The Best Campsites in Europe: A Complete Camping Guide

Europe is a continent built for camping. In a single summer you can fall asleep to waves lapping a Croatian pebble cove, wake under the spires of the Dolomites, and finish the week beside a mirror-still Scandinavian lake. The campsites themselves run the full range — from vast Mediterranean resorts with water parks and air-conditioned mobile homes to tiny family-run pitches where the only sound is cowbells.

This guide is organised by the kind of experience you're after rather than by country, because that's how most people actually choose: a lakeside week, a mountain base camp, a beach holiday, a city break with a tent, or something unusual like glamping. For each, we name well-known campsites and regions and explain what makes them special.

We've also given the legal side its due. Wild camping — pitching outside an official site — is governed by very different rules across Europe, and getting it wrong can mean a real fine. That section is researched against official sources. For travellers flying from Pakistan, there's a short note at the end on Schengen visas and flights.

Quick facts

• Peak season: July–August across most of Europe — warmest, busiest and priciest. Book popular coastal and mountain campsites months ahead.
• Best value: June and September — warm enough to swim in the south, far quieter, often 20–40% cheaper.
• Two ways to stay: a pitch (you bring a tent, caravan or campervan) or a mobile home / glamping unit (turn up with a suitcase). Big resorts offer both.
• Wild camping is NOT a free-for-all: broadly allowed under "freedom to roam" in Scotland and much of Scandinavia, but restricted or banned in much of France, Italy, Croatia and Spain. Always check local rules — fines can run into the hundreds or thousands of euros. (camping.info)
• Getting around: fly to a regional hub, then rent a car or campervan — most great campsites are rural and a vehicle transforms the trip.
• Schengen visa for Pakistanis: short-stay visa now costs €90 plus a VFS service charge; apply early for summer. (SJ Law Experts)

Lakeside and waterfront campsites

There's a particular calm to a lakeside pitch — flat water for swimming and kayaking, mountains reflected at dawn, and usually fewer crowds than the coast.

Lake Garda, Italy is the classic. The northern shore around Riva del Garda mixes Alpine scenery with a warm, almost Mediterranean climate, and is a magnet for windsurfers and sailors. Campsites here range from large family resorts with pools right on the shore to smaller terraced sites climbing the hillside; the Italian and Austrian lakes generally are superb for combining swimming with hiking.

Scandinavian lakes and fjords are the quieter, wilder end. Finland in particular is laced with lakes and dotted with simple, beautifully kept campsites, many beside national parks with free facilities, while Norway's fjord-side pitches put you near some of Europe's most dramatic water. This is also the part of Europe where, with care, you can legally camp wild beyond official sites (see the laws section below).

In the UK, the Lake District in England is a magnificent base — fells, tarns and pretty market towns — but its wild-camping rules differ from Scotland's (covered below). Stick to the area's many official campsites and you're spoiled for views.

Mountain campsites — the Alps and Dolomites

For sheer scenery, nothing beats pitching beneath the peaks. The Italian Dolomites are the standout, with jagged limestone towers glowing pink at sunset and trails leading straight from the campsite gate.

Caravan Park Sexten in South Tyrol is regularly rated among the best campsites in the Alps — a five-star site with a wellness spa, immaculate facilities and easy access to both the central and eastern Dolomites, offering tent pitches, mobile homes, campervan spaces and even treehouse glamping (Throne & Vine). Around Val di Fassa and Misurina, sites like Camping Vidor and Camping Alla Baita put you a short walk from the famous Three Peaks of Lavaredo.

Across the border, Switzerland and Austria offer pristine, well-organised Alpine sites — think Interlaken, Zermatt and the Tyrol — ideal for hikers. Mountain weather changes fast, so pack layers and a proper sleeping bag even in summer.

Coastal and beach campsites

This is where European camping turns into a full beach holiday, and four countries dominate.

Croatia (Istria and Dalmatia)

Croatia's Adriatic coast is arguably Europe's camping crown jewel — clear water, pine-shaded pitches and exceptionally high-quality resorts. In Istria, the Lanterna Premium Camping Resort near Tar is one of Croatia's largest and most awarded sites, with over 2,000 pitches, a long beach and a water park (Croatia Traveller). Nearby Camping Bijela Uvala near Poreč is a leafy family favourite. In Dalmatia, the Zaton Holiday Resort near Zadar is a luxurious, ADAC-rated site famous for its 1.5 km sandy beach — a rarity on this rocky coast.

