Popular Campsites for Camping by the Sea

See the first rays of sun sparkling on the water already at breakfast, romp in the sea in the afternoon, collect shells and build the biggest sand castles with the kids, before you end the evening with the sound of waves and a glass of wine in front of your camper. Camping by the sea makes every vacation special. We show you the most popular campsites directly by the sea in all of Europe.

1. Special Features of Camping by the Sea
2. Popular Regions and Places for Camping by the Sea
   • in Germany
   • in Italy
   • in France
   • in Holland
   • in Croatia
   • in Europe
3. Top Tips and Inspiration for Camping by the Sea

Wave noise for all Vacation Moods

Whether fine sandy beach or firm mudflats, high cliffs or picturesque bathing bay, gentle dune landscapes or wild Atlantic coast: Where land and ocean meet, camping vacations have their own special charm. It is not only because of the direct proximity to the beach that a camping vacation by the sea is so popular. A break by the sea brings with it a range of possibilities to make your camping vacation an unforgettable experience.

Discovering the underwater world of the Mediterranean with the children, capturing the picturesque sunset of the Atlantic in a photo during a walk or simply reading a nice book on the beach towel with the sound of the waves. Not only nature lovers and relaxation seekers, but also family camper and sports-motivated guests decide again and again for campsites directly at the sea. Often there are also separate beach sections for nudist camping or areas that welcome your four-legged friend if you are camping with your dog.

Some campsites also offer special deals for exciting activities on or near the water: with joint fishing, horseback riding lessons on the beach, a trip on the motorboat over the waves or a taster course at the surf school, your vacation will be a very special adventure.

Tip: You can find out which activities are offered at campsites by the sea or in the surrounding area by using the filter search on camping.info.

Popular Regions and Places

Where ocean and headland become one, campers often like it best. Whether on the German Wadden Sea, on the picturesque islands of Croatia, in beautiful Zeeland in Holland, on the Mediterranean coast of Italy or other countries - throughout Europe you will find campsites with sea and beach almost right on your caravan's doorstep.

We present you the best places in the most popular countries for camping by the sea.

For camping by the sea you don't necessarily have to pull your caravan hundreds of kilometers to southern Europe - also in the north of Germany numerous beautiful campsites on the coast are waiting for you.

You can discover many facilities with pitches by the sea in Germany at the Baltic Sea. Whether with your family or with your dog: Both in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and in Schleswig-Holstein great campsites near the sea are waiting for you. The islands of Rügen, Fehmarn and Usedom are also particularly popular among sea lovers.

If you fancy the Wadden Sea instead of sandy beaches, you will also find many beautiful campsites directly on the beach and sea at the North Sea. Particularly popular regions for camping by the sea on the North Sea include East Frisia, Cuxhaven and the port town of Büsum.

As the next destination for vacations by the sea in Germany, we recommend Camping Rosenfelder Strand near Grömitz, which was also voted in the camping.info Award 2023 to the top 3 most popular places in all of Europe. Directly on the Baltic Sea with dog and nudist beach section, campers rave about the site on camping.info: "Very nice and clean facility. Great sanitary facilities. Nice restaurant. Great recreational facilities. We always like to come back for a vacation!"

If you want to spend your camping vacation directly on the Mediterranean, then Italy is definitely the right place for you. With the most beautiful sunsets on the coast and picturesque landscapes, almost the entire country is made for a camping vacation by the sea.

The western Italian coastal towns of La Spezia and Cinque Terre in Liguria not only offer a variety of well-equipped campsites near the sea, but also beautiful mountain landscapes for hiking or biking. A little further south, great campsites await you in the port city of Livorno. Under the sun of Tuscany you can leave the everyday life behind you from the first second.

On the east coast you will find a large selection of popular campsites in the regions Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. Especially the beach resort of Jesolo on the Adriatic coast of Veneto is known for excellent and especially family-friendly campsites. Unique beach walks with the sound of waves should not be missed not only on the Italian mainland, but also when camping on the two largest islands of the country, Sardinia and Sicily.

Our tip for camping by the sea in Italy is the Camping Village Marina di Venezia in Cavallino near Jesolo. With a large range of leisure activities, several pools and a large water park, the facility on the Mediterranean Sea is considered particularly family-friendly. "We were overwhelmed by this large campground, the peace and quiet and the cleanliness. Especially the beach is elaborately maintained and cleaned," report campers on camping.info.

When camping by the sea in France, you can look forward to paradisiacal sandy beaches and dreamlike landscapes. In the "Grand Nation" you will find numerous campsites with the best standards on the wild Atlantic coast of western France, such as in Brittany and Normandy, as well as on the southern Mediterranean.

