Tour of Europe’s best campsites to stay at

Looking for a unique experience for your next holiday? Why not go camping in Europe?

Camping has been around for 3 millennia now: nomads were already using tents to set up camp when they had to stay in one place for several days. But it wasn’t until the 19th century that the name “camping” appeared, even though the practice had already been in use for centuries. Before the First World War, it was mainly upper-class men who did it, wanting to get away from the city.

The first cooperative to be set up was the Club français de camping , founded in 1910. This was the beginning of the evolution of the campsites we know today, which now offer a multitude of different services to suit all types of traveller. Activities, comfort, natural surroundings, everything is designed to please as many campers as possible!

Here are a few key dates in the history of camping:

• 1st millennium BC: nomads begin to use canvas to set up campsites
• Roman, medieval and Renaissance periods: people, including the great kings, used tents to camp out in the wilderness on long journeys
• Late 19th century – First World War: leisure activities diversified and high society men went hiking to escape the cities
• 1890: Creation of the Touring-Club de France, a French association whose aim was to develop tourism.
• 1901: the English create the Camping and Caravanning Club: camping also becomes a leisure activity
• 1910: the first French camping association is founded: the Camping Club Français
• 1926: opening of the first campsite in the Meudon forest
• 1936: Matignon agreements = 2 weeks’ paid holiday and 40-hour week: more free time for workers, who could go on holiday more easily
• 1939: first camping code
• 1970s: creation of numerous campsites to meet growing demand
• 2000s: development of mobile homes
• 2007: emergence of glamping, chic and glamorous camping in atypical locations

Today, there are over 9,000 campsites in France, and the practice is as popular as ever!

There are a multitude of different campsites, including more luxurious ones for those who want to keep things comfortable.

So, do you know which are the finest campsites to stay at in Europe?

Leading Campings of Europe

Created in 1994, Leading Campings of Europe is a website that lists the best luxury campsites in Europe. Prestige, luxury and experience are the watchwords of this group, which helps you find the perfect campsite for your holiday. Here are some of the top-of-the-range campsites they offer!

1- Alpencamping Nenzing – Austria

Photo Facebook Page Alpencamping Nenzing

Located in the town of Nenzing in western Austria, this 5-star campsite promises a great holiday in a bucolic Austrian setting. Surrounded by mountains, it is the starting point for numerous hikes and is only a few kilometres from Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Germany.

It offers both camping pitches and incredible bungalows and chalets perched on the hillside for those who want to try ‘glamping’. A varied offer and top-class services that make this campsite one of the most prestigious in Austria!

Facilities :

• 160 pitches
• 3 holiday bungalows
• 10 sky chalets
• 2 family chalets

Activities available :

• Outdoor and indoor swimming pools
• Fitness room
• Spa
• Hiking, climbing, cycling, winter sports
• Entertainment for children and teenagers
• Restaurant

2- Zaton Holiday Resort – Croatia

Photo Page Facebook Zaton Holiday Resort

Head for Croatia to find one of the most beautiful campsites in Europe: the Zaton Holiday Resort. It’s a huge place that will delight those who want to pitch their tent, caravan or motorhome, as well as those who want to sleep in a mobile home or even a flat. Safari lodges are also available for those looking for originality and comfort.

It’s a 20-minute drive from Zadar, in the north of Dalmatia, Croatia’s most popular tourist region. Between its heavenly islands, towns steeped in history and mountainous nature parks, this is a region that knows how to wow its visitors!

Facilities :

• 1,100 pitches
• 374 mobile homes
• 319 flats
• Safari lodges

Possible activities :

• Beach and beach sports
• Swimming pools: over 5 pools with slides, children’s games, massage jets, etc.
• Mini golf
• Tennis, table tennis, football, basketball
• Horse riding
• Bicycle hire
• Excursions by boat and bus
• Entertainment for children, teenagers and adults
• Restaurants

3- Hvidbjerg Strand Feriepark – Denmark

Photo Page Facebook Hvidbjerg Strand Feriepark

Denmark, with its magnificent wild landscapes, is an ideal place for camping. In Jutland, on the shores of the North Sea, you’ll find Hvidbjerg Strand Feriepark campsite, a vast area in the heart of nature where you’re guaranteed a great holiday. White sand as far as the eye can see, a lush green area full of natural treasures and, of course, endless activities await you at this 6-star campsite.

Ideal for those looking for peace and quiet!

Facilities :

• 582 pitches
• Luxury pitches
• 95 holiday homes

Possible activities:

• Indoor water park with slides, hot tubs
• Spa
• Children’s play structures: climbing walls, trampolines, football pitches, slides
• Fishing
• Horse riding
• Mini golf
• Restaurant

4- Caravan Park Sexten – Italy

Photo Facebook Page Caravan Park Sexten

Right in the heart of the Dolomites, this 5-star campsite not only boasts an exceptional geographical location, but also offers quality accommodation and luxurious services that will delight all types of visitors. Winter or summer, you can sleep in cabins, lodges or put your caravan or motorhome on one of the pitches.

Special mention should be made of the magnificent Spa, where you can relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, whether in the snow or in the beautiful summer sunshine!

