The Best Campsites and Glampsites to Book in Europe

On the sunny Portuguese island of Madeira, flung out in the Atlantic Ocean, this collection of fully furnished domes on raised wooden platforms are a far cry from soggy tents. Inside each one, you’ll find a fully equipped kitchen, a wood-burning stove for chilly nights and a luxurious bathroom. Some come with sunken hot tubs on the terrace, and the cherry on top is the sea view from all angles. If you’re feeling social, there’s a firepit with log stools and a built-in barbecue.

In the heart of the rolling vineyards of Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux in France, this glamping site has all the makings of a romantic getaway amid the vines. Bell tents adorned with stringed lights house queen-size beds, macrame artworks and wood-burning stoves. You’re welcomed with a platter of gourmet cheese and fruit, and a mini-fridge on the terrace provides the cold drinks for an evening tipple under the stars. Ecofriendly toilets in private bathrooms and not a plastic bottle in sight mean a stay here is kind to the environment, too.

The first glamping site in Croatia sits in Pomer, within a dense pine forest on the Istrian Peninsula. Safari-style tents hold roomy apartments with kitchens and private bathrooms, and the family-friendly tent has two floors to spread out. Also, there’s an on-site kids club to keep little ones entertained. If you’re looking for romance, book the Adriatic Suite with loungers overlooking the sea and a bubbling hot tub under the stars. Sunbathe on the private slice of rocky beach, and refresh at the beach bars and cafes.

A mix of luxurious bell tents, Mongolian gers (yurts) and tipis sit on a lakeshore in the south of Spain. You’re in the heart of Los Alcornocales Natural Park here, surrounded by ancient trees and rock formations holding neolithic cave paintings. Apart from hiking the forest trails, you can take a kayak out on the lake, try your hand at paddleboarding or kitesurfing, or bliss out with a yoga session. A little drinks shack awaits you at the end of the day with a fully stocked bar, and barbecue packs or picnics can be arranged.

Hiking, biking and hobbit-like wigwams – this German glamping resort has everything an outdoor adventure should. It’s in the Bliesgau Unesco Biosphere Reserve, where walking trails cross wild orchid meadows and beech forests, and thermal springs attract the spa crowd. Wooden glamping pods are scattered across the grounds of the Saarland Therme, so you can enjoy the spa treatments and thermal waters after a day in the great outdoors. There’s also an all-season skating rink and adventure golf.

Glamping in Europe doesn’t get more varied than at the Ceridwen Centre. Stay in a converted smithy or calving shed for solid walls, an upcycled static caravan-turned-log cabin and a vintage 1964 double-decker bus sleeping four. There’s a restaurant on-site, and self-catered guests can arrange for home-made meals, preserves, bread and cakes to be delivered. The environment is at the heart of everything here, with biomass boiler heating rooms, solar power providing the hot water and a wood-fired hot tub adding a touch of luxury.

In Wye Valley, Wales (officially an area of outstanding natural beauty), this glamping spot puts canoeing, fishing and the beach all on your doorstep. “Flap-step” might be more accurate as accommodation is in tipis. Sleeping up to five, they’re tucked away in the orchard, each furnished with handcrafted pieces such as pallet beds and picnic benches. Each tent has a barbecue, and there’s a shared kitchen alongside shared bathrooms. Unwind in the evening at the outdoor cinema. There’s no wifi or phone signal here, so it’s a detox from the inbox, too.

A backdrop of the Great Glen, near the shores of Loch Ness, puts you in the Scottish wilderness without needing survivalist skills. At Loch Ness Glamping, wooden armadillas (eco-pods) in the shade of ancient trees have underfloor heating, bathrooms, kitchenettes and plenty of 21st-century entertainment options. Though with fly fishing, hiking, horseback riding and friendly highland cows on your doorstep, you might never switch the telly on. Coal barbecues provide an outdoor meal, or visit one of the two Finnish barbecue huts if the weather turns.

Near the Cliffs of Moher, Beds of Silk is the perfect spot to stop along the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland. Each handcrafted shepherd’s hut has a comfy king-size bed and a private WC inside. Gas barbecues are on hand if the weather is fine, and there’s no better view than dining by the Shannon Estuary. Head out on the local cycle routes with Silky Saddle Bike Hire on-site – you might even spot a dolphin or two in the Atlantic.