Nature, environment and seasons
The right of public access lets you enjoy nature. You must also show care.
Goal: understand the basics and find the right official help route.
Translated from Swedish. Always rely on the Swedish text and the official source.
Show the original Swedish text
Natur, miljö och årstider
Allemansrätten ger möjligheter och kräver hänsyn.
- Allemansrätten innebär rättigheter och skyldigheter med hänsyn till natur, djur, markägare och andra.
- Den ger ingen självklar rätt att elda.
- Kommun eller länsstyrelse kan besluta om eldningsförbud.
- Nationalparker och naturreservat kan ha särskilda regler.
- Den som eldar ansvarar för att elden inte sprids eller skadar marken och för att släcka helt.
- Läs skyltar och regler på platsen.
- Kontrollera eldningsförbud och brandrisk före eldning.
- Ta med skräp och matrester hem.
Inget förbud betyder inte att eldning är säker. Bad, is och andra friluftsaktiviteter behöver särskild kunskap.
Good to know
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The right of public access means rights and obligations, with consideration for nature, animals, landowners and others. Source 1
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It gives no automatic right to light fires. Source 2
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The municipality or county administrative board can decide on a fire ban. Source 2
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National parks and nature reserves can have special rules. Source 2
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If you light a fire, you must stop it spreading or damaging the ground. You must put it out completely. Source 2
Three steps to get started
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Read signs and rules at the place.
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Check for fire bans and fire risk before lighting a fire.
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Take rubbish and food leftovers home.
A practical checklist to try. It does not add any legal requirements.
Important distinctions
No ban does not mean that a fire is safe. Swimming, ice and other outdoor activities need special knowledge.
Practice question
Show the right answer and explanation
A. No, safety and local bans must be checked.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency describes limits and responsibility.
This question is practice, not a test. Answers are not saved.
Sources
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Naturvårdsverket
Allemansrätten (opens in a new tab)“Allemansrätten innebär både rättigheter och skyldigheter.”
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Naturvårdsverket
Eldning (opens in a new tab)“allemansrätten ger dig ingen självklar rätt att elda.”
Checked . Check the source again before you act. Rules and contact routes can change.
In depth
Modules and guides
10 modules in this area. Everyone can read the modules marked Free. The rest are part of Premium.
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The right of public access and responsibility
What you may do in nature under the right of public access, and what you may not do.
The right of public access and responsibility. What you may do in nature under the right of public access, and what you may not do.What is the right of public access?
The right of public access lets everyone move around in nature in Sweden, even on land that someone else owns. It is mentioned in Sweden's constitution, but it is not a law of its own. Other laws set the limits of what is allowed.
The right of public access is freedom with responsibility. The main rule is: do not disturb and do not damage. You must show care for animals, plants, landowners and other people.
What you may do
- Walk, run and play almost anywhere in nature, but not too close to houses.
- Pitch a tent for one or two nights in the same place, without asking.
- Pick flowers, berries and mushrooms, unless they are protected.
- Swim, travel by boat and paddle.
- Cycle and ride horses on trails, as long as the ground is not damaged.
What you may not do
- Walk across private plots, gardens, planted areas or fields where something grows.
- Swim from a beach or jetty that belongs to someone's plot, without asking.
- Damage trees and bushes, for example by breaking branches.
- Disturb or harm animals and their nests.
- Drive a car, moped, quad bike or other motor vehicle off-road. The right of public access only applies when you move on foot.
- Leave rubbish behind.
Tip: A simple rule from Svenska Turistföreningen (the Swedish Tourist Association): if you can see in through a window, you are too close. Stay far enough away that you cannot be seen yourself.
Camping without disturbing others
You may camp in nature, but only stay for one or two nights. Put up no more than two or three tents in the same place. Do not camp in pastures, on farmland or near someone's house.
If you are a larger group or want to stay longer, you need permission from the landowner.
Important: In national parks and nature reserves, other rules may apply. Read the signs on site before you put up your tent.
Rubbish and toilets in nature
Take all your rubbish home. Rubbish harms nature and can make animals sick. Pack a rubbish bag in your bag before you go out.
If there is no toilet, you can dig a hole for poo and toilet paper and cover it with stones or leaves. Stay away from lakes and streams.
Sources
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Nature reserves and local rules
Rules in national parks and nature reserves can be stricter than the right of public access. Find out what applies.
This module is only available in Swedish for now.
