Camping Ü Stabiacciu
Corsica
For families who like their camping with some nightlife, this spot in southern Corsica is ideal. Parties around the solar-heated pool and DJ sets are offset by a more chilled atmosphere during the day. Enjoy pizzas and grilled meats on the restaurant terrace, where guests can also join in with themed nights, live music and karaoke. Ten minutes from Porto Vecchio, and 15 from the beaches at Santa Giulia and Palombaggia, it is a great base for exploring the south of this glittering Med island. Electric-optional grass tent pitch and two adults from £16 a night
Kampaoh Peniche
Leiria, Portugal
Pitchup.com has seen a significant increase in total transaction value for Portugal of 482 per cent compared to last year. The site lists more than 60 campsites across the country, many of which are on the coast.
If sea breezes, surfing and street art are your idea of summer fun, try this site close to the sheltered waters of Praia Baleal and the Atlantic swells of Almagreira Beach, around one hour 20 minutes north of Lisbon. Nazaré’s surf scene is just 45 minutes further north. On site, art workshops and mural painting are on offer. Spacious bell tents come with mosquito nets and picnic essentials. Bell tent for four from £53 a night
Glamping do Medronheiro
Setúbal, Portugal
The owners built these self-contained camping pods – located within the grounds of a family home near Melides – for their friends. They are now open to guests who can relax in the modern indoor pool, sunbathe on loungers, or use barbecue and kitchen facilities. There is a play area for kids and bedding and towels are provided. Fifteen minutes from Costa Vicentina’s beaches, it is ideal for rural and coastal pursuits, with city trips to Setúbal or Lisbon within a one-hour drive. Camping pod for three people from £168 a night
Camping Hafnersee
Carinthia, Austria
There has also been a notable increase in demand for Austrian campsites this summer. This tranquil lakeside retreat in the Eastern Alps near Worthersee – accessible from Graz or Ljubljana over the border in Slovenia, via Lake Bled – offers swimming, fishing and paddleboarding from the long lake beach and jetty. There is also a playground, ping-pong tables and a miniature golf course on site. Bike hire is also available for exploring the area, while hiking and horse riding are popular nearby. Local towns offer shops and eateries or dine at the on-site restaurant with its charming waterside terrace. Electric optional grass pitch for two adults from £18 a night
Camping Alfacs
Catalonia, Spain
Fifty years in the making, this family-run site is anything but dated, with top-notch sports facilities available at the neighbouring sports club, including a saltwater pool. There’s an outdoor bar for breakfast, a shop stocked with local produce and a beachside bar-restaurant – Friday night tapas accompanied by live music is a weekly highlight. Electric grass and earth pitch for two adults from £39 a night. Electric grass and earth pitch for two adults from £34 a night
Kampaoh El Palmar
Andalucia, Spain
Perhaps unsurprisingly, campsites in Spain are also in hot demand this summer. Minutes from the epic Costa de la Luz beach of El Palmar, you can bed down in a tepee at this camping and glamping site. Each comes with mattresses, electric fans and vintage-style coolers. Facilities include an impeccably maintained shower block and a launderette. Volleyball, a pool and a well-equipped kitchen are among the amenities. Tepees sleeping four from £45 a night
Prima Resort Boddenblick
Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany
Despite hosting the forthcoming Euros tournament, Germany offers the best value for campers this summer, with the average cost of an overnight stay just under £33 per night. Close to the lagoons of Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park on the country’s Baltic coast, this site is perfect for nature and fitness enthusiasts. Birdwatching, island-hopping and cycling along the Baltic Sea Cycle Route are all within easy reach. Back at base, you will find cycle hire, a fitness centre, play area, sauna, outdoor pool and a restaurant as well as pitches, there are also 35 “tiny houses” for hire. Electric grass and gravel pitch for family of four from £35 a night
Falkensteiner Premium Camping
Lake Blagus, Slovenia
Slovenia ranks as the second cheapest country for campers this summer. This site in the east of the country offers freshwater swimming and lakeside picnics. There are also rowing boats, canoes and paddleboards for hire. Well-equipped and beautifully maintained, it has touring pitches along the shore of the lake and a collection of stylish cabins in the woods. Enjoy waterside dining at the restaurant/café, which serves breakfast, light lunches and dinners. There is also a kids’ play area, sauna hut, launderette and food shop. Electric-optional grass and gravel pitch for four people from £15.40 a night
Ô P’tit Nid Milie
Lorraine, France
With hundreds of excellent-value campsites to choose from, France is an obvious choice for a summer camping trip – not least when you can pack up the car at home and drive over.
