The top 10 campsites in Croatia

Of the wide variety of accommodation in Croatia, campsites are a very popular choice and have been for quite some time. With more and more camps offering a wonderful range of facilities – from different booking options to multiple pools, private beaches, sports courts and activities, kids’ clubs, restaurants, and more – camping is certainly an option you need to consider these days. But where should you book? Take a look at what is my choice for the top 10 campsites in Croatia.

Why stay in a campsite in Croatia?

There are many reasons you might opt for a bit of camping fun – instead of a hotel or apartment – for your stay in Croatia. Sometimes this may be down to cost, as if you opt for the most basic version of camping (with a tent!), that will certainly beat the price of staying in a hotel. Campervan and caravan travellers are also increasing in number, so campsites are the place for them.

Really, a huge plus with staying in a campsite is your location. Your accommodation will often be nestled within a small forest or some kind of garden, perhaps even just steps from the Adriatic. Open your door (or unzip your tent), and you can immediately step out into gorgeous greenery with a beautiful view of the sea.

Another reason is that, these days, some campsites offer a staggering wealth of facilities and amenities. Some large-scale resorts can rival anything a hotel has to offer…apart from housing its guests in a building, that is

Campsites are often also big draws for families. British holidaymakers know all about Centre Parc resorts, and they then also know that European equivalents tend to be cheaper. (And with better weather. And food. And are less Truman Show-esque. And…)

Without further ado, let’s look at the top 10 campsites in Croatia!

Valamar Camping Istria, Porec, Istria

Brought to you by major accommodation chain Valamar who run a number of hotels, resorts and campsites in the northern part of the Croatian coast and Dubrovnik, Valamar Camping Istria near Porec is a wonderful five-star resort that’s open year-round.

Accommodation options range from premium villas with private pools to chalets, 5-star mobile homes, glamping tents to pitches for your own tent or motorhome. Many of the villas, chalets and mobile homes come with private terraces set in gorgeous nature. These different types of houses have calm, modern interiors and come with all mod cons – air conditioning, for one – but also fully functional kitchens with holiday essentials such as dishwashers (who wants to be washing up on holiday?). Some of the homes can be shared with furry friends – preferably your own – and many offer a stunning sea view.

At the other end of the scale, you can book a pitch for your tent or motorhome. Just because you’re bringing your own four walls, so to speak, doesn’t mean you should miss out on some of the more luxury elements of this campsite…no! Some of the pitches come with an outdoor kitchen and a bathroom. Others come with a private jacuzzi!

What about the general campsite facilities? The list is long, very long. With five pools and a water park area featuring slides – one 10 metres long – families will enjoy hours of splashing about. Exercise fans and sports enthusiasts will love the myriad of sports courts for tennis, football, basketball, beach volleyball and handball (very Croatian), as well as the indoor gym or the minigolf area. You can also rent bikes and scooters, and there are even mini electric vehicles for children to rent.

Of course, given its fantastic seaside location, you’ll want some water sports action too, won’t you? That’s all available here – from boat rides to jet ski hire, windsurfing to kayak hire, stand-up paddleboarding to an inflatable water park. The campsite can also arrange boat trips (some for dolphin watching) or diving lessons off-site.

Younger guests will be delighted by the super fun playground and the soft play room, whilst slightly less young guests might be enamoured by the games room. Parents will no doubt love the on-site kids club that’s open to those aged from 3 to 12.

Whatever camping option you choose, you can even book yourself onto a half-board option so you’re not having to cater for your gang all the time. Or if you want someone else to do the cooking but want to be in the comfort of your own “home”, there’s a delivery service that turns up with pre-prepared meals.

What a campsite!

At a glance:

• Accommodation in pitches, glamping tents, mobile homes, chalets and villas
• 5 pools and a water park
• Great sports facilities
• Kids club
• Meal delivery service
• More info: Valamar Camping Istria

Arena 99 Glamping, Pomer (near Pula), Istria

This campsite is actually a 100% glamping site, with some truly exceptional accommodation. The kind of place to go if you really don’t want anything to do with camping, but go on, I’ll keep it a go if I must.