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Nature reserves and local rules. Rules in national parks and nature reserves can be stricter than the right of public access. Find out what applies.Vad är ett skyddat område? Locked
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Regler som är vanliga Locked
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Så tar du reda på vad som gäller Locked
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Ditt eget ansvar Locked
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Sources
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Lighting fires and fire risks
Check the fire risk and whether there is a fire ban – and light and put out fires the right way.
This module is only available in Swedish for now.
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Lighting fires and fire risks. Check the fire risk and whether there is a fire ban – and light and put out fires the right way.Ditt eget ansvar Locked
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Vad är ett eldningsförbud? Locked
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Så kollar du innan du eldar Locked
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Om du eldar eller grillar Locked
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Sources
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Sorting waste and recycling
What goes where: packaging, food waste, hazardous waste, electrical waste and deposits.
This module is only available in Swedish for now.
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Sorting waste and recycling. What goes where: packaging, food waste, hazardous waste, electrical waste and deposits.Förpackningar Locked
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Matavfall Locked
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Farligt avfall Locked
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Elavfall och batterier Locked
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Pant Locked
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Sources
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Energy and caring for the environment each day
Simple habits that save electricity and water – and where you can get advice on electricity contracts and prices.
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Energy and caring for the environment each day. Simple habits that save electricity and water – and where you can get advice on electricity contracts and prices.Elpriset kan variera Locked
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Spara el i vardagen Locked
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Spara vatten Locked
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Mindre skräp och mindre transporter Locked
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Sources
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Seasons, clothes and weather
How the seasons differ across the country, what the weather warnings mean and how you cope with heat and cold.
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Seasons, clothes and weather. How the seasons differ across the country, what the weather warnings mean and how you cope with heat and cold.Årstiderna kommer olika tidigt Locked
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Vad betyder vädervarningarna? Locked
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Klä dig för kyla och regn Locked
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Värmebölja Locked
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Sources
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Swimming, ice and water risks
Drowning can happen quickly and anywhere there is water. This is how to lower the risks, and what to do if an accident happens.
Swimming, ice and water risks. Drowning can happen quickly and anywhere there is water. This is how to lower the risks, and what to do if an accident happens.It can happen anywhere
Drowning accidents can happen in bathtubs, puddles, pools, lakes and at sea. It is easy to think you can do more than you can.
- Never leave children alone in or near water.
- It is good for both children and adults to learn to swim.
- Some beaches have warning flags. Find out what they mean.
- In a boat, everyone must wear a life jacket, both children and adults.
If someone is drowning
How to do it
- Shout for help and call 112.
- Try to get the person out of the water, without putting yourself in danger.
- Is the person not breathing? Start CPR (heart and lung resuscitation) while you wait for the ambulance.
- In case of drowning, start with 5 rescue breaths as soon as you can, ideally already in the water. Then do CPR as usual.
Ice on lakes and the sea
Ice on lakes and the sea is called natural ice (naturis). Good ice can come and go quickly.
Friluftsfrämjandet (the Swedish outdoor association) requires that people who join trips on natural ice have full safety equipment and know how to use it. You learn this on a basic course. The course also covers what happens if you go through the ice.
Tip: Take a basic course at an outdoor club before you go skating or walk on natural ice. Then you learn which equipment you need and how to find current information about the ice.
Learn more
- Take a course in life-saving and first aid.
- Save an ICE number in your phone (In Case of Emergency). It is the phone number of a relative, so that others know who to contact if something happens to you.
Sources
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Walking trails and trips into nature
Start with a short trip near home, pack properly and plan with a safety margin.
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Walking trails and trips into nature. Start with a short trip near home, pack properly and plan with a safety margin.Börja med en kort dagstur Locked
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Packa för en dagstur Locked
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Planera med marginal Locked
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Fjällen och vintern Locked
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Sources
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Animals, plants and showing care
Legally protected plants, dogs in nature, grazing animals and birds that nest.
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Animals, plants and showing care. Legally protected plants, dogs in nature, grazing animals and birds that nest.Titta noga innan du plockar Locked
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Hund i naturen Locked
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Hagar och betande djur Locked
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Vilda djur och deras bon Locked
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Sources
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Finding local information about nature and the environment
Where to check fire bans, weather warnings, water shortages, recycling and nature rules where you live.
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Finding local information about nature and the environment. Where to check fire bans, weather warnings, water shortages, recycling and nature rules where you live.Vem ansvarar för vad? Locked
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Appar och webbplatser Locked
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Guide: kolla det här innan utflykten Locked
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Sources
General information, not individual legal, medical or financial advice.