Discovering less-crowded European destinations for camping: Spotlight on lesser-known European nations

Europe continues to be a popular destination for camping holidays, with millions of travellers choosing to pitch their tents and park their motorhomes across the continent each year.

In 2025, Spain saw a slight increase in camping overnight stays, with around 48 million stays recorded. However, other countries have experienced more significant growth. Albania reported a strong increase of over 21 percent, while Bulgaria saw an increase of around 14.5 percent.

France remains the most popular camping country in Europe, with over 141 million overnight stays. Northern Europe also leads in overnight camping stays, with Sweden taking the top spot, followed by Denmark and Norway.

However, the camping world is not without its challenges. Rising prices, booked-out spots, and the desire for new experiences have led more travellers to less-attended countries. Even classic camping destinations like the Netherlands have recorded noticeable losses in camping overnight stays.

Smaller European countries are becoming increasingly popular for camping holidays. Small countries such as Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and Malta have experienced a significant increase in overnight stays for family summer vacations in recent years, driven by their family-friendly tourist infrastructure and natural attractions. Poland has also seen a significant increase of nearly 20 percent in overnight camping stays.

Ireland has seen an increase of over 40 percent in overnight camping stays this year. Direct connections from northern French ports to Ireland for motorhome travel are available, with crossings to Cork, Rosslare, or Dublin taking about 18 hours. The route to Ireland can also lead via Britain, with connecting ferries to Dublin, Rosslare, Belfast, or Larne.

For those considering a motorhome trip, international expert Anne-Katrin Schwanitz discusses safe travel in a video. She covers topics like loading, tire and vehicle check, gas safety, fire protection, finding campsites, and insurance for van life.

Unfortunately, Italy had to accept losses in camping overnight stays. Even Scandinavian countries, which are popular for camping due to their emphasis on sustainability, have lost some camping tourists.

The industry recorded around 405 million tourist overnight stays in 2024, a slight decrease of 2.5 percent compared to the previous year.

Our website offers additional content on popular campsites in Europe, the best campsites in 2025, and the sustainability benefits of camping holidays. If you're interested in learning more, you can visit us at [email protected]. Our website is a German-language service and news portal informing readers about life and work abroad.

Whether you're a seasoned camper or new to the scene, Europe offers a wealth of opportunities for a memorable camping holiday. So pack your bags, pitch your tent, and embark on an adventure!

Discovering less-crowded European destinations for camping: Spotlight on lesser-known European nations