All “tents” at Arena 99 Glamping are fully in place, and range from two-person mini lodge tents to two-bedroom options (some even two-floor!) such as safari tents, to a three-bedroom tent to suites with hot tubs. All tents and lodges come with all-important air conditioning, a posh coffee machine, a fully equipped kitchenette, a TV and linen changing.

As this glamping site is set in truly lush, gorgeous grounds, a wonderful touch is some of the outdoor (or semi-outdoor) wellness facilities. Enjoy yoga in nature, one of the outdoor hot tubs or book yourself in for a relaxing massage at the wellness centre.

Kids will be entertained by the kids clubs – one for the younger lot, one for teens – with a full range of timetabled activities that are age-appropriate. (Meaning that the teens have a slot for a bit of PS5 gaming!) Many of the activities are inspired by the natural surroundings, such as eco-friendly crafting or gardening. The kids club is also set in a lovely teepee, in keeping with the rest of the structures, and set on the beach so your children will be steps away from you whilst you relax on the beach.

Sports enthusiasts will love the possibility of signing up for lessons at the on-site windsurfing school. If that’s a little above your sporting level, you can also rent kayaks, SUP boards or pedal boats.

There’s one main restaurant here, and three smaller cafes/bars, so if you ever don’t feel like whipping something up in your kitchenette, you can still get fed.

At a glance:

• Accommodation in glamping lodges, safari tents and suites
• Fully glamping site
• Kids clubs
• Outdoor wellness
• More info: Arena 99 Glamping

Camp Cikat, Mali Losinj, island of Losinj

The island of Losinj is often described as a super lush, wellness-focused island, so camping on this lovely island in the northern part of the Adriatic is a great way of getting the full benefit of that. Camp Cikat is an excellent place to take advantage of the nature of Losinj, but is also a great base for kids – located, as it is, next to a waterpark!

There are some rather glamorous safari tents here, from those that sleep just 2 to those big enough for a whole family. The standard mobile homes are still very modern with all the amenities you could need, whilst there are also regular pitches available. Avid campers might enjoy the opportunity for a “non-parcelled pitch” – essentially, a bit of free land within the campsite that you can use as your base. (Found with help of the campsite staff.) And if you’ve always wanted to try caravan camping but don’t want the hassle of owning or renting one for a whole holiday, there are caravans to rent here so you can get a proper camping fix.

The beach area stretches out along the bay, meaning you can choose from a more rustic rocky beach area to one of the more kid-friendly pebble options. Enjoy the water sports provisions and rentals (boats, SUP) right at the campsite, whilst Cikat Sports Centre (500 metres away) offers even more, including a surf centre and a diving school.

Did I mention the waterpark? Oh yes, I did! Aquapark Cikat has four main pools, plus two splash pools for the youngest swimmers. There are two tall slides for thrill seekers, and a central water attraction area with ramps, jets and fountains for those who like to splash and aren’t brave enough for the slides. (I’m not making fun, I’m one of them.)

Aquapark Cikat is where much of the entertainment programme is based, with cool activities for kids and mostly pool-based fitness for adults. It’s here where there are several snack bars, whilst the main campsite is home to two restaurants that offer cooking based on local Losinj ingredients.

At a glance:

• Accommodation in pitches, mobile homes and glamping tents, plus caravans for rent
• Large beach area of different types
• Great sports facilities, close to a sports centre
• Kids clubs and entertainment
• Waterpark
• More info: Camp Cikat

Aminess Style Camping Avalona, island of Pag

The big draw at Aminess Camping Avalona is that a large number of the accommodation units come with their own private pool, whether that’s a mobile home, a villa or even a pitch. There are no less than 180 pools here!

If you want to be a little more social, head to the main pool where there’s also a small water park with five slides for adults and kids. The 1-kilometre-long beach is another big attraction here,

Get your heart rate going with a sport or two – yes, even the increasingly popular padel is here – or hire e-bikes or e-scooters to explore the surrounding area. (And Pag is a fascinating island to explore.)

There’s a rich programme to keep kids entertained, with a soft play (how important is this, am I right, parents?!), the Mirami Fun Factory playroom with a range of activities, a gaming room for older kids, swim school, a STEM playground and even a babysitting service for younger children. Whilst they’re busy, get some me time in the wellness and beauty centre.