In addition to surfing and wild adventures on the Atlantic, southern coastal regions on the Mediterranean, such as the Côte d'Azur, are known to be a bit quieter. Especially popular destinations and campsites with sea views can be found on the Côte d'Azur in Nice and Saint-Tropez. Also the great seaside resorts La Grande Motte, Séte and Argeles Plage in the region Languedoc-Roussillon are a true paradise for vacations by the sea. With turquoise bays, azure sea and exciting mountains, the Mediterranean island of Corsica is not only suitable for camping by the sea, but also ideal for hiking or climbing.

As from Campern best rated place in France at the sea the Yelloh ! Village Le Brasilia is considered. Guests appreciate at the popular campsite in Languedoc-Roussillon not only the first-class restaurant, the swimming pool and the beach: "A very nice, well-maintained campsite where for us just everything fit. Class pool, area. Place and sanitary everything always tip top clean."

Whether Renesse, Noordwijk or Zandvoort: Along the entire Dutch coast, the most beautiful beaches, wide dune landscapes and a large selection of quality campsites by the sea await you. Especially many campers are attracted to Zeeland for their vacations by the sea, where you can choose between a pitch with sea view on the mainland or camp on one of the beautiful islands like Noord-Beveland, Zuid-Beveland or Walcheren.

Likewise, your dog is welcome almost everywhere when camping by the sea in Zeeland with around 120 designated dog beaches. If you want to combine a vacation with a city break, one of the campsites around Rotterdam, The Hague or the Dutch capital Amsterdam is the place to be.

Camping Janse is one of the most popular campsites in the Netherlands on camping.info. Campers are over the moon about the site on the beautiful peninsula of Walcheren: "Simply a great campsite right by the sea. Here everything has convinced".

Long bike rides along the coast, diving into the crystal clear water of the Adriatic Sea or simply enjoying the many hours of sunshine on the beach: Along the dreamlike coast of Croatia, from Pula via Zadar to Dubrovnik, you can discover great and especially family-friendly places. One of the most beautiful camping regions in Europe is the peninsula Istria in the north of Croatia. In Pula, Novigrad as well as in Poreč you will be thrilled by a multitude of equipped campsites in direct proximity to the sea in Istria. Also on the more than 1000 islands dream beaches and fabulous bays with azure blue water will attract you. Among the top 3 islands in Croatia with include Brač, Krk, Hvar.

The campsite Camp Mandarino in beautiful Dalmatia is best rated by campers in Croatia. On the popular campsite all pitches are located in the direct vicinity of the beach, most of them also offer direct sea view because of the terraced layout. Campers on camping.info are enthusiastic about the site: "The location on the bay is beautiful and ideal for swimming. The whole campsite is very quiet and well maintained. In particular, the sanitary buildings were very clean at all times."

Europe-wide Camping by the Sea

You are looking for more campsites by the sea? Whether wild fjords in Norway, a break by the sea in Poland, breath-taking coastal nature in Slovenia or the blazing sun while camping by the sea in Spain - Europe-wide you can find popular places directly by the water on camping.info.

Just set the maximum distance to the sea in our campsite search to "0,1", choose your desired destination and find the best sites with maximum 100 meters walking distance to the beautiful shore of the sea.

8 Tips for Camping by the Sea

• A look at the camper reviews on camping.info will tell you whether selected campsites have their own beach access, whether there are sites with a direct sea view and whether you can reach the water without major barriers on foot. Likewise, the ratings often give you an honest impression of the condition and cleanliness of the beach and sea.

• Important for camping with children: Shallow water, few stones and jellyfish make seaside campsites especially suitable for kids to play and romp. Pay attention likewise to the fact whether the beach is guarded and the necessary security is also ensured, if you would like to lean back once something. Not to be forgotten on vacation are of course buckets, shovels and rackets, so that your kids do well in the next sandcastle building competition of the children's animation.

• Look for "blue flag": Be on the lookout: Within Europe, there are more than 3,200 beaches that have particularly good water quality and a high level of safety and are thus awarded the "blue flag" seal. The latter beaches also have good waste disposal, sanitary facilities on the beach and trained lifeguards, which in turn is an important criterion when camping with children.

• A "must" on the packing list: With sun hat or a cap, umbrella, beach towel, bug spray, snorkel equipment, diving goggles, sunglasses and sufficient sunscreen with appropriate sun protection factor you are well equipped when camping by the sea on vacation.

• Be aware of waves: If the waves are too high, swimming in the sea can quickly become dangerous, especially for children. Here you can either choose another place with better circumstances or alternatively a campsite with a pool. On the other hand, wilder sea water makes the destination especially attractive for windsurfers or kitesurfers.

• Get waterproof protective covers: Quickly snap a photo of the sunset for your Instagram of the best vacation? Remember to make your camera and phone waterproof.

• Be aware of nudist beach sections and dog beaches: For camping with dog or for naturists, you will find separate beach sections at some campsites.

• Inform yourself about leisure activities and local seaside facilities: You want to rent a beach lounger during your vacation, you want to rent SUP boards with your family, go boating along the coast or take a diving course? On camping.info campsite details you will find the right information.