In warm weather, camping is an inexpensive way to enjoy the great outdoors for the weekend or a whole vacation. Camping is very easy to do in Germany and can often be easily reached by public transportation. After many thru-hikes and bikepacking trips through Germany as well as 3 years leading an international school’s outdoor education program, I have a lot of camping-in-Germany experience to share with you.
Table of Contents
Wild Camping
For many coming from North America, wild camping is the ideal. Sadly, wild camping is prohibited in much of Germany. There are no rights to camp anywhere like in Sweden. To be honest, there are just too many people and too little space in Germany for wild camping to be possible. Even though this is a total bummer, we need to remember to give nature space to be nature. Be respectful of that!
Brandenburg Exception
However, each state has its own rules regarding wild camping, some of which are more grey than others. So far, the only state I know of where it is possible to wild camp in Germany is in Brandenburg. There it is legal to camp for one night on public land if you are traveling by foot, bike, or canoe. It is best to inform the forest ranger beforehand to ensure that there won’t be any problems. No where is it permitted to camp in nature reserves or national parks.
Trekking Spots
Some parks offer Trekkingplätze, which is an official spot for wild camping. There is probably a drop toilet if you’re lucky and no running water. These spots need to be booked in advance or are on a first come, first serve basis. It costs a small fee to stay here, around 10€ per person per night, with a maximum of 1-2 night stays.
How to Hike Safely in Germany
Thru-Hiking
Thru-hiking in Germany is common, but as a hike and hotel experience. Trails aren’t designed with hiking and camping in mind. Two trails where a thru-hike-like experience is possible are the Westweg and Malerweg. On the Westweg in the Black Forest, tents are prohibited, but you can stay in shelters along the way which are first come, first serve. It is possible to hike the Malerweg in Saxon Switzerland by staying at official campgrounds and one or two nights at another accommodation.
Since wild camping in Germany is not much of an option, the rest of this post will focus on what to expect when camping at campgrounds in Germany.
The Dangers of Hiking in Germany
Reservations and Check-In
Campsites in Germany are typically open from May through September. Occasionally you can find ones which are open starting in April and go through October. It is unusual for campsites in Germany to be open during the winter. If you’re looking for a less-crowded, colder option, camp in the off season!
Reservations for pedestrians
If you’re traveling by foot, bike, or paddle (Wasserwanderer), you do not need a reservation. There will always be space for you, because you are the 1% at the campground and there is always more room on the Zeltwiese (tent field). I have only ever been turned away from a campsite ONCE while biking. This was on the coast in Belgium in July and the next campground was just 3km away.
Everything you Need to Know for a European Bikepacking Adventure
Reservations for Vehicles
If you are car camping or motor homing, it is best to make a reservation in advance, especially during the summer holidays. The summer holidays vary by state in Germany and can range from June to early September. Most campsites can take reservations through their website or by email.
Check-In
Some campsites which are very large and commercial will have a nearly 24-hour desk service so you can check in at any time. Smaller campgrounds in Germany will have limited desk hours, such as 8-10am for check-out and 4-6pm for check-in. As a hiker/biker, you can usually just pitch anywhere on the Zeltwiese and come back later to check in. With a vehicle, it would be important to ask about the check-in hours when you make your reservation.
Check-Out
Some campsites have a gate for vehicle entry. These gates may be locked after a certain time and not open until 7 or 8am. If you need to leave in the night or early in the morning, be sure to ask in advance if the gate will be open.
Cost and Payment
Germany is a cash country and camping is no exception. I have had to pay for a group of 40+ people camping IN CASH! If you make a reservation, you may be able to ask for an invoice (Rechnung) and pay by bank transfer. This must be arranged for and paid in advance.
As a hiker and a biker, I can only share what it usually costs to camp in Germany in a tent without a car. For two people with a small tent we usually pay around 20€ for one night. 10€ is a surprise and very cheap! If it’s 30€ we complain to ourselves about what are we getting for such a price. Usually the price for pedestrians with a tent does not include electricity. Occasionally the price includes all the hot water you want, but this is uncommon. See below for more about water and showers.
Most campground websites in Germany have price lists where you can see what it would cost to have an additional car, trailer, or RV. Very young children are often for free, 16 and older cost the same as an adult. Most campsites accept dogs but be sure to check this in advance.
Water
In all of the EU, water that comes out of a tap MUST be of drinking quality or labeled as non-potable (kein Trinkwasser). This means that any taps you see at the campground will contain drinking water.
There are often several taps throughout the campground so that you do not have to walk to the sanitary facilities to fill up your bottle. You should not wash your dishes at these stations or leave the taps on for a long period of time (see rules below).
Hot water for washing dishes is available at the sanitary facilities. Mostly this is free to use. Very rarely, however, this hot water is controlled by an electronic card given to you at the entrance to track your hot water usage.
