Is now the good time to rent a campervan?
Summer is approaching, and many people are waiting in the wings, so don’t hesitate to rent a campervan. The best thing is to contact us right away so that we can make you a good offer. This is also possible during the Corona period! Many European countries are ideal for a holiday with a campervan. The top 3 are:
- Croatia
- Portugal
- France
Croatia – One of the best destinations for holidays with a campervan:
A mild climate, dream beaches and blue seas. With a mainland coastline of over 1,700 kilometres and more than 1,000 islands, everyone will find a suitable spot. Rugged, karstic landscapes, breathtaking natural beauty, imposing waterfalls, over 11,000 caverns and caves – this is Croatia.
Here you can live your dream, and you are always welcome with your campervan.
Must-See in Croatia
- historic destinations like the Split with Diocletian’s Palace, Dubrovnik with its imposing fortress or Pula with its amphitheatre
- idyllic coastal towns like Rovinj or Poreč
- picturesque mountain villages such as Grožnjan, Labin or Motovun
- Hum, the smallest town in the world
- the Limfjord with its oyster and mussel farms
- natural beauties such as the Krka waterfalls, the Plitvice lakes, the Paklenica gorge or the Mramornica stalactite cave
- picturesque old towns in Makarska, Trogir or Split
- beautiful islands like Rab, Krk, Lošinj, Pag, Korčula or Hvar
- the capital Zagreb and its hinterland
Places to stay
Croatia offers you numerous campsites along the coast and in the hinterland in different price ranges: from small, simple sites to gigantic resorts. There are comparatively few campsites.
Wild camping is prohibited, as is spending the night in car parks or rest areas. If you get caught, you pay. Checks are carried out especially on the coast, but less so in rural inland areas. Tip: Ask locals here for a place for the night.
Portugal – Number 2 for holidays with a campervan
The landscape and nature are very varied. Traces of the past await you in the form of churches, monasteries, fairytale castles, magnificent gardens, museums and historic towns. Many things bear witness to a centuries-old (seafaring) culture.
Portugal is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. In northern Portugal is the mountainous Trás-os-Montes with very hot summers and very cold winters. In the centre is the Serra da Estrela with winter sports opportunities. Tours through the Estremadura and the Tagus plain are popular. In the south, the Algarve awaits you with its dream beaches. In addition to paradisiacal sandy beaches, you will also find cliffs and towns worth seeing during your holiday with a campervan.
What is there to see?
- Lisbon with the gigantic statue of Christ, the Torre de Belém, the historical fortress
- Porto with the impressive Dom Luís I bridge, the Ribeira old town district or the Torre dos Clérigos
- Old towns like those of Faro, Évora, Funchal or Guimarães
- Monasteries like the one in Alcobaça, the Hieronymite Monastery in Lisbon or the Christ Monastery in Tomar
- Sacred buildings such as the Basilica pilgrimage church in Fátima or the one in Braga
- Natural beauties such as the Boca do Inferno in Cascais, the Benagil Cave or the Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point on the mainland of Europe.
- Bizarre things like the Bone Chapel in Évora
- Impressive buildings like the Pena Palace in Sintra or the fortress Nossa Senhora da Graça in Elvas
Places to stay in Portugal
The friendliness and openness of the Portuguese and the excellent network of camping and campervan sites make it easy to find a place to stay almost anywhere on holiday with a campervan. Several towns along the coast offer campervan sites. Inexpensive ones can be found at motorway service stations, they are called “Aires de Service”.
Wild camping is generally prohibited. Outside the tourist centres and outside the high season, however, a blind eye is sometimes turned. In remote areas, you can also ask to spend the night on private property.
France – Number 3 for holidays with a campervan
France has two seas and numerous rivers and lakes. Enjoy the freedom of a holiday with a campervan by the water! Different landscapes such as the French Alps, the wine-growing region of Alsace, the volcanic region of Auvergne, the dreamy Luberon or the sun-drenched Provence offer a wide range of choices.
History buffs will find campsites near historic sites. How about witnesses from Roman times, such as the Pont du Gard or the amphitheatre in Nîmes? The stone giants of Brittany go back even further. At the Somme Bay or on the landing beaches of Normandy, you will be reminded of the horrors of war. But beautiful old towns and small, dreamy mountain villages also invite you to make your holiday a memorable experience.
France is so large that you need more than just one holiday. Reason enough to look for a new appointment with us right after your holiday.
Must-See Places in France
- the Côte d’Azur, scenic coastline not only for the beautiful and rich
- the diverse Atlantic coast with places like La Rochelle or Saint-Malo
- historical places like the monastery island of Mont-Saint-Michel, the old fortified city of la Cité de Carcassonne or Les Baux de Provence
- dwellings of our ancestors like the cave of Lascaux, Gouffre de Padirac or the capital of prehistory Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil
- captivating (mountain) villages and towns in the Luberon, Auvergne, Pyrenees, Cévennes or Provence such as Gordes, Florac, Arreau, Salers, La Chaise-Dieu or St-Rémy-de-Provence
- Brittany with dolmens, menhirs and calvaires
- larger cities, above all Paris, but also Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg and Toulouse
- fairytale castles, such as those on the Loire, Versailles Palace or Le Château Chantilly
- Sacred buildings such as the Papal Palace in Avignon, Strasbourg Cathedral or Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre in Paris
- Museums, above all the Musée du Louvre
- Natural beauties such as the Dune du Pilat or the Gorges de la Fou in the Pyrenees, with the narrowest gorge in the world
- Islands such as Île de Ré, Île d’Oléron or Île de Noirmoutier, where you can sail across the sea at low tide
- the Camargue with flamingos, white horses and wild bulls
- the Pyrénées with high passes like the Col d’Aspin or the Grand Tourmalet
- places of pilgrimage like Lourdes or Le Puy-en-Velay
- impressive mountains such as Mont Ventoux in Provence, Mont Blanc on the border with Italy or the volcano Puy de Dôme in Auvergne.
Places to stay
Of all the European countries, France is one of the most campervan-friendly. There are good pitches or campsites in almost every town and close to places of interest.
Campsites are also well distributed throughout the country. From the inexpensive Camping Municipal to the luxurious 5-star campsite, everything is available.
Wild camping is prohibited. Especially in tourist strongholds, this is monitored, and there are penalties. However, experience has taught us that, except on the Côte d’Azur – especially inland – campervans are always parked on the loose. Even at controls, there was usually only a brief instruction and a kind word. You have a better chance if you speak some French. You should refrain from camping-like behaviour.
“Camping reglementé, s’adresser à la mairie” is what you can read in some places. This means that you should report to the mayor’s office in order to be allocated a place to spend the night. Especially in the north and centre, locals are happy to let you stay overnight on request. Winegrowers and farms also welcome you. If you visit a pub, you can spend the night in its car park. Please ask beforehand!
Conclusion
A holiday in a campervan is a wonderful way to travel in European countries. It is the best way to enjoy the best destinations, the most beautiful places and the most beautiful nature. The journey should always be the destination!