Spending the night in nature

The temperatures are now pleasant, and, for many people, a stay in nature is an attractive idea. Camping is popular in Switzerland, whether in a motorhome or a tent. But there are rules that are laid down to protect animals and the environment.
Here's what you need to know if you want to go camping in the wild.
 

Load up the camper or pack the tent and off you go – many people like to spend their holidays in nature, secluded and far away from others. During the coronavirus pandemic, many people purchased a camper or motorhome, and have been touring the area with it ever since.
But the camping trend also has its downsides. Negative consequences such as polluted areas, noise and occupied parking spaces are on the rise, and the problems of 'wild camping' are well known.

As a result, more and more municipalities have tightened their rules. In Switzerland, it's not only the cantons that set the rules, but often the individual municipalities themselves. And their approach to wild campers is therefore anything but uniform.

The situation in Switzerland
In principle, the ‘right of public access’ from the Civil Code (ZG: Zivilgesetzbuch) applies in this country. It allows everyone to enter forests and pastures, to hike, rest or collect mushrooms and berries to a reasonable extent – provided that no damage is caused. There are restrictions, however, in particular for the protection of crops, the preservation of forests or other public interests. This summarises the legal situation in Switzerland: everyone is allowed to use public nature, but there are sometimes exceptions.

Wild camping is prohibited in these places
Above all, wild camping is prohibited in areas where habitats requiring special protection: in nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, hunting grounds and moorlands. It’s also prohibited to stay overnight in areas that have a general ban on entry, such as military restricted zones. You can enter the relevant criteria into Swisstopo and see which areas are definitely off limits.

Wild camping in Lucerne only allowed in exceptional cases
Wild camping is only permitted on public land in the canton of Lucerne where the municipality does not expressly prohibit it. You will always need the owner's consent on private property. Even then, nature reserves and other higher-level restricted areas remain off limits, but there are no penalties for emergency bivouacs– i.e. unplanned overnight stays in an emergency situation, such as bad weather or exhaustion.

Those who spend the night in their campervan at rest stops or public car parks are usually tolerated as long as overnight stays are not expressly prohibited. Camping in the true sense of the word is not permitted, so you are not allowed to unpack your camping chairs.

Travelling in a campervan or motorhome means freedom. And yet there are clear rules in Switzerland      Open sorce photo
Wild camping in the canton of Uri may be romantic, but it also has its downsides   Photo: Xdreamstimexganztwins / Imago
Screen shot of Swisstopo
A tent on the Fronalpstock in the canton of Schwyz               Photo: Imago / Lana Malamatidi
A motorhome parked in a car park at the Lido in Lucerne      Photo: Nadia Schärli
 

The rest of Central Switzerland
Similar but not identical regulations apply in neighbouring cantons. Wild camping is generally prohibited in Nidwalden, and is only permitted with the consent of the landowner. Exceptions are individual nights above the tree line. Groups of more than 5 people are not permitted, however. If you stay overnight several times, you must take down your tent during the day. You should also be considerate of nature here.

Wild camping is permitted for one night without a permit In the canton of Obwalden, provided that no third-party interests are harmed. One night is also permitted at rest stops or car parks, at your own risk.

The cantons of Schwyz, Uri and Zug are stricter: they generally prohibit wild camping, but are willing to consider exceptions in justified cases.

Camping while passing through
You will have to be particularly careful if you want to spend the night in a city: sleeping on public land is generally prohibited in Lucerne or Bern, and is punishable by fines. If you thereby occupy a parking space, you may be towed away in the worst case. But some cities are trying not to simply drive campers away, and a trial is currently underway in Lucerne. In order to prevent campers from clogging up parking spaces in the city, 19 spaces have been set up at the Swiss Museum of Transport (Verkehrshaus), and can be used from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m.

The alternatives
If you want to be on the safe side, you should look for a campsite or a privately-offered overnight parking space. There are many of these in Switzerland, including some that are close to nature. It may also be worth asking a farm whether you could stay on the property overnight.
This does cost money, but offers the advantage of toilet and washroom facilities. Otherwise, you should check with the respective municipalities in advance to find out what is and is not permitted. In car parks, you must observe the signs to ensure that you only park where it is permitted.

You can also book overnight spaces for transit in advance throughout Switzerland.

What you should bear in mind when wild camping
In general, this is handled differently in each canton. Caution is advised, as wild camping can be punished with fines of several hundred Swiss francs. But this is not always enforced, and there are few fines or checks.

As everywhere else, always leave the place as you would like to find it yourself. Do not leave any rubbish behind, and do not disturb the animals (especially at dusk). Fire pits can also be problematic, because they cause damage to nature that can persist for a long time. You should therefore use public facilities whenever possible. To avoid attracting animals, do not leave food lying around and use biodegradable washing-up liquid when washing up.

Also be aware of potential natural hazards: rockfalls can occur near cliffs, and lightning strikes during thunderstorms. The risk of forest fires may also be increased in some areas.

Wild camping is still possible – but only for those who do their research beforehand and are prepared to respect the rules. This ensures that everyone can continue to enjoy the natural environment.