Boating & Camping

When boaters go camping, sun, beach and water are not far away. Whenever they want, active holidaymakers can cruise the seas or lakes on a sailing boat or motorboat, enjoy the scenery from the water and jump right in. Fascinated, you and your family or friends can explore picturesque coastlines with secluded bays, rugged cliffs or kilometre-long beaches before heading back ashore to the campsite at the blue hour.

Special features of camping for boaters

Camping enthusiasts who take their boat with them when travelling will find numerous suitable sites. Campsites on the Mediterranean are particularly popular with families who want to enjoy water sports. Here, guests will also find numerous opportunities to have fun on kayak excursions and paddle boat tours. The gentle waves on the numerous beaches, which merge gently into the water, are ideal for children. In Italy or Croatia, where there are many islands, holidaymakers also like to settle down and enjoy the freedom of discovering a new island every day. Those who prefer a good breeze will find numerous campsites for boat lovers on the North Sea. The North Sea in Lower Saxony, for example, is fascinating with the tidal play in the Wadden Sea National Park and the unmissable lighthouses that can be reached by boat. At the many campsites, guests quickly come into contact with like-minded boating enthusiasts. It is not uncommon for people to arrange to go out on the water together.

Arrival - Check ADAC campsite ratings - Fill up the tank completely and avoid refuelling on motorways, as this usually incurs higher costs - Calculate the shortest route and work out traffic jam alternatives Plan breaks for longer journeys and reserve overnight accommodation in advance if necessary - Check the technical condition of your sailing or motor boat before departure - Charge your navigation device before setting off - Update your vehicle and boat insurance and take out camping insurance if necessary - Have your driving licence and boat licence to hand - Obtain the necessary vignettes for travelling on foreign motorways and dual carriageways - Download the latest version of the ADAC camping and pitch guide app - Get the Camping Key Europe discount card and save up to 20 percent on campsites.

Destinations

There are numerous campsites on the Mediterranean in Croatia that have a slipway and plenty of moorings at the jetty. Whether guests are letting the wind blow around their noses while sailing off the coast of Dalmatia or are travelling in style on a motorboat in Istria - relaxation, sporting challenges and fun with the whole family are guaranteed. With a coastline of over 6,000 kilometres, extensive beaches and countless islands, you have the wide, crystal-clear water almost to yourself by boat or ship and can venture out on exciting trips to new shores every day. There are a few selected campsites on the upper Adriatic between Venice and Trieste in the province of Emilia-Romagna. Camping Village Rubicone is located directly on the Mediterranean and, in addition to a boat slip and a long jetty with moorings, its location also makes it a great spot for other water sports - free sailing courses and canoe tours are offered. The sandy beach, which slopes gently into the sea, is so extensive that every guest will find a suitable spot and can easily launch their own dinghy into the water. If you're not drawn to the sea, you can also enjoy boating on the numerous lakes in northern Italy, for example. The Fornella campsite on Lake Garda impresses with its natural surroundings and crystal-clear water, where sailors and surfers can be found during the day. Guests travelling without their own boat can hire the right equipment on site and set sail every day. The campsite also offers an entertaining entertainment programme for younger holidaymakers.

Top tips

• Campsites with separate sections for boaters and bathers are particularly advantageous for families with children.
• You should check whether there are enough moorings available.
• A campsite is particularly attractive if it has its own boat hire facilities. This is ideal for holidaymakers who do not want to take their own motorboat or sailing boat with them on their trip.
• Guests can identify themselves at the campsite with a boating licence. A so-called nautical certificate of competence, such as a German inland waterway or sea licence, is also valid in Italian waters.
• If a pleasure craft has a radiotelephone system, one of the persons on board must have the required radiotelephone licence. A radio licence must be presented for certain sailing areas.
• Skippers on boats with a length of more than 10 metres or less than or equal to 24 metres must be at least 18 years old.
• Guests may only approach the campsite by boat at a certain speed so as not to endanger other visitors.
• It is essential for boaters to check the weather conditions if they want to go out to sea.
• Sufficient sun protection or weatherproof clothing is part of the boating equipment, as is a first aid kit. It is best to stow these items in the motorboat or sailing boat before setting off.

Activities and excursions

Island hopping or mooring in the most beautiful harbour towns with your own boat make a camping holiday a well-rounded experience.

Elba, the green island

The south-east coast of the island of Elba in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park is ideal for fantastic boat trips. Visitors can cruise as far as the Costa dei Gabbiani and moor at the impressive black beach, the Spiaggia Nera, for sunbathing. The three southern bays of Elba with the famous Fonza and Lido di Capoliveri beaches are on the route. Small bays that can only be reached from the sea invite you to go diving.

The magnificent gondola city of Venice

Guests don't have to miss out on the fascination of boating when visiting Venice. A tour of the Venetian lagoon can begin in the picturesque little town of Casale sul Sile, which is idyllically situated in a nature park. On the way, many visitors stop off by boat on the beautiful island of Torcello. The numerous neighbourhoods of the lagoon city, which are connected to each other by extensive canals, can be discovered in a variety of ways. Romantics can take a comfortable seat in a gondola and be chauffeured along the narrow waterways to the sights: past the cathedral, to the Biennale, along St Mark's Square or under the world-famous Bridge of Sighs.