Camping guides
From choosing a tent to bringing the dog: 17 guides to camping up north
Home › Camping › Camping guides
Camping guides
Camping in Scandinavia, step by step
Camping up north is different from home: more space, more light and a right to roam of its own. In these 17 guides we set it all out for you, from the right tent to the rules for your dog, with the official source alongside.
Researched by Arjan from Zuidlaren, so you don’t have to · Sources: Miljødirektoratet: tents and hammocks, Naturvårdsverket: allemansrätten, Luontoon.fi (Metsähallitus): everyman’s rights · updated 24 October 2026 · About this page
- 17 guides in 4 themes
- With official sources
- Campsites by country in one consistent overview
Camping guides
Preparation
- 🧭 Camping for the first time
From the right campsite to 112 and out-of-hours doctors on holiday - ⛺ Choosing a tent
What to look for with wind, rain, hard ground and nights that never get dark - 🚐 Motorhome or caravan?
An honest comparison for a trip through the north - ⛴️ Caravan or motorhome on the ferry
Declaring length and height, gas, and which route suits you - 💶 Costs and groceries
How expensive the north is according to Eurostat, and where you can save
Camping guides
Who with?
- 👨👩👧👦 Camping with children
Short driving days, swimming lakes, light evenings and a campsite with a playground - 🐕 Camping with a dog
Worming for Norway and Finland, leash rules and the Danish breed ban
Camping guides
On the spot
- 🌲 Wild camping and the right to roam
What’s allowed in Norway, Sweden and Finland, and why not in Denmark and Iceland - 🍳 Cooking and campfires
Campsite kitchens, gas and when a campfire is or isn’t allowed - 🛖 Cabin or tent?
Campsite cabins, DNT huts and Finnish wilderness huts - 📶 Internet and power
Roaming in the EEA, eSIMs and power at the campsite - 🍺 Alcohol and smoking
Where to buy alcohol, what you can bring into Norway and which drink-drive limit applies
Camping guides
Weather and nature
- 🦟 Mosquitoes and ticks
How to keep your pitch mosquito-free and what to know about TBE - 🌞 Sleeping under the midnight sun
When the sun doesn’t set, and how the whole family still sleeps - 🌧️ Rain and cold
Layers, sleeping bags and the official weather services by country - ❄️ Winter camping
Winter tyres by country, short days and camping in a cabin - 🌿 Eco-labels and sustainable camping
Which eco-labels you’ll see at campsites, and what they do and don’t tell you
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can you wild camp anywhere in Scandinavia?
In Norway, Sweden and Finland, yes, under conditions; in Denmark only at designated spots such as forests marked “fri teltning”; in Iceland not in a motorhome or car outside campsites. See the wild camping guide.
Accountability
📚 Sources
Every number and every rule on this page comes from a source. Here they all are in one place, checked on 24 October 2026. We only mention prices if the provider publishes them itself; otherwise we refer you to the official website.
View 4 sources
- miljodirektoratet.no: Miljødirektoratet: tents and hammocks
- naturvardsverket.se: Naturvårdsverket: right of public access (allemansrätten)
- luontoon.fi: Luontoon.fi (Metsähallitus): everyman’s rights
- ust.is: Umhverfisstofnun (Environment Agency of Iceland)
💛 To be upfront: this page contains a few affiliate links, marked “Advertisement · affiliate link”. If you book through one, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. That’s how we keep this site running. We decide for ourselves what we recommend. Read the full disclaimer.