Croatia has taken the top spot in Europe for campsite quality, according to PiNCAMP, the camping platform run by ADAC, Germany's massive automobile club. It's the first time the country has led the European quality ranking, and the number of Croatian campsites holding the coveted ADAC Superplatz label is climbing to 29 for 2027. For anyone who associates camping with scruffy pitches and dated washblocks, this is a very different Adriatic.

The news broke at the 20th Croatian Camping Congress, held from 19 to 21 October 2026 at the Well Hotel in Terme Tuhelj, where industry figures gathered to take stock of two decades of transformation. The numbers back up the hype: in 2007 Croatia had just 13 four-star campsites and none at five stars. By 2025, there were 82 four-star sites and nine five-star ones, with roughly 58% of national campsite capacity now sitting in the top two categories. Around half of all Croatian campsites carry four or five stars.

Camping is a bigger slice of Croatian tourism than many realise. Campsites account for about 23% of overnight stays in commercial accommodation, with guests averaging 6.2 days per stay — the longest of any accommodation type in the country. Between 1 January and 11 October 2026, campsites recorded nearly 3.4 million arrivals and 21.4 million overnight stays, matching last year's record pace. Germans, Slovenians and Austrians drive more than 60% of those nights, though domestic guests grew their overnight stays by almost 10% year on year. Loyalty is striking too: half of camping guests have returned to Croatia seven times or more.

Congress discussions focused on what comes next. Industry leaders say the priority is no longer just pitches and sanitary blocks but the complete stay — shade, service and facilities good enough to draw visitors outside the peak summer months, plus a healthy mix of tent spots, mobile homes, family-run sites and big resorts. Other sessions tackled climate adaptation (greening, shade, infrastructure resilience), staff recruitment and retention, energy efficiency, and a decade of online booking. There was even a study probing how four leading AI assistants answer questions about Croatian campsites, analysing nearly 2,000 responses for accuracy — a sign of where campsites now compete for visibility.

Why should this matter to travellers? If you've been eyeing a Croatian camping holiday but assumed the best options were in France or Italy, the rankings now say otherwise. Expect resort-level pools, glamping tents and polished mobile homes along the Istrian and Dalmatian coasts, with strong demand from German and Dutch campers expected for the coming season — so booking early for July and August is wise. Shoulder-season stays in May, June or September are where the sector's push for year-round quality is likely to pay off first.

The Congress wraps with awards for Croatia's Best Campsites, OK Mini Camps and the Naj Kamp Adria 2026 title — a handy shortlist for planning a trip.