Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sometimes you have to get creative when you're on a budget.
When it comes to camping in Europe, there are generally two options—camp in a designated
campground or guerilla camping for free in parks, wooded areas, or other hidden away spots.
Campsites are generally located outside the city so the logistics of getting to the camp-
ground become difficult if you're relying on public transportation. Some cities do have desig-
nated campsites inside the city, but these tend to fill up quickly so plan ahead in the summer.
Renting a plot of land for a night will cost around $10 to $20 and most sites will have warm
shower facilities, dining options, and restrooms. Visit
http://en.camping.info/campsites
to
find nearly 25,000 campsites throughout Europe.
Your other option is sleeping for free stealth camping in parks, wooded areas, farms,
beaches, and anywhere else you can imagine sleeping. For the average budget travelers this
probably isn't a viable option but there is no denying it's definitely a way to save money.
In most cities, it is illegal to set up camp in public but enforcement is infrequent. If you
get caught, most police will just tell you to move along once they see you're just a backpacker.
The biggest issues you have to worry about are the drunks, drug dealers, territorial homeless
people, and a range of nefarious people who typically hang out in city parks at night.
To have the best chance of success it's important to keep yourself out of sight of the public or
police by setting up camp at night and packing up your camp before the sun rises. Of course,
you'll want to scope out your spot before nightfall because finding a place once it is dark will
be difficult. Experienced stealth campers also recommend not staying the same place twice.
Waterproof bivy sacks are a good choice for staying out of sight but it probably isn't super comfortable.
When it comes to camping gear, most experienced stealth campers bring a quality water-
proof bivy sack, a nice sleeping bag, a silk liner, an inflatable sleeping pad, and a rain cover
for your bag. This setup is lightweight and low-profile. A travel hammock used in conjunction
with a waterproof cover is another popular choice for camping in wooded areas. A tent isn't