At a glance:

• Accommodation in pitches, mobile homes or villas
• Many accommodation units come with a private pool
• Small water park
• Excellent kids’ facilities – clubs and play areas
• More info: Aminess Camping Avalona

Camping Ugljan, island of Ugljan

One of the smaller campsites in Croatia featured in this list, Camping Ugljan is located on a lovely, tranquil island in north Dalmatia that’s an easy journey from Zadar.

A range of pitches and a small number of what they call XXL premium mobile homes – that sleep from 3 to 8 people – can be rented here. A truly lovely touch is the vegetable garden with veggies and herbs that not only offers fresh produce but is also a great way to learn (or teach the younger generation). More eco credentials come from the “bio design” pool that blends seamlessly into its surroundings, with a pebble sundeck all around. The pool reflects the lovely natural beach, also pebble-based, and there’s a dog beach nearby too.

A beach restaurant is where you can get a relaxed meal (pizza, burgers) and drinks, one with a view. Or stock up on essentials at the mini market for your own hearty meal.

At a glance:

• Small campsite with pitches and mobile homes
• Vegetable garden
• Biodesign pool
• More info: Camping Ugljan

Falkensteiner Camping, Zadar, North Dalmatia

On a lovely site adjacent to the ultra-family-friendly Falkensteiner Hotel Borik, this chilled campsite provides guests with modern facilities adjacent to a lovely beach. The Falky kids’ club will keep children entertained when they’re not in the kids’ pool, playroom or playground, and if they’re there, why not put your feet up and relax by the main pool? Or better still, head to the wellness area to wind down in the sauna or book yourself in for a massage.

Restaurant CAMPO° is the main place to get fed, serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner and open as a bar area until 11pm each night. A pool bar will keep you fed and refreshed, and there’s also a beach stall for quick.

Pitches and mobile homes are mostly the order of the day here, but the two-floor, 50 square metre safari tent – that sleeps 6 – is certainly a spectacular camping experience. The campsite is dog-friendly as well, with facilities such as a dog shower to keep your canine friends clean.

At a glance:

• Lovely site on the outskirts of Zadar
• Accommodation in pitches and mobile homes, plus a safari tent
• Kids club
• More info: Falkensteiner Camping

Zaton Holiday Resort, Nin (near Zadar), North Dalmatia

Another large-scale resort with truly excellent facilities, the Zaton Holiday Resort again offers a wide variety of accommodation for you to choose from. You’ll be pleased to hear that pitches are a feature here, with some spaces right on the seafront. If that’s not your thing, you can opt for apartments or mobile homes, or treat yourself to one of the villas (some with private pools) in the new glamping village

One of the biggest draws of this resort is its gorgeous sandy beach (which covers most of the total beach area that’s 1.5 kilometres long), designated as a Blue Flag beach since 2003. The well-stocked beach offers beach furniture rental, changing cabins, water sports possibilities, and there’s even an area for dogs. But there are pools galore here too, with the whole pool complex covering a very impressive 2,500 square metres and featuring multiple pools, including ones just for littler swimmers, plus water slides and a splash park.

Another big plus about this campsite is the truly excellent sports facilities. There are courts for playing tennis, volleyball and basketball, and pitches for football or handball. There’s also a workout space, adventure golf (what holiday is complete without a little crazy golf), and you can rent a bike to explore the resort on two wheels.

If your kids are somehow bored by all of the above, there are kids’ clubs (mini, maxi and junior) here to keep them entertained, and no doubt the local mascot Zatonino The Seahorse will get them shrieking with glee. In the evenings, kids and adults will love the shows performed up on the resort’s 750-seat amphitheatre.

I haven’t even mentioned the numerous restaurants, snack shakes, cafes and bars that are here…in a sentence, there are too many to write about!

At a glance:

• Accommodation in pitches, apartments, mobile homes, villas
• Sandy beach
• Massive pool complex
• Excellent sports facilities
• Kids clubs
• Evening shows for all ages
• Numerous eateries
• More info: Zaton Holiday Resort

Amadria Park Camping, Sibenik, North Dalmatia

The Amadria Park resort just outside lovely Sibenik is a large-scale resort that is home to no fewer than five hotels. But the resort is also home to several camping options, including space for pitches that can accommodate 1,600 guests. There are different kinds of pitches, with some even having access to satellite TV, whilst you can also book yourself into a mobile home, an apartment or a beach villa.

