Wild camping in Spain: is it allowed? (2026)
Free wild camping ('acampada libre') is in principle banned in Spain, but spending a single night in a self-contained campervan ('pernocta') is often tolerated as long as you don't unfold anything.
What's allowed
- Spending the night in a closed campervan on an ordinary car park ('pernocta'), as long as you unfold nothing
- Sleeping at designated motorhome areas ('áreas de autocaravanas') and on campsites
- High-mountain bivouac with a small tent in some nature parks (e.g. Picos de Europa from ± 1,600 m, Catalonia from ± 2,000 m)
- Camping where the local municipality or region explicitly permits it (including parts of the Basque Country, Castile)
What's not allowed
- Pitching a tent, unfolding an awning or putting out chairs ('acampada libre')
- Free-standing or camping on the coast, on beaches and in dunes
- Spending the night in national parks and protected nature areas
- Open fires or barbecues in nature (especially during summer fire risk)
Spain has no ‘right to roam’. Freely pitching your tent in nature — so-called ‘acampada libre’ — is in principle banned across the whole country. There is no single national law: the 17 autonomous regions and the municipalities each set their own rules, which makes the picture vary sharply from place to place.
Pernocta vs. acampada
The key distinction in Spain is between ‘acampada’ (camping) and ‘pernocta’ (spending the night). Sleeping in a closed campervan counts legally as parking, as long as all wheels are on the ground, you use no levelling jacks or blocks, and nothing extends beyond the perimeter of the vehicle. The moment you unfold an awning, pitch a tent or put out chairs, you fall under ‘acampada’ — and that’s banned. A single discreet overnight stay (pernocta) on an ordinary car park is therefore often tolerated, while camping is not.
Different in every region
Each municipality may decide for itself where overnight stays are allowed. In most of Spain free camping is not permitted, but there are exceptions in places such as the Basque Country, Catalonia, Madrid, Castile and León, and Castile-La Mancha. In the high mountains a bivouac arrangement sometimes applies: in the Picos de Europa you may pitch a small tent above roughly 1,600 m (often from an hour before sunset until an hour after sunrise), in Catalonia only from around 2,000 m. Always check this with the park office.
Open fires
Open fires and barbecues in nature are banned almost everywhere, especially in the summer months when fire risk is high. If you break the rules, you risk severe penalties.
Fines
Fines vary widely by region. On the coast and in nature parks such as Cabo de Gata, police patrol at night in summer and fines can run up to ± €1,000. In protected areas they can be even higher.
Practical tips
- Choose a motorhome area or campsite; if you do look for a free spot, park tidily and unfold nothing.
- Avoid the coast, beaches, dunes and national parks — enforcement there is strict.
- Arrive late, leave early and leave no trace.