Camping

According to the country’s Rules of Forest Visiting, you can visit all forests in Lithuania, except those that are:

• in nature reserves (independent visits are not allowed throughout the year except for guided visits along marked trails);
• in reserves that are in the territory of national and regional parks (the list is available here;
• in ornithological reserves (visiting is not allowed from April 1 to September 1);
• in the state border area, military zones, and other special-purpose territories.

Road and tree signs warn about the ban on visits to such forests.

You can park your car only in designated parking areas or on the roadside if no signs are forbidding it. In such a case, be sure not to run over moss, lichen, or berry bushes and not to park on a slope to avoid sliding and other unwanted soil erosion. It’s important to remember that cars and campers can’t be parked closer than 25 meters to a body of water.

Pitching a tent is allowed only in campsites and sites marked with a tent sign. When in doubt, check Google Maps, maps.lt or another platform whether the site you chose is a campsite. These sites also have contact details of forest rangers and private campsite owners. Most camping grounds also have information boards or signs with contacts that will be of use if you want to sleep under the stars more soundly.

Set campfires only at campsites and places specifically dedicated and marked for such use. Do not cut down trees, even dry ones, for your campfire; use solely dry fallen branches. Do not attempt to catch wild animals or disturb them with excessive noise, do not destroy their habitats. The Lithuanian saying “Do not rustle louder than the forest” is a good rule to keep in mind. You also can’t litter or wash your vehicle. Be sure to muzzle your dog if you keep it off the leash. Leashed dogs, however, are not required to wear a muzzle.

If you’d like to see a lake or a river from the opening of your tent, make sure your tent is pitched not closer than 25 meters from the waterline. Sleeping or setting up camps is not allowed on beaches and dunes of the Baltic Sea and in nature reserves.

The natural treasures of Lithuanian forests – mushrooms, berries, nuts and herbs – are for everyone to gather free of charge. Of course, do not look for them in forests where visiting is not allowed (see the section “Forests are open for everyone” above). You’ll need a permit from the forest owner to pick mushrooms in private forests less than 100 m away from the owner’s homestead.