Allemansrätten — the Right of Public Access

In Sweden, nature is something to be shared by everyone. And nothing is better proof of this than allemansrätten.

Allemansrätten, or the Right of Public Access, is one of the unique joys of living in Sweden. It allows anyone to roam freely in the countryside, swim and travel by boat in someone else’s waters and pick mushrooms and berries in the forest. Although landowners can put up signs to exclude visitors from certain private lands, and areas that are particularly vulnerable to damage are always off limits, the general rule is that visitors are allowed to walk across lands at a reasonable distance from houses, yards, gardens and fenced-in areas. With this right comes the responsibility to tread carefully and to show consideration for landowners and others.

As long as the land is not cultivated, and as long as no damage is caused, this means that most of Sweden’s nature is yours to explore. Except for the area nearest a person’s house, you’re even free to camp or park a motor home on another person’s land for up to 24 hours. After this, you’ll need the landowner’s permission to stay.

Allemansrätten is the basis for recreation in Swedish nature. It depends on mutual respect between landowner and visitor, and on the understanding that visitors are only passing through. Because of this, Swedes don’t normally think of land in strict terms of public versus private property. They see nature as something to be enjoyed, not possessed.

Because it has existed for generations, allemansrätten is much deeper than law — it’s a part of the country’s national identity. School groups explore the forests from an early age and families often fish, pick berries or go for walks in the woods together. Many people can identify a surprising number of birds, fish and trees by name. And nearly everyone knows where to find their secret patch of chanterelles, sometimes known in Swedish as “the gold of the forest.”

Learn more about the Right of Public Access at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency