Wild camping in Poland: is it allowed? (2026)
Free wild camping is prohibited in Poland, but thanks to the official 'Zanocuj w lesie' programme you can bivouac legally and free of charge in designated state forests spread across almost the whole country.
What's allowed
- Bivouacking in designated zones of the 'Zanocuj w lesie' (Sleep in the forest) programme
- In groups of up to 9 people, without registration, max. 2 consecutive nights
- Setting up a tent, tarp or hammock without damaging the forest floor
- Staying overnight at an official campsite
What's not allowed
- Pitching your tent freely outside the designated forest zones
- Camping in national parks such as the Tatra Mountains
- Free overnight stays with a campervan or car in the forest (no vehicles allowed)
- Open fires, except at spots designated by the forest district
Poland has no ‘right to roam’: simply pitching your tent in nature (‘dziki camping’) is prohibited. But over recent years Poland has set up something remarkable — an official programme that lets you sleep legally and free of charge in the forest after all.
Zanocuj w lesie: sleep in the forest
The Polish State Forests (Lasy Państwowe) launched the ‘Zanocuj w lesie’ (‘Sleep in the forest’) programme in 2021. What began as a pilot became permanent and grew into designated zones in nearly all ~430 forest districts, together covering more than 600,000 hectares of forest.
The rules are simple:
- Groups of up to 9 people may stay freely, without registration.
- A maximum of 2 consecutive nights in the same spot.
- Larger groups or longer stays must register at least 2 working days in advance by email with the forest district.
- A tent, tarp or hammock is allowed, as long as you don’t damage the forest floor and leaf litter.
- Take everything back with you: leave no trace.
- No motor vehicles in the forest — you park the car outside and walk in.
You’ll find the zones on the Lasy Państwowe online map (bdl.lasy.gov.pl). It’s free.
National parks
In national parks (such as the Tatra Mountains) and nature reserves, camping is prohibited, except at designated spots. Enforcement here is strict and the fines are higher.
Open fires
Open fires are prohibited in and near forests. Within the programme, fires are only allowed at spots designated by the forest district. A gas burner is allowed under certain conditions — but do check the daily fire-risk level, because at the highest alert level everything is banned.
Travelling by campervan
Free overnight stays with a campervan or motorhome are not covered by the forest programme — vehicles are not allowed into the forest. Enforcement is strict, especially along the coast and in tourist areas. Use an official campsite, or ask a landowner for permission.
Fines
Free wild camping outside the permitted zones usually earns a fine of a few hundred złoty (up to around €120). In national parks the amounts are higher.