Camping with children in Europe

If you want a relaxed way to travel with children, plan a camping holiday. There are no fixed breakfast times and no strict rules of behaviour in the hotel. Instead, there is plenty of adventure, nature and fun for everyone. Happy children and relaxed parents: that's camping with children.

Which campsite is suitable for camping with children?

If you want to go camping with children, you should take a close look at the facilities and location of the campsites in question. The usual guest structure of the campsite in question can also be important. For example, a campsite that is predominantly frequented by families can be assumed to be child-friendly. A campsite that is usually chosen by senior citizens looking for peace and quiet may be more problematic in terms of child-friendly campsite management.

However, this does not mean that only children-only campsites are suitable for a great holiday. In addition to exciting children's attractions, some excellent campsites for families also have separate oases of peace for adults and deliberately attract a colourful mix of guests from active seniors, families with children and young couples. Depending on the wishes of the individual family members, camping holidays are available by the sea, in the mountains, by a river or lake, in rural tranquillity or on the outskirts of a large city. There are simple campsites close to nature or luxury campsites with lavish facilities and lots of entertainment for camping with children.

Travelling

• Avoid a long journey and plan plenty of breaks.
• Have healthy snacks and refreshments ready on the journey.
• Make or buy small games (balloons, soap bubbles, mini puzzles) to keep them occupied during the journey.

Destinations when camping with children

Beautiful campsites for children can be found in almost all holiday regions. However, campsites that can be reached from Germany without an overnight stay or with a maximum of one overnight stay are particularly popular with families. Favourite regions in Germany with campsites geared towards children include the North Sea and Baltic Sea, the Allgäu and the Lake Constance region.

The North Sea offers children a huge sandpit to dig in, moderate waves for older children to play in and a pleasant climate. One very child-friendly campsite is the Bensersiel beach and family campsite. Here you can camp directly on the sandy beach and wake up every morning with a spectacular view of the sea.

Outside Germany, there are many child-friendly campsites, particularly in northern Italy and northern Spain . One example of this is the El Delfin Verde campsite in the northern Spanish bay of Roses. In addition to an excellent location right by the crystal-clear sea with a beautiful, gently sloping sandy beach, the campsite offers many attractions for children. A large dolphin-shaped pool invites children to splash around. Easily accessible playgrounds for younger and older children, trampolines and a mini golf course ensure carefree fun. The exciting children's entertainment programme gives parents time to relax. The evening highlight for younger children is the mini disco, while parents and older children can enjoy the evening events that follow. The campsite's own ice cream stand and crêpes station are also very popular with children.

Top tips

• The campsite should offer sufficient freedom of movement for children and centrally located playgrounds that are ideally visible from a cosy seating area or even from the pitch.
• In summer, there should also be places to retreat to in the shade. These do not necessarily have to be appropriate pitches, but can also be play areas under awnings or cosy seating areas under shady trees.
• Family-friendly campsites in particular have play equipment for different age groups. Toddlers will love the sandpit and baby slide, while older children will enjoy the climbing frames and Kettcars. Basketball courts, table football and mini golf are suitable for teenagers.
• Safety should be a top priority at your chosen campsite. Sensitive areas such as pools and ponds must be fenced off to protect small children. Access to the campsite for unauthorised persons should be made more difficult. It is also important to enforce safety rules such as a walking pace for cars.
• Child-friendly washrooms with low washbasins, modern children's toilets, splash-free children's showers, baby bathtubs and clean nappy-changing areas make daily washing rituals fun.
• In addition to pools and swimming ponds, water slides are a highlight for all children. Many campsites in Italy, Spain and Croatia offer entire water adventure worlds with pirate ships, water fountains and various slides.
• As there can also be rainy days, indoor play areas are important. These range from simple recreation rooms to well-equipped playrooms and comprehensive indoor adventure parks.
• A varied children's entertainment programme with arts and crafts activities or a mini disco will keep parents relaxed.
• Family-friendly events such as baking bread on a stick around the campfire or a night hike promote family cohesion and socialising with fellow campers.
• Additional services such as a public microwave for baby food, children's buggies for hire or wellness offers also contribute to a successful camping holiday with children.

Excitement and variety away from the campsite

Even during a camping holiday with children, you usually want to explore the immediate surroundings. Smaller excursions and child-friendly activities are the perfect opportunity for this.

Grounding and connecting through shared nature experiences

It's great to integrate nature experiences into a camping holiday with children. Depending on the location of the campsite, a short hike through a gorge, along a stream or up a mountain to the nearest cable car station, for example, is a great way to do this. Once you reach your destination, you can enjoy a picnic or hot chocolate and cake before heading back to the campsite. A boat trip on a lake or river or a visit to a farm can also provide such nature experiences.

Fun and adventure in the amusement park

A visit to an amusement park is the highlight of a camping holiday for most children. Depending on the age of the children and the geographical region, there are various parks to choose from. From campsites in northern Germany, we recommend Hansapark in Sierksdorf, Heidepark Soltau and Serengeti Park Hodenhagen, depending on the location. Families camping in southern Germany can choose from Ravensburger Spieleland, Legoland in Günzburg and Playmobilpark in Zirndorf. In northern Spain and northern Italy there are some spectacular water parks with adventurous slides and water attractions for the whole family.