Germany leads European camping popularity rankings for 2026

Recent data from the ADAC camping portal, PiNCAMP, indicates a growing popularity for camping in Germany, particularly among younger demographics. Among individuals aged 16 to 39, the proportion of campers has risen from 35% to 39% over the last three years. Approximately 17 million people in Germany, or 25% of the population aged 16 and older, are now considered part of the camping target group.

In terms of destination popularity for 2026, Germany leads Europe with 39 of the top 100 most-requested camping sites, followed by Italy with 25 and Croatia with 23. Within Germany, Schleswig-Holstein holds the highest number of top-tier sites with ten, followed by Bavaria with nine.

The Südsee-Camp in Lüneburger Heide, Niedersachsen, has been ranked as the fourth most popular camping site in Europe and remains the top-rated site in its region. Other notable German locations in the European top 10 include Camping- und Ferienpark Wulfener Hals in Schleswig-Holstein and several sites along the Baltic Sea coast.