France (Atlantic and Mediterranean)

France has more campsites than any other European country, and they're slick. The Atlantic coast — especially the Landes south of Bordeaux — pairs huge pine forests and surf beaches with eco-leaning sites; brands like Huttopia specialise in nature-first camping here. The Mediterranean coast delivers sun-soaked resort camping with vast aqua parks. Inland but worth a mention, La Croix du Vieux Pont near Paris is a famous five-star family site built around a tropical-lagoon water park (Eurocamp).

Italy and Spain

Italy's coastlines — Tuscany, the Adriatic and Sardinia — offer beautiful beach camping, often with a more rustic, family-run feel. Spain's Costa Brava and Costa Dorada are reliable, sunny and good value, with large sites like those around La Pineda planted with thousands of shade trees. Both countries shine in the long shoulder seasons when the sea is still warm but the crowds have thinned.

City-access campsites

You don't have to choose between a tent and a city break. Many European cities have well-run campsites on their fringes, linked to the centre by bus, tram or metro — a brilliant budget alternative to hotels.

Major cities including Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Munich, Berlin, Vienna and Barcelona all have campsites within easy public-transport reach, typically offering tent pitches and cabins or mobile homes. They're ideal if you want to sightsee by day and retreat to greenery at night. Book ahead in summer, and check the transport connection before you commit — some are a longer haul from the centre than they look.

Special and unique stays — glamping and eco-camping

If you love the outdoors but not the inflatable mattress, glamping has transformed European camping. Safari tents, treehouses, tipis, pods, yurts and fully fitted mobile homes are now standard at larger resorts and at boutique sites alike — beds, proper kitchens, sometimes private bathrooms. Caravan Park Sexten's treehouses (above) are a memorable example; France, Italy and Croatia all have superb glamping.

Eco-camping is the other growth story. Sites like Domaine de Massereau near Montpellier run on photovoltaic solar power, while others use organic farming, permaculture and strict leave-no-trace policies (Ecobnb). If sustainability matters to you, look for sites carrying recognised eco-labels rather than just "green" marketing.

Wild-camping laws in Europe — read this carefully

"Wild camping" means pitching outside a licensed campsite, and Europe is sharply divided on whether it's legal. The rules vary so much from country to country — sometimes region to region — that you must check local rules before you pitch. Below is an accurate overview verified against official and reputable sources.

Broadly allowed (freedom to roam):

• Scotland has a genuine legal right. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code let you wild camp on most unenclosed land, provided you go lightweight, in small numbers, for only two or three nights in one spot, and leave no trace (VisitScotland). One big exception: parts of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park require a permit (around £4.30/night) or an official site between March and September (Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park).
• Sweden, Norway and Finland have the centuries-old allemansrätten / "everyman's right." You can pitch a tent on uncultivated land, but you must stay well away from homes (roughly 150 m), avoid farmland and grazing, typically stay only one or two nights, and leave no trace. Crucially, this generally applies to tents on foot, not campervans or vehicles (Visit Sweden). The Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) are also relatively permissive.

Restricted or banned (check before you pitch):

• France: wild camping is officially prohibited, especially near protected sites and monuments, though rural areas are sometimes tolerated. Local authorities set their own rules (camping.info).
• Italy: generally banned, with fines that can reach several hundred euros; rules vary by region.
• Croatia: strictly prohibited and actively enforced, particularly along the coast and in national parks like Plitvice and Krka. Fines can be substantial.
• Spain: largely illegal, with fines ranging from tens to thousands of euros depending on the area and how protected it is.
• Germany also generally bans tent wild camping.

England and Wales sit in between: there is no general right to wild camp, so you need the landowner's permission — except on Dartmoor, where the UK Supreme Court confirmed in 2025 that backpack wild camping is a legal right within the mapped commons (British Mountaineering Council). In the Lake District and elsewhere, you officially need permission or an established site.

The safe rule: assume wild camping is not allowed unless you've confirmed it is. When in doubt, book a campsite — Europe has thousands of excellent ones.

Best time to camp

• July–August is high summer: warmest weather, longest days, every facility open — but the busiest and most expensive, and the sun can be fierce on Mediterranean sites. If you camp then, book months in advance, especially for the popular Croatian, French and Dolomite resorts.
• June and September are the sweet spot for most of the continent: warm, often still swimmable in the south, much quieter and cheaper.
• May and early October suit the Mediterranean coasts and city-access sites; many Alpine and northern sites have a shorter season (roughly May–September), so check opening dates.