Sanitary Facilities
Facilities at campgrounds in Germany are usually well kept and in updated condition. You can expect there to be soap and toilet paper when you go to the bathroom. Many campgrounds also have paper towels to dry your hands. It is rare that showers include shampoo or soap, so bring your caddy.
Showers
In the rare case that it is free, enjoy it! (But be sure to save water!) Many campsites in Germany have a token system for the showers. One token costs a euro and gives you 3-5 minutes of hot water depending on the campsite. But you never know if this is a running 3 minutes or if it stops counting the time if you turn the water off. In the best case scenario you have the electronic card which shows you time or money remaining on the card as you shower.
Some shower stalls can be very private with a space to change and hang your towel before you get in. Others are more open or communal. Sometimes the token machine is outside your shower stall or there is only a communal changing space. A few times I have been in a room of showers with glass doors (unthinkable for an American!).
Rules
Often the sanitary building is split into different areas and each one is only for a specific thing. If you brush your teeth in the kitchen area, someone will surely reprimand you. Here are the rules you can expect to follow at the sanitary house when camping in Germany:
- The sinks in the toilet area are for washing your hands only
- The sinks in the shower area are for brushing your teeth. Do not brush your teeth in any other sink
- There is a separate area for washing dishes. Do not wash your dishes in the toilet or shower area! Sometimes the dishes space may also have a communal stove top or water kettle
- There may be another area with sinks to wash your clothes in. These sinks are usually large and deep with a built-in washboard. It may be located in the area where there is a washing machine
Refuse
Like all good Germans, campgrounds in Germany separate their trash. There are usually containers for glass, plastic/recyclables (yellow), paper (blue), and Restmüll (remaining garbage – black). Sometimes you might also have a Biotonne for organic waste.
There is always a specific place to empty the chemical toilet at all campgrounds in Germany, often close to the sanitary building.
Of course, you don’t want to leave your garbage around or food scraps on the ground. But you do not have to be as careful as you do when camping in the United States. There are no bears to worry about just the Wash-Bears (Waschbären are raccoons!). You do not need to cook away from your tent or hang your scented items in a tree. You should avoid leaving food and garbage around when you’re not. I have seen raccoons get into the neighbor’s garbage in the early hours of the morning. Mice are also common.
Amenities
Not all campgrounds offer these items, so ask in advance if they are important for you. Otherwise I’d say its 50/50 that they have:
- A washing machine
- A dryer (unlikely!)
- Hair dryers
- Pool (rare!)
- Camp store with basic non-perishable groceries
- Dogwashing station (common at the beach)
- Bike repair equipment/station
- Bike garage to lock your bike at night (rare)
- Ice cream (almost 100% have this)
- Beer (100% have this)
Many campsites in Germany are on lakes and have access to swimming. This is really great for families in the summer time or for cooling off at the end of a long day of biking. Unless the campsite is enormous, there are no lifeguards and the lake is swim at your own risk. I love when the tent area is next to the lake, though this can be windy and cold at night.
More Rules
Campgrounds in Germany are tightly packed. In order for everyone to have a pleasant experience, many campgrounds will have the following rules:
- No noise between 10pm and 7am
- No noise (or driving on the campground) from 1-3pm
- Dogs must be on a leash
- Open fire is not permitted, though some campsites will rent out fire pits and sell wood to use. Be sure to follow campground regulations regarding fire.
Differences between US and German Campgrounds
This past summer was my first time using campgrounds in the US. After 3 campgrounds in California and 1 in New York state, I noticed a few differences between campgrounds in the United States and campgrounds in Germany.
German sanitary facilities are newer and more elaborate. Most US facilities included toilets, a few very basic showers, and a sink for washing dishes. In Germany you can expect separate spaces for using the toilet, showering, and washing dishes. German campgrounds include more of a kitchen space for washing dishes and preparing meals. Many US campgrounds had drop toilets, whereas this is unthinkable in Germany! Also, getting water was more annoying in the US since it was located at one spot and not at several around the campsite.
US campsites generally offered more privacy than German or European campgrounds. In the US, we had a good size space for our own tent with a big gap between our pitch and the next pitch. In Germany, the plots are one on top of the other, so you don’t have much privacy or outdoorsy feeling.
Generally, US campsites feel more in tune with nature and are more basic. German campsites a very full, but come with updated, comfortable facilities.
Campgrounds in Europe
In France, campgrounds often have a swimming pool or are next to the town swimming pool – excellent for rest days! Unfortunately, there is almost never toilet paper or soap in the bathrooms at French campgrounds. BRING YOUR OWN TP!
In Hungary, we often stayed at campgrounds that doubled as hotel-thermal spas. Our night at the campground also included entrance to the thermal baths.
Will you go camping in Germany?
Have you been camping in Germany? Is there anything else you would add? Are you planning on camping in Germany and have some questions? Let me know in the comments!