14,500 fine in Lower Austria

Wild camping in Europe: where you’re allowed, where you’re fined

It is not only in Austria that holidaymakers who camp freely and without the consent of the landowner face sometimes horrendous penalties.(Bild: Kirill Gorlov )

Stopping wherever you want, barbecuing when you're hungry, spending the night wherever you like: what fun that would be! However, wild camping is forbidden with sometimes horrendous penalties - and not only in Austria. We have checked the situation in Europe for you - and the alternatives.

Vacations in motorhomes, tents, caravans and the like have been gaining more and more fans in recent years: "Camping is becoming increasingly popular," says Tomas Mehlmauer, President of the Austrian Camping Club (ÖCC). When it comes to new registrations, motorhomes and camper vans are at the forefront. No surprise: they are also easier to trade than a caravan or a vehicle combination with a length of nine or ten meters or more.