The real picture
Every country in Europe has different rules about sleeping in your vehicle. Some are straightforward. Most are not. The law says one thing, local police do another, and the reality on the ground changes by season, by region, and by how visible you are.
But this guide is not just about wild camping. Across Europe there are thousands of purpose built areas for campervans and motorhomes. Aires in France, Stellplatz in Germany, Sostas in Italy, and similar facilities in almost every country. Many are free or very cheap, and they let you sleep legally and undisturbed while topping up water, emptying waste, and recycling responsibly.
We built this guide because the information out there is scattered, outdated, or oversimplified. This is what we have learned from living on the road full time, cross referenced with current legislation and the experience of the wider vanlife community.
The golden rule
In almost every country, the same principle applies: if you are parked legally and everything stays inside the vehicle, you will rarely be bothered. The moment chairs, awnings, or cooking equipment appear outside, you cross the line from parking into camping. That distinction is the single most important thing to understand.
It is not all wild spots and remote mountains.
Purpose built areas make vanlife accessible everywhere.
From free aires with fresh water and waste disposal to cheap community run Stellplatz with electricity hookups, Europe has a network of overnight stops designed specifically for self contained vehicles. In many countries these are the backbone of how people travel by van, not wild camping at all.
Browse by country
The rules are just the starting point.
What matters is how you show up.
Being respectful, discrete, and leaving no trace goes further than any legal loophole. In countries where wild camping sits in a grey area, your behaviour is what tips the balance.
Europe is enormous. The landscapes change, the laws change, but the freedom stays the same.
From Atlantic coastlines to alpine passes, from volcanic islands to rolling farmland. Every country offers something different, and the rules are just one part of the puzzle. Use this guide as a starting point, then go find your own spot.
Before you go
This guide is based on our research and personal experience as of February 2026. Laws change, enforcement varies, and local rules can override national ones. Always check current regulations before travelling.
We will keep updating this guide as we visit more countries. If you have been somewhere we have not, or spot something out of date, we want to hear from you.