The campsite itself features a stunning seawater pool that’s right next door to the Adriatic, but it’s the wider Amadria Park resort that’s a big draw. The resort is practically like a little town in its own right, secluded enough to make it feel rather exclusive but also spread out enough that you don’t ever feel overwhelmed by the number of people here.

There are numerous eateries, from more basic fast food options to far more swish finer dining choices such as the Restaurant Trattoria, or typical local cuisine at the Dalmatian Ethno Village. (The campsite also has two dining options itself – Olive Garden and the super-relaxed Beach & Snack Bar Lanterna.)

The lovely seaside promenade that sweeps alongside the whole resort provides for a super pleasant walk, especially in the early evenings. Use it to head over to the mini golf centre, the Sweet Dreams Cake House for a well-deserved ice cream, or the Mediterranean Village where there’s often some evening entertainment.

The campsite has its own kids’ playground, and you’re also well placed for the water park out on the Adriatic, or the bumper cars. Walk to the other side of the resort to spend some time at AquaPark Dalmatia, a proper water park that’s open year-round.

At a glance:

• Accommodation in pitches (large area), mobile homes, apartments, villas
• Seawater pool next to the Adriatic
• Many eateries
• Walking distance to a large, year-round waterpark
• More info: Amadria Park Camping

Camping Split, Split, Central Dalmatia

Camping Split is likely the best choice if you’re looking for campsites in and around Croatia’s second city. A welcoming, super-family friendly and ultra eco-friendly award-winning campsite, there are some excellent traditionally camp-like facilities here that will delight all guests.

The two pebble beaches are at the heart of the site, and there’s a rich programme here to entertain all guests. If you’re not lazing on a sunbed underneath a parasol, you can pick up some lessons at the diving centre, hop in a kayak or a pedal boat, or take part in aqua aerobics or beach volleyball. If that’s too high energy for you, choose a beach massage instead – what could be better? There is also a third, smaller beach that is at the mouth of the Zrnovnica River.

Once you tire of the beaches, jump into the main 140 square metre pool, or splash about with your kids in the children’s pool. There’s even a third option, which is a small pool with a beach bar.

The main restaurant, Horus, offers varied cuisine that will please all ages, but even better is the gorgeous view out to other parts of the coast and over to the island of Brac. There are also several beach bars and cafes for smaller bites.

The campsite is just a short hop to all the sights of Split, and is also well placed for visiting Solin.

At a glance:

• Accommodation in pitches and mobile homes
• Two main beaches, plus a third by the river
• Three pools
• Restaurant with lovely sea views
• Great location for Split
• More info: Camping Split

Plitvice Holiday Resort, near the Plitvice Lakes, Lika

Many travellers think of being at one with nature when they think about camping, and where better to do so in Croatia than near the Plitvice Lakes? The Plitvice Holiday Resort offers rooms and an apartment, glamping options (mobile homes, lake houses and even treehouses – how fabulous) and a 50,000 square metre campsite with 99 pitches and spots for campervans.

The beautiful grounds feature sky-high trees and a central lake, with wooden paths reminiscent of the Plitvice Lakes National Park itself. The campsite is understandably responsible travel and eco-focused

A wellness centre offers a place for some relaxation – whether that’s in the sauna or the hydromassage pool. But it’s the main pool, open in the summer months, that will be a big draw for guests

The on-site restaurant is an excellent place to sample cuisine from this region in Croatia, or hang out with some drinks in the cafe or the pool in summer – what a spot in summertime!

At a glance:

• Amazing nature, very near the Plitvice Lakes
• Large campsite with pitches, plus mobile homes, lake houses and tree houses
• Lovely pool area
• More info: Plitvice Holiday Resort

More of the best campsites in Croatia

One of the best resources for discovering campsites in Croatia is the Croatian Camping Union website. Their detailed website offers a comprehensive search facility, and you can also look for different campsites by region and type. The Croatian Camping Union also has a guide to their Best Camps.

Do also take a look at Visit Croatia’s guide to the top glamping sites in Croatia for some luxury camping options.