Best Places to Go Camping in Italy

As a child, I always longed to travel to Italy, which was probably influenced by my great love of lasagne. As an adult, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to indulge my passion for Italian cuisine and culture, by taking an annual camping holiday in Italy. Over the years we’ve visited several regions of Italy, but three stand out as the best : Lake Garda, the Adriatic Coast – Venice and Tuscany. Each of these destinations has its own appeal, which keeps us returning year after year.

Lake Garda

Lake Garda was one of the first places that we visited for a family camping holiday, and remains one of our top choices when planning our summer vacation. The crystal clear waters of the lake are surrounded by awe-inspiring mountains, which gives you a wonderful sense of being close to nature, yet excellent facilities in the area mean that you never feel too isolated. Horse riding treks, hiking, boat trips, fishing, bird-watching and cycling are amongst the many activities available when camping at Lake Garda, which means that there really is something to appeal to every age group and personality. Other attractions in the area include the historic city of Mantua, where modern life bustles within ancient walls, and our children’s favourite – Gardaland, which is one of the most extensive theme parks in Italy. We would recommend Lake Garda to families who are looking for a holiday which will allow them to relax and rejuvenate in pleasant natural surroundings, while having plenty of options for exploring or trying new activities.

Adriatic Coast – Venice

The second of our choices for the best places to go camping in Italy is on the Adriatic coast. This area has plenty to offer families and couples who want to enjoy a beach break, with several beautiful golden sandy beaches to choose from. We always choose camping sites which are in reasonable proximity to Venice, and take several day trips to see the famous sights and enjoy a trip or two on the canals. Another bonus of camping on the Adriatic coast is the possibility of taking a boat trip to Porec in Croatia, where you’ll find the old town which is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Overall, we’d recommend this region of Italy when you want a camping holiday which combines culture and history with plenty of good old-fashioned sunbathing and swimming.

Tuscany

The province of Tuscany is our third favourite selection for the best places to go camping in Italy. We love the picturesque landscapes of this region, and tend to go for camp-sites which are not directly on the coast, but close enough to make it easy to fit beach days into our itinerary. Florence is one of the famous attractions for tourists in this region, while Pisa and Rome also vie for attention with their host of ancient buildings. Visits to vineyards are also a typical Tuscan treat, and one that any wine lover should be sure not to miss. We recommend camping in Tuscany primarily as a base for visiting the cities, but also for those who fancy a rustic, countryside escape.