Wild camping in Italy: is it allowed? (2026)
Free wild camping is in principle banned in Italy, but a high-mountain bivouac is often tolerated for hikers.
What's allowed
- Bivouacking high in the mountains (usually above ± 2000 m, from ± 1500 m in the Dolomites)
- A lightweight tent from sunset to sunrise, far from mountain huts (rifugi)
- Staying overnight by camper at 'aree di sosta' (official motorhome stopovers)
- Sleeping in your vehicle to rest, without setting up camp
- Camping at an agricampeggio, campsite or via 'Welcome To My Garden'
What's not allowed
- Freely pitching your tent on the coast, on the beach or in tourist areas
- Wild camping in national parks and nature reserves
- Open fires or barbecues in natural areas (high fire risk)
- Staying multiple nights in the same spot
Italy has no ‘right to roam’. Wild camping (“campeggio libero”) is in principle banned, but there’s no single national law: each region and municipality (comune) sets its own rules. As a result, the reality varies enormously between the busy coast and the quiet high mountains. One big nuance still makes Italy interesting: a discreet bivouac high in the mountains is usually tolerated for hikers and mountaineers.
Where it’s allowed
The clearest exception lies in the mountains. Above the tree line — often from around 2000 m, and from 1500 m in the Dolomites — a lightweight bivouac is normally tolerated, on condition that you:
- pitch only after sunset and break camp again before sunrise;
- stay a safe distance from a rifugio (mountain hut);
- spend only one night in the same spot and leave no trace.
Note: this is a grey area, not a right. Some protected parks (such as the Dolomiti Bellunesi) ban bivouacking entirely.
By camper
With a camper or motorhome you can’t simply stay anywhere overnight, certainly not by the sea or in town. Use the many aree di sosta: these are designated motorhome stopovers, often free or cheap. Sleeping in your vehicle to rest is fine, as long as you don’t set out an awning, chairs or a table (that counts as camping).
Open fires
Open fires and barbecues are almost always banned in natural areas. Large parts of Italy face a high to extreme wildfire risk in summer, with strictly enforced fire bans. At most, cook on a shielded little gas burner and be extremely careful.
Fines
Anyone who does wild camp freely risks a fine of €100 to €500, and enforcement is fierce on the coast and in tourist areas (often around €300). In national parks the fine can run up to €1000. The carabinieri and park rangers act actively during high season.
Practical tips
- Plan your sleeping spots in advance — check official motorhome stopovers and bivouac zones on the CampCompass map.
- Arrive late, leave early and stay invisible to others.
- Respect “leave no trace”: take everything back with you.