Cooking and lighting fires
Campsite kitchens, gas and when a campfire is or isn’t allowed
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Camping guide
Cooking and lighting fires
A pan on the stove and a view of the lake: cooking at the campsite is a treat. In Scandinavia many campsites also have a shared kitchen, handy when it rains. Lighting fires, though, comes with strict rules.
Researched by Arjan from Zuidlaren, so you don’t have to · Sources: Miljødirektoratet, Lovdata, Naturvårdsverket · updated 24 October 2026 · About this page
- Many campsites have a shared kitchen
- Ask whether your gas bottle can be swapped or refilled
- Norway: no open fires in the countryside 15 April–15 September
At the campsite
🍲 Cooking at the campsite
Many Scandinavian campsites have a shared kitchen; check with the campsite what facilities there are. On our campsite pages the features of each campsite are listed as the provider describes them.
Whether a Dutch gas bottle can be swapped or refilled there depends on the type of bottle. Ask the ANWB (Dutch motoring club) or the campsite. (source: ANWB)
Rules
🔥 When is a campfire allowed?
| Norway | Open fires in or near woods and countryside are banned from 15 April to 15 September. (source: Miljødirektoratet, Lovdata) |
|---|---|
| Sweden | Depends on the fire risk; watch out for an eldningsförbud (fire ban) from the länsstyrelse or the municipality. (source: Naturvårdsverket) |
| Finland | No fires on someone else’s land without permission; use designated fire pits. (source: Luontoon.fi (Metsähallitus)) |
If in doubt, don’t light a fire and cook on the stove instead.
Supermarket
🛒 Groceries
How expensive groceries are in each country is covered in costs and groceries.
Quick to sort
✅ Sorted before you leave
Handy to sort out or look at straight away:
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I light a campfire in Norway?
In or near woods and countryside, open fires are banned from 15 April to 15 September (Miljødirektoratet).
Can I refill my gas bottle in Scandinavia?
That depends on the type of bottle and the country; ask the ANWB (Dutch motoring club) or your campsite beforehand.
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 5 sources
- miljodirektoratet.no: Miljødirektoratet: lighting fires
- lovdata.no: Lovdata: forskrift om brannforebygging (fire prevention regulations)
- naturvardsverket.se: Naturvårdsverket: fires (eldning)
- luontoon.fi: Luontoon.fi (Metsähallitus): everyman’s rights
- anwb.nl: ANWB
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