Add organization

What is allemannsretten, the right to roam in Norway?

Where you can walk and camp, and where the right stops.

Answered at: Checked at:

Short answer

Allemannsretten is the legally protected right for everyone to walk, camp and spend time on uncultivated land in Norway, whoever owns it. It covers most shores, bogs, forests and mountains, but not fields, meadows, pastures or gardens. A tent must be at least 150 metres from the nearest inhabited house or cabin.

Allemannsretten and walking on private land a shield icon with a check mark next to a tent and a small no-campfire sign on a green hillside

Why

  1. The right is set out in the Outdoor Recreation Act (friluftsloven), and it is mainly the municipalities that manage it.
  2. If you want to stay more than two nights in the same place, you must ask the landowner, except in the mountains or in very remote areas.
  3. Campfires in nature are banned from 15 April to 15 September, although they can be allowed where the fire hazard is low, such as by the sea or at an approved campfire site.

Details

In general you may pick berries, mushrooms and wildflowers, but special rules apply to cloudberries in Northern Norway. The right applies to people, not vehicles: cars, motorhomes and caravans may only be driven or parked where the motor vehicle rules allow. Local regulations and the rules for protected areas can restrict the right.

Tip

Before you camp or light a fire in a national park or nature reserve, check the local rules, since protected areas can have their own restrictions.

What may differ

In national parks and other protected areas, the protection regulations can limit what you may do, and municipalities can also set local rules.

Common misconception

The right to roam lets you camp anywhere, including on farmland and next to houses.

What actually happens

It applies to uncultivated land only, and a tent must be at least 150 metres from the nearest inhabited house or cabin.

People also ask

  • What is the right to roam in Norway?
  • What are you allowed to do under the right to roam?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check the Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet) or the local municipality before you travel.

Allemannsretten and walking on private land

  • Are there mosquitoes and midges in Norway?

    Mosquitoes and biting midges are common in Norway in summer, but in Norway their bites are harmless, although they itch and can swell.

    Checked at:

  • Is dumpster diving legal in Norway?

    Dumpster diving is generally not legal in Norway, because the bins usually stand on private property and the waste belongs to the business until it is collected.

    Checked at:

  • Do police officers in Norway carry guns?

    Yes, Norwegian police officers have generally carried firearms on duty since 1 July 2025, within limits set by the Norwegian Police Directorate (Politidirektoratet).

    Checked at:

  • Are there many homeless people in Oslo?

    The City of Oslo counted 1,459 homeless households in its own survey in late 2024, using the national definition of homelessness.

    Checked at:
Help