Camping on the Adriatic: Coast, 6 beautiful places and beaches – Travel tips for Italy

Camping on the Adriatic – A varied landscape, miles of sandy beaches, blue sea and exciting cities on a large part of the east coast of Italy – that’s the Adriatic.
A vacation here promises you a lot of variety and therefore many wonderful memories.
Here are six tips for great vacation spots from north to south of the coast.
They include beaches such as the Spaggia di Punta Sabbioni near Venice, natural sites such as the Camacchio lagoon and large and small towns such as Rimini, Otranto, Gardo and Caorle.
Also for dogs and families!
You will also find a tour recommendation and much more so that you can travel in a relaxed manner with your roof tent or tent trailer .

Adriatic coast: what should you do?

You’ve heard a lot from friends and acquaintances, but don’t yet know where exactly you should go on vacation on the Adriatic?
One option is this tour, where you start in the north and end in the south, at the easternmost point of the country in the shape of a boot.
From steep cliffs and exciting hiking trails to flat sandy beaches and rolling hills, the Adriatic offers a wide range of scenic experiences, sandy beaches and exciting cities for day trips.
You also have a warm Mediterranean climate with warm summers.
Good conditions to spend your summer vacation on the east coast of Italy, the Adriatic Sea.
You can find tips on great places, nearby excursion destinations such as Tuscany and Lake Garda, recommendations for camping and other travel destinations in Italy here.

Adriatic tour!
Heading south with the camper

The so-called Adriatic Sea is the coastal strip of Italy that lies directly on the Adriatic Sea.
The Italian part begins just north of Grado and ends in the south at Otranto.
The Adriatic coast also stretches across Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania.
Due to the foothills of the Alps, the northern part of the coastline is criss-crossed by mountains.
Here you will find steep coastlines and hiking trails over the rocks.
In the region around Venice and further south, the Adriatic is often lined with wide stretches of beach.
These are often very shallow and therefore ideal for children and beginners.

Route: from Grado in the north to Otranto in the south

As the Adriatic covers a large part of the east coast, the area is correspondingly large and cannot be covered in a few hours.
However, if you still want to experience the coastline in comfort, here is a route that includes all the recommendations from before.

Close-up of the map

Here you can take a look at the coast on the Adriatic Sea in advance:

Adriatic Sea from above: Grado & Otranto

Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, you can take a look at the starting point Grado and the end of our tour, Otranto.

Overflight in Grado: start of the route

Here you can take a first look at the town of Grado in the north.
Here you will see long beaches, seemingly endless blue sea and a harbor reminiscent of Venice.
Find out more about Grado in the tips for your vacation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2-TWLJKR08

Flyover in Otranto – The end of our route

And this is how you can imagine the region in the south near Otranto.
Here, bright buildings are lined up next to historic castle façades and right by the sea.
You can also see the green hills and picturesque nature in the background.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuMIFX8RyJ0

Let’s go!
Tour at a glance: Sunny island to the heel of the boot

The Adriatic offers you many opportunities to set up your gas stove right by the sea and experience the picturesque and very varied nature.
Due to the location of the Adriatic as a stretch of coastline, we start with a recommendation for a beach for you.
This is followed by tips on the “sunny island” of Gardo, the nature reserves and leisure opportunities in the Comacchio lagoon, the city of Rimini with special opportunities for children and more and, to round things off, Otranto in the far south.
An overview of our camping tour:

• Spaggia di Punta Sabbioni” beach near Venice
• City of Grado on the sunny island
• Caorle, the little paradise near Venice
• Nature reserve in the Comacchio lagoon
• Rimini with its enchanting old town and white beaches
• Otranto in the far south

Beach: “Spaggia di Punta Sabbioni” near Venice

Let’s start with a fantastic beach vacation.
The “Spaggia dei Punta Sabbioni” beach is a free natural beach near Venice that is one of the most popular on the Adriatic.
It is located in the middle of the Venice lagoon and yet its quiet location makes it ideal for relaxing with the whole family.
Even four-legged companions get their money’s worth here: there is a dog beach!
After an exciting day in the water, you can treat yourself to a delicious meal at the kiosk, beach bar or restaurant.
These are the advantages of the beach:

• Free natural beach
• In the middle of the lagoon
• Quieter location
• Dog beach
• Kiosk, beach bar, restaurant & shower
• Easy entry into the water, also suitable for children and swimming beginners

Here you can take a 360° look at the beach in advance: Further to the northeast lies the sunny Grado peninsula.

