Ana M. López
Research expert covering travel, tourism and hospitality
Camping in the Nordic countries - statistics & facts
Due to their diverse natural landscapes and unique Arctic habitats, the Nordic countries are a very attractive destination for nature and outdoor enthusiasts. One of the most popular activities among tourists in this region is camping, both in tents and caravans. In fact, this activity not only offers a great opportunity to experience the Nordic outdoors firsthand, but also reduces the cost of traveling around some of the most expensive countries in Europe. For example, the average price per night for recreational vehicles or motorhomes in Danish camping grounds in the summer of 2024 was less than 50 euros. Meanwhile, the average hotel price for three nights in Denmark at the end of that year was 356 U.S. dollars (or almost 340 euros).
Wild camping in the Nordic countries
According to the latest official data, Norway has around 950 camping grounds distributed across its territory, which is the largest offer among the Nordic countries. However, the Norwegian right to roam allows campers to put up a tent or even sleep outdoors for less than two nights anywhere in the country. Nevertheless, there are still some rules are in place - for example, tents or caravans must maintain a distance of at least 150 meters away from any inhabited house or cabin. Longer stays must also be allowed by the landowner, except for very remote areas, and it is mandatory that the camping area must be left clean. Similar wild camping permissions are established in Sweden and Finland. Sweden was home to over 60 four-star campsites, while the number of camping grounds in Finland was estimated to have dropped below 200 in 2024.First camp: the largest camping company in the Nordics
With the merger between First Camp from Sweden and Nordic Camping from Norway in 2019, what is the now First Camp Group, based in Stockholm, became the largest camping company in Scandinavia. First Camp operates more than 70 camping grounds across Sweden, Norway, and Denmark - with a revenue of approximately 1.2 billion Swedish kronor (around 109 million U.S. dollars) in 2023. However, the company experienced some financial struggles in that year, which translated into losses before taxes of over 150 million Swedish kronor (almost 14 million U.S. dollars). But the positive development projected for the camping industry in the following years can bring wins for this and other companies in the region.