Feather your own little nest in this microlodge with a barrel sauna and a spacious terrace overlooking the Vosges countryside. There is a compact kitchen, a shower room, and double bed in a mezzanine space. The wood-burning stove keeps the sauna toasty, while guests can soak up the sunshine from a hammock on the terrace. Close to the thermal spas at Bains-les-Bains and surrounded by forest, the site is a great spot to relax in nature. Microlodge stay for four from £188 a night
Domaine de Bagard
Languedoc-Roussillon, France
This elegant country estate in the Gard features its own spring-fed lake and waterfall and beautifully kept grounds. Nearby attractions include riverside walks, cave visits and hikes to larger waterfalls. Cévennes National Park, Montpellier and Nîmes are within easy reach. Spacious pitches accommodate motorhomes and campervans, with an outdoor pool, pétanque court, gym and play area. The guinguette area includes a snack bar and mini market. The village of Sauve, a 10-minute walk away, offers other dining options. Non-electric grass pitch for up to six people from £13 a night
Camping Domaine du Colombier
Brittany, France
Family-friendly, with a kids’ club and a range of activities, this pretty site is half-an-hour’s drive from the sandy beaches and pink-granite cliffs of the Côtes-d’Armor. Nearby Armoripark has indoor pools, waterslides and pedal boats. On the site, families can unwind with evening concerts and the restaurant’s themed menus, including oyster tastings and moules-frîtes, after a game of pétanque. Electric-optional grass tent pitch for up to four people from £19 a night
Campo delle Bandiere
Puglia, Italy
A motorhome is ideal for exploring Puglia’s whitewashed hill towns and two coastlines, the Adriatic and Ionian. This site, designed exclusively for campervans and motorhomes, is conveniently close to Padula Bianca beach, one of Italy’s most picturesque, on the Ionian. San Mauro church, the coastal town of Gallipoli, and the scenic wonders of Porto Selvaggio and Porto Cesareo are among the nearby sightseeing highlights. Electric-optional grass and earth motorhome pitch and up to six people from £17.20 a night
Rambla Beach Resort
Lazio, Italy
Set among pine trees, on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, these pitches overlook the golden sands of Fiumetta Beach. Alongside expected amenities – electric hook-ups, parking, and blocks with showers and laundry sinks – there is a natural spring alongside the campsite. The restaurant offers Italian cuisine, including pizzas and fresh seafood, to dine in or takeaway. Electric forest-floor touring pitch for caravans or motorhomes, for two adults, from £39 a night
Etno Kuća pod Okićem
Northern Croatia
There is more to Croatia than its coastline, and the lush Žumberak and Samobor Mountains that link the Alps to the Dinaric peaks are well worth a visit, with their 300km+ of cycling and hiking trails, pretty villages and archaeological sits. Etno Kuća pod Okićem is part of a traditional farm, a hilltop retreat beneath the ruins of 13th-century Okić town. There is a football pitch and playground to keep children busy. Hikers could tackle a via ferrata along Okić’s ancient fortifications, which has views stretching to Zagreb. Electric-optional grass and gravel tent pitch for two adults and two children from £33 a night
Losinj Glamping
Kvarner, Croatia
Head to this unspoilt northern Adriatic island for lush vegetation, archaeological sites and a stay in a luxury safari tent. Located in a quiet corner at Camp Čikat, its well-equipped spacious tents sleep up to six people. Aside from relaxing at the beach, there is an aqua park, water sports with instruction, tennis, gym and indoor and outdoor playgrounds with daily children’s activities. Two-bedroom safari tent for six people from £143 a night
Auto Camp Matica
Central-eastern Montenegro
(Photo: PitchUp)
Surrounded by leafy landscapes and mountain vistas, and just 15 minutes’ drive from the capital city of Podgorica, this serene retreat at a family-owned vineyard is a simple site for touring tents, caravans and motorhomes, but has the essential facilities – and on-site wine tastings. Activities on offer nearby include wine tours along the Matica River, cycling and canoeing. The sandy beach of Perazica Do is around an hour’s drive. Non-electric grass tent pitch for two adults from £12 a night
Majestic Lake Campsite
Transylvania, Romania
Relax with mountain views by day and starry skies at night at this simple site in western Romania. There’s a hot tub and wild swimming, with waterfalls and swimming lakes within an easy drive. The village of Roșia Montană, with its Roman galleries and mining museum, is within walking distance, or head out for a hike, mountain-bike or trout-fishing. Electric-optional grass pitch for two adults from £20.60 a night
Zsóry Liget Camping and Resort
Northern Hungary
On the outskirts of the spa town of Zsóri-fürdő, this resort offers a tranquil family camping experience, and discounted rates for the town’s bath and spa complex. Set in generous, serene grounds with plenty of shade, there is an on-site bar and restaurant with optional breakfast buffet, as well as a family playground, bike rental, badminton and skittles. Venture out to discover local folklore and handicrafts and taste the local wines. Budapest is around one hour 40 minutes away. Fully serviced hardstanding/grass pitch for two adults from £36 a night
Camping Le Pécos
Vaud, Switzerland
From the banks of Lac de Neuchâtel, enjoy the tranquillity of Switzerland’s largest lake. The site has a beach area with volleyball and kayaking on offer. There are also play areas, pétanque and ping-pong, as well as bikes available to hire. Nearby, there is tennis, climbing and trampoline facilities, as well as scenic hiking trails. Stock up with supplies from the mini-market or dine out at Restaurant Le Pécos. Electric-optional grass and earth tent pitch and up to five people from £21 a night
Camping Batenstein
Utrecht, the Netherlands
Surrounded by lush greenery and flowers, pitches here have views of the Groene Hart polders and a lake covering almost half of the six-acre site. Enjoy walking, cycling and fishing. The site is in Woerden’s Bredius Park area, with easy access to the town centre (15 minutes’ walk or a five-minute cycle) for shopping, dining and train routes for day trips to Utrecht, Rotterdam, Gouda and Den Bosch. Electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch for two adults from £27 a night