Grado: sunny island with a beach for dogs & children

Our next stop is Grado.
Grado is also known as the Island of the Sun or the Island of Gold.
The sunny island has the only beach on the Adriatic that is completely south-facing.
Dogs can also enjoy the warm sun here, as there is also a dog beach!
There is also a water park for family fun.
If you’ve had enough rest on the beach, the peninsula also offers a flat landscape that is very popular for cycling.
You can also take a stroll through the small town with its narrow streets, small canals and architecture inspired by Venice.
What you should know about Grado:

• Also known as Sun Island or Gold Island
• The only south-facing beach on the Adriatic
• Dog beach
• Water park for action with the kids
• Flat landscape, this is very suitable for cycling!
• City center: narrow alleys, small canals & Venetian atmosphere

This is what the beach on the sunny island looks like:

Caorle: small town right next to Venice

The small town of Caorle is located north-east of Venice.
It takes about an hour and a half from Grado to Caorle by camper.
Just like the Adriatic, it is a tranquil spot with plenty of beach and sea.
Here you will find two popular beaches, the Ponente beach and the Levante beach, a picturesque promenade along the old town and a beautiful lagoon.
For more recommendations on suitable campsites near the beach, nearby excursion destinations and activities such as swimming, motorboating and cycling, you can read this article.
Caorle at a glance:

• Small town northeast of Venice
• Two popular beaches: Levante & Ponente beach
• Beach promenade with old town
• Dreamlike lagoon

Find out more about camping in Caorle here:

• Camping in Caorle

After a few days on the beach, you’ll find an opportunity to get out and about in nature, right by the Adriatic Sea.

Comacchio lagoon: flamingos, hiking & lidos

In the Comacchio lagoon, it is worth starting from the fishing station.
From here, you can go hiking or take a tour by motorboat or bike.
You can see the unique nature, observe rare birds, hike on headlands and marvel at the romantic fishermen’s huts in the area.
To the northeast lies the salt works, a basin for salt extraction.
Unusual natural spectacles await you here too.
For example, you can take a guided tour to see one of the largest flamingo cultures in Europe.
To the south of the lagoon, you will find the island of Boscoforte, where real wild horses, the Delta Camargue horses, await you.
To the north, you will find the Lidi di Comacchio lidos.
Seven lidos that offer you a place to relax after an exciting day in nature.
The lagoon at a glance:

• Fishing station as a starting point for hikes, boat trips & bike tours
• Nature, bird watching, hiking over headlands & fishing huts in the countryside
• Saltworks: Basin for salt extraction, in the northeast of the lagoons
• But: Only allowed to enter on request, with a guide
• Rare flamingo colonies
• Wild horses: Delta-Camargue horses in the south
• You can visit the island of Boscoforte with a guide
• Beach resorts in the north “Lidi di Comacchio”

This is what it looks like in the lagoon: Further south, a city trip through Rimini is a good idea:

Rimini: beach, old town & fun for children

The city of Rimini is a popular destination for vacationers from all over the world.
The city offers numerous beaches and promenades.
Here you can swim, sunbathe, jet ski and sail.
For those of us who are young at heart, there is also a lively nightlife and Roman sights, as well as a historic city center with buildings from the Renaissance period for sightseeing during the day.
For a tasty snack in between, try the famous piadina flatbread.
This is a specialty in Rimini and the surrounding area.
There are theme parks for children, such as a miniature land in which many places around the world have been recreated in miniature or an amusement park.
This is what a visit to Rimini has to offer:

• Numerous beaches & beach promenades
• Sunbathing, swimming, jet skiing & sailing
• In addition, extensive nightlife & Roman sights in the city
• Typical dish: Piadina – flatbread with filling
• Historic town center with typical Italian Renaissance buildings
• Theme parks such as a miniature land and an amusement park

Here you can also visit a beach like this one: Continuing south along the Adriatic coast, we come to our last tip, the port city of Otranto:

