Camping near Zurich

Sleeping in your vehicle or a tent in Switzerland

• 🚐 In the vehicle: Allowed with real exceptions — depends on the place. Switzerland — one late-arrive/early-leave night on public parking is often tolerated if you don't 'camp'; motorway rest areas, no.
• ⛺ A tent outside a campsite: There is no national answer — the Alpine Club says so outright, and the rules are cantonal and communal. Forest and pasture are open to walk on, but free camping is expressly prohibited in the Swiss National Park, the federal game reserves, many nature reserves and wildlife rest zones in season. The practical steer from the SAC: one night, a small group, above the tree line, where no local rule says otherwise — and an emergency bivouac is generally fine. (ZGB Art. 699 (access to forest and pasture); cantonal and communal rules decide camping)
• 🅿️ 30 rest areas and motorway services within 30 km — the nearest Rastplatz Aspholz (5.5 km), Rastplatz Büsisee Süd (6.9 km), Rastplatz Büsisee Nord (7.1 km).

Switzerland: every overnight rule, with its source →