Facilities :

• 268 pitches
• Lodges
• Tree houses

Activities available :

• Outdoor and indoor swimming pools
• Spa
• Children’s play area
• Climbing gym
• Hiking, winter sports
• Restaurant

5- Papillon Country Resort – Netherlands

Photo Page Facebook Papillon Country Resort

The beautiful Twente region is home to Papillon Country Resort, one of the most beautiful campsites in the Netherlands. Located just a few kilometres from the German border, it offers spacious pitches in the heart of nature and mobile homes ranging from the simplest to the most prestigious. Safari tents and lodges are also available for those who prefer glamping.

In the surrounding area, a multitude of activities await you to visit this beautiful part of the Netherlands, where it’s clear you won’t be bored!

Facilities :

• 260 pitches
• 87 rental accommodations: bungalows, mobile homes, safari tents, lodges

Activities available :

• Indoor swimming pool and outdoor water games
• Swimming and water activities in the pond
• Fishing
• Play area and entertainment for children
• Volleyball courts, outdoor fitness, bike hire
• Restaurant

6- Südsee Camp – Germany

Photo Facebook Page Südsee Camp

A lake, all kinds of activities, top-of-the-range accommodation and a family atmosphere – that’s the perfect definition of Südsee Camp, located in the Lüneburg region between Hamburg and Hanover. There’s no shortage of things to do in the region, with its forests, lush green meadows and nature parks perfect for hiking and mountain biking. Hamburg, Bremen and Hanover are also just an hour’s drive away.

Facilities :

• 726 pitches
• 69 caravans for hire
• 63 bungalows
• 51 chalets
• A motorhome park

Activities available :

• Aquatic area with sauna, solarium, wave pool, white water
• Fitness room
• Archery, sports tournaments, tree climbing, trampoline
• Skateboard track
• Horse riding
• Mini golf
• Bicycle and go-kart hire
• Restaurant

7- La Marina Camping & Resort – Spain

Photo Page Facebook La Marina Camping & Resort

Sun, beach and tapas… Welcome to Playa Montroig Camping Resort, one of the best campsites in Catalonia and Europe! Ideal for a great getaway along the Costa Dorada, it boasts great facilities for a dream holiday in Spain. Whether in a tent on one of the campsite’s many pitches or in a sublime wooden bungalow, this 5-star campsite is a real treat for visitors!

Highlights include its ideal location near the beach, its proximity to the famous Port Aventura theme park, its Mediterranean cuisine and its entertainment for all ages!

Facilities :

• 984 pitches
• 302 bungalows

Activities available :

• Swimming pool with children’s play area
• Beach
• Wine tasting
• Multi-sports centre and fitness room
• Cycling
• Film screenings
• Games room
• Shows and evening entertainment

8- Les Criques de Porteils – France

Photo Facebook Page Les Criques de Porteils

France is one of the countries with the most campsites in Europe, so why not make the most of it? Discover Les Criques de Porteils, a luxury campsite located just a few kilometres from the Spanish border, in Argelès-sur-Mer. This 5-star campsite, part of the prestigious Leading Campings list, offers spacious, comfortable pitches and elegant bungalows with sea views.

Access to the beach, swimming pool, wellness area and a host of other activities to make your holiday unforgettable!

Facilities :

• 190 pitches
• 75 rental accommodations: ecolodges, bungalows, mobile homes

Activities available :

• Water park with slides and spa area
• Beach
• Sports: aquagym, basketball, pétanque, stand-up paddle, yoga
• Water sports centre
• Mini golf
• Hiking
• Children’s club
• Restaurant

9- Turiscampo Camping Club Algarve – Portugal

Fancy an excursion to Portugal? Choose the Algarve, one of the country’s most beautiful regions, and Turiscampo Camping Club! It’s the only Portuguese campsite to be included in the Leading Campings list, but it’s well worth the name because it’s a 4-star campsite that’s lucky enough to be located in a little corner of paradise. What’s more, it offers all the prestigious amenities that enable everyone to make the most of their holiday.

Facilities :

• 206 pitches
• 130 rental units: cottages and chalets

Activities available :

• Outdoor and indoor swimming pool with whirlpool baths
• Beach
• Spa
• Children’s club
• Archery, team sports, aquagym, pétanque, multi-sports pitches
• Fitness room
• Surfing and other water sports
• Horse riding

10- Europacamping Nommerlayen – Luxembourg

Luxembourg has its own luxury campsite! In fact, it has the highest density of campsites in Europe, based on the number of inhabitants. Modern and peaceful, Europacamping Nommerlayen is a little haven of peace in the heart of Luxembourg’s countryside, in the magnificent Nommerlayen nature park. Just the thing for a relaxing holiday in a country with so many possibilities!

Facilities :

• 390 pitches
• 8 cottages
• 14 mobile homes

Activities available :

• Outdoor swimming pool and indoor swimming pool with saunas and white water
• Football pitch
• Billiards, table tennis, bowling, darts
• Children’s play area
• Spa
• Hiking, mountain biking

So, which destination will it be?