How to get there and around

The simplest formula is fly to a regional hub, then rent a car or campervan. Compare fares from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to gateways such as Split (Croatia), Venice or Verona (Dolomites and Garda), Bordeaux or Nice (France), and Oslo, Stockholm or Helsinki (Scandinavia). Most flights from Pakistan connect via the Gulf or Istanbul.

A car is close to essential, as the best campsites are rural. A campervan rental opens up a flexible road trip, but remember that "wild" overnighting in a van is restricted in many countries, so plan stops at official sites or aires. To map a multi-stop route, our trip planner can help.

Gear, facilities and what to expect

If you bring your own tent, pack for variable weather even in summer — a decent sleeping bag, roll mat and rain cover are worth it, especially in the mountains. Larger resorts have hot showers, shops, restaurants, pools and kids' clubs; smaller, wilder sites are more basic but more peaceful.

If you'd rather not pitch, book a mobile home or glamping unit — furnished with beds, a kitchen and often a deck, ideal for families or first-timers. Reserve early, as the best units sell out for summer.

Costs and booking notes

Prices vary enormously by country, season and standard, so treat these as broad guidance and confirm with the site:

• Tent or campervan pitch: roughly €20–50 per night in peak season at a good site (more at premium resorts), cheaper at simple rural sites.
• Mobile home / glamping unit: commonly €80–200+ per night in summer, depending on size and resort.
• City and shoulder-season camping is usually noticeably cheaper.

For Pakistani travellers, also budget for flights, the €90 Schengen visa plus service fees, car or campervan hire, and travel cover — see our travel insurance options. Book popular July–August sites and any glamping units well in advance.

A note for travellers from Pakistan

Most of the destinations here are in the Schengen Area, so you'll need a short-stay Schengen visa — now €90 for adults plus a VFS service charge, valid for up to 90 days in any 180 (SJ Law Experts). Croatia is also in Schengen; the UK (Scotland, Lake District) needs a separate UK visa. Apply early — summer appointment slots fill fast. Start with our visa desk, compare flights, and let the trip planner tie the route together.

If you're still narrowing down where and when to go, our holiday weather guide by month shows where the climate is at its best across the year, and for a beach-camping alternative closer to home, see our best beaches in Turkey.

FAQ

Where in Europe can you legally wild camp?

Scotland (under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code) and much of Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Finland under allemansrätten) broadly permit responsible wild camping on uncultivated land, as do the Baltic states. In most of France, Italy, Croatia, Spain and Germany it's restricted or banned. England and Wales need landowner permission, except Dartmoor. Always check local rules first.

Is wild camping illegal in Croatia and France?

Wild camping is officially prohibited in both. Croatia enforces it strictly, especially along the coast and in national parks, with substantial fines. France bans it too, though rural areas are sometimes tolerated. In both countries the safe choice is a licensed campsite.

When is the best time to camp in Europe?

July and August have the warmest weather but the biggest crowds and prices. June and September are the sweet spot — warm, much quieter and cheaper. Alpine and northern sites generally open roughly May to September, so check dates.

Do I need a car to go camping in Europe?

For most great campsites, yes — they're rural and a car or campervan transforms the trip. Fly to a regional hub and rent a vehicle. A handful of city-access campsites are reachable by public transport.

What's the difference between a pitch and a mobile home?

A pitch is a plot where you set up your own tent, caravan or campervan. A mobile home (or glamping unit) is pre-built and furnished with beds, a kitchen and often a bathroom — you just bring your luggage. Big resorts offer both.

Do Pakistani travellers need a visa to go camping in Europe?

Yes — most destinations are in the Schengen Area, requiring a short-stay Schengen visa (currently €90 plus service fees). The UK needs its own visa. Apply early for summer trips via our visa desk.

Conclusion

Europe's campsites let you wake up almost anywhere — a Dalmatian cove, a Dolomite meadow, a Swedish lakeshore, a pine forest behind an Atlantic surf beach. Decide first on the experience you want, then pick the region, book your pitch or mobile home early for summer, and respect the local rules — especially around wild camping, which is a right in a few countries and an offence in many others. Sort your flights and visa in good time and a European camping summer is one of the best-value, most memorable trips you can take.