Camping is a popular choice for many travellers in Iceland. There are around 170 registered campsites in Iceland, usually open from the beginning of June until late August or mid-September, depending on location. Many visitors come to Iceland to experience pure, clean and untouched environments. Responsible camping allows you to enjoy Iceland in its purest form, and depends on campers respecting nature and minimising the impact on the area they are camping in.
Icelandic laws on nature preservation covers where you are allowed to camp in Iceland if you find yourself away from registered campsites. In residential areas, you are allowed to pitch up to three camping tents in uncultivated land for one night only if there is no campsite in the area.
If you wish to camp on cultivated land or near residential buildings, fenced of farmland, or such, you have to ask permission from a landowner or other beneficiary before you pitch up the camping tent. The same rule goes if you intend to stay longer than one night.
In the highlands, you have permission to pitch up camping tents. This applies only for a regular camping tent, if you are travelling in any sort of mobile camper you must always seek permission from landowner or other beneficiary before camping, whether in residential area, on uncultivated land or in the highlands.