Otranto: The end of the boot heel

The picturesque town offers a great end or stopover to your vacation deep in the south on the outermost point of the “heel of the boot”.
This peninsula at the south-eastern end of Italy is called Salento.
The small harbor town of Otranto offers you space for a stroll through the historic old town.
If you want to go to the beach again, you will find white dunes and shimmering light blue and turquoise sea with many shallow stretches of beach for children.
Away from the beaches, it is worth hiking over the flat cliffs and the rocky coastline.
This is what awaits you in Otranto:

• In the far south on the outermost point of the “boot heel” (Salento peninsula)
• Small harbor town for a stroll through the historic old town
• White dunes, light blue & shimmering turquoise sea on fine sandy beaches
• Many shallow stretches of beach for children
• Flat cliffs & rocky coast for hiking

This is what the harbor district in Otranto looks like:

Excursion destinations nearby, such as Tuscany and Lake Garda

Outside of the Adriatic region, you will find more beautiful destinations here.
These include Tuscany in central Italy and Lake Garda, further to the northwest.
You can read more tips here.

Tuscany: from white marble to green olive groves

White marble, hilly fields and pointed cypress trees that line the landscape.
Tuscany in central Italy offers you a multifaceted variety between green countryside with olive groves and exciting cities with impressive buildings and works of art.
For centuries, the region was a vibrant hub for trade, art and social life.
This is still reflected in the towns today.
In between are rustic villages with rural charm.
These things await you in Tuscany:

• Mixture of green landscapes, olive groves & cities
• Centuries-old hub for trade, art & culture
• Cities with impressive buildings & works of art
• In between, rustic villages with rural charm

Lake Garda: swimming in the lake & water sports

North of Verona, Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy.
Its terrain allows the lake to offer a variety of attractions for sports-loving tourists, from steady winds for sailing and windsurfing to mountains for climbing, abseiling and mountain biking, all overlooking the lake.
Families in particular are drawn there every year, which is more than understandable given the breathtaking views.
These are the advantages of a vacation on Lake Garda:

• Steady wind: ideal for sailing & windsurfing fans
• Mountains make climbing & mountain biking possible
• Popular destination for families

You can find more tips on Lake Garda here:

• Camping Lake Garda

Weather: warm Mediterranean climate

The weather on the Adriatic is often warm and clear.
In the north there are warm summers, sometimes over 28°C, but with high humidity, while the south has a Mediterranean climate.
Summers here are warm, dry and sunny.
This is particularly noticeable from the end of June to the end of August, which is the best time for a summer vacation.
The average maximum temperature then rises above 25 °C.
The average water temperature is the same in August.
Here you can find the weather at a glance:

• Ø Maximum temperature: 25 °C
• Ø Highest water temperature: 25 °C

And here you can take a look at the current weather conditions:

Camping in Liguria & destinations throughout Italy

Have you taken a liking to Italy?
Maybe you’d like to visit the west coast of the boot.
Here you will find the beautiful region of Liguria.
Or would you like to see more of the country’s interior?
Take a look at our travel guide for the whole of Italy.
You’ll find lots of great tips for campers here.

Camping in Liguria: On the other side of the boot

Can’t get enough of the blue Mediterranean?
Discover another fantastic vacation region in Italy on the other side of the country: Liguria, located in the northwest.
Here you can expect the azure blue Mediterranean Sea, white beaches on rocky coasts as well as exciting hiking trails and charming harbor towns such as Monte Rosso al Mare, the Cinque Terre, the Bracco Pass, Savona, Sanremo and Genoa.
Find out more about these places and get additional tips for campers here:

• Camping in Liguria

Camping in Italy: from the sea to the mainland

Of course, you can take a trip to the Italian mainland from any point on the Adriatic.
In addition to its fame for design and fashion, the country boasts vast mountain landscapes, endless coastlines and sandy beaches, a rich history and a culinary paradise.
Whether city trips, camping in Tuscany or a roadtrip with a roof tent through South Tyrol along the Alps – Italy offers a wide range of varied experiences.
Here you will get to know some of the most beautiful places for camping and relaxation:

• Camping in Italy