European Campsite Prices 2026: How Much More Expensive Is Camping This Year?
Camping in Europe is roughly 3.5 to 7 percent more expensive in 2026 than a year earlier. According to ACSI, a family pays on average around 38.60 euro per night in high season. Croatia remains by far the most expensive country (over 78 euro in high season), Norway has seen the steepest rise since 2020 (almost doubled), while the Netherlands stays relatively affordable at about 39 euro.
Anyone packing the tent or caravan this summer will notice it at the barrier: camping in Europe is getting more expensive again. Yet the picture is more nuanced than the headlines suggest. The average rise stays limited to a few percent, some countries are pricing themselves out of the market while others remain surprisingly affordable. We line up the figures from ACSI and NKC, explain why prices are climbing, and show where you can still pitch cheaply in 2026.
The figures: this is what camping costs in 2026
The European average for a campsite night in high season sits at around 38.60 euro in 2026. That amount applies to a family of two adults and two children with a caravan or motorhome, including electricity, tourist tax and any environmental levy. The calculation comes from the annual ACSI survey, which inspects almost 10,000 campsites across more than 30 countries.
Across the board, campsite rates rose this year by an average of roughly 3.5 to 7 percent compared with last year. That sounds steep, but it stays close to general inflation and is far milder than the price shocks of 2022 and 2023. The big differences are not in the average but between countries: the gap between the most and least expensive camping nation can easily be a factor of five.
Why prices keep rising
The increase has several causes that come together. The aftermath of the high inflation of 2022 and 2023 still feeds through into staffing, energy and maintenance costs. Campsites are also investing heavily in comfort and facilities: swimming pools, fast wifi, high-end sanitary blocks and luxury accommodation push the average nightly price up.
On top of that comes growing demand for sustainability. Especially in countries like Norway, a lot of money goes into ecotourism and greening, and those investments are partly passed on to the guest. Finally, popularity plays a role: sought-after Mediterranean coastal regions can charge higher rates because the pitches fill up anyway. Five-star sites in those regions regularly exceed 90 euro per night for a family in high season.
Croatia stays most expensive, Italy and the Alpine countries follow
Croatia is once again the most expensive camping country in Europe. In high season a family pays an average of over 78 euro per night there. Since 2020 Croatian rates have risen by almost 70 percent, an outlier that keeps the country firmly in the lead.
Behind it, Italy, Switzerland and Austria form the pricier mid-field, with average rates in a similar range. Slovenia and Denmark also rank among the more expensive destinations. These are often countries with scarce, sought-after spots by the sea or in the mountains, where the combination of nature and comfort comes at a price.
Norway: the big outlier
No country shows the rise as clearly as Norway. Since 2020 campsite rates there have nearly doubled. That is closely tied to the high inflation of 2022 and 2023, combined with major investments in sustainability and ecotourism.
Strikingly, that does not make Norway the most expensive country in absolute terms: its average rates still sit below the Mediterranean front-runners. But the speed of the increase is exceptional and hits hardest those who remember the country from earlier years, when camping in Scandinavia was still seen as relatively cheap. Anyone heading to Norway is well advised to compare carefully in advance.
Where it is still affordable
The good news: there is still plenty of cheap camping to be had. Eastern Europe remains by far the most affordable. In countries such as Albania, Turkey, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Poland and Czechia, average rates sit well under 20 to 25 euro per night, sometimes even around 14 or 15 euro.
Closer to home it is not so bad either. The Netherlands stays relatively affordable: a family pays an average of around 39 euro per night in high season, almost exactly the European average. Dutch prices rose by about 3.3 percent this year, just below the European average rise of 3.7 percent. France, Belgium and Germany sit in the affordable mid-field and still offer plenty of sharp deals for those who choose wisely.
What this means for your 2026 holiday
The message for 2026 is not that camping is becoming unaffordable, but that your choice of country, region and timing matters more than ever. The difference between a pricey coastal site in Croatia and a quiet spot in Czechia or rural France can run to tens of euros per night. Travelling outside high season saves a great deal on top of that.
That is exactly why comparing is so valuable. On the Ovisola map you will find every campsite in Europe in one place, with filters for country, type and amenities, so you can see at a glance where you get what you want without overpaying. By placing affordable regions next to pricier ones, you plan a camping holiday that fits your budget.
Average campsite price per night in 2026 (indicative)
| Country | Price per night | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Croatia | over € 78 (high season) | Most expensive in Europe, +70% since 2020 |
| Italy | around € 41 | Among the most expensive, steady rise |
| Switzerland | around € 41 | Pricey, Alpine comfort |
| Austria | around € 41 | Above average |
| Spain | around € 35 | Slightly up |
| Germany | around € 30 | Affordable mid-field |
| Norway | around € 29 | Steepest rise: nearly doubled since 2020 |
| Sweden | around € 28 | Risen |
| France | around € 27 | Relatively affordable |
| Netherlands | around € 26-39 | Relatively affordable, +3.3% this year |
| Belgium | around € 24 | Affordable |
| Poland | around € 20 | Cheap (Eastern Europe) |
| Romania | around € 20 | Cheap |
| Albania | around € 14 | Cheapest in Europe |
Frequently asked questions
How much more expensive is camping in Europe in 2026?+
On average, campsite rates in 2026 have risen by about 3.5 to 7 percent compared with last year. In high season a family pays an average of around 38.60 euro per night, including electricity and tourist tax.
Which country is the most expensive for camping?+
Croatia is once again the most expensive camping country in Europe, averaging over 78 euro per night in high season for a family. Since 2020 Croatian rates have risen by almost 70 percent.
Why have campsite prices in Norway risen so sharply?+
In Norway rates have nearly doubled since 2020. This is due to the high inflation of 2022 and 2023 combined with major investments in sustainability and ecotourism, which are partly passed on to the guest.
Is camping in the Netherlands still affordable?+
Yes, relatively so. At an average of around 39 euro per night in high season, the Netherlands is almost exactly on the European average. Dutch prices rose about 3.3 percent this year, just below the European rise of 3.7 percent.
Where can you camp most cheaply in Europe in 2026?+
Eastern Europe remains the most affordable. In countries such as Albania, Turkey, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Poland and Czechia, average rates sit well below 20 to 25 euro per night, sometimes even around 14 or 15 euro.
How do you save on a camping holiday in 2026?+
Choose your country and region deliberately, since the difference can be tens of euros per night, and travel outside high season where possible. Compare rates in advance and filter by country, type and amenities, for example on the Ovisola map, so you find a spot that fits your budget.