.

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Aarhus

At Blommehaven campsite in Aarhus, you can pitch up a tent in the middle of Marselisborg Forest, enjoy a view of Aarhus Bay and walk to a variety of beautiful beaches.

There are activities for children including a playground, trampoline, climbing wall, ball field and indoor playroom, miniature golf and bike rental.

The campsite is only 5km from central Aarhus, so you can get an urban fix by cycling into the city to enjoy museums, Tivoli Friheden or the well-known Den Gamle By. Further afield, in less than an hour you can get to Mols Bjerge, Ebeltoft, Randers Regnskov, or take a boat trip to Samsø.

As well as camping, there are simple cabins without bathrooms.

Photo by Mikkel Jönck Schmidt on Unsplash

Ebeltoft

Ebeltoft Strand Camping Site in the southern part of Djursland, is set along a one-kilometre, child-friendly sandy beach meaning swimming, sand-castle building, wind and kite surfing are right on the doorstep.

You can arrive at the site with a tent, caravan, camper van or rent a luxury cabin and there’s a swimming pool and sauna, as well as football pitch, playground, table tennis and minigolf course.

You can walk into the town of Ebeltoft, where you can visit the world’s longest wooden warship at the Frigate Jutland, or wander through Ebeltoft’s charming cobbled streets. Ree Park and Mols Bjerge National Park are also worth exploring.

Fire pit, camping, Denmark

Enjoying wild camping at Bøllemosen, Skodsborg, north of Copenhagen. Photo: Emma Pouncey
 

Wild camping

If you want a no-frills camping experience, you can find suitable spots in forests on the Danish Nature Agency website called ‘primitive overnatningspladser og shelters,’ directly translated as ‘primitive accommodation and shelters.’

The Nature Agency lists forests with suitable clearings for tents to be pitched, areas for camp fires and in some places, a water tap. You can stay up to two consecutive nights on the site and it’s all free.

There is also the option of a basic shelter for those not wanting to use a tent, which are also free. You can book in advance or use on on a first come, first served basis for up to two consecutive nights. You can see all shelters and wild camping spots at udinaturen.

READ ALSO:Five music festivals happening in Denmark this summer

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