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Best van travel destinations in Europe

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Andalusia
Flamenco, Moorish Palaces and Sun
8.7
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park has run camping patrols for seven straight summers. Vans may not stop overnight from sunset to sunrise outside designated areas. Awnings and tables count as camping. Mulhacén in the Sierra Nevada reaches 11,411 feet, the highest peak on the Iberian Peninsula.
Highlights:
  • 🌺 Wander through historic Seville’s Alcazar and plazas
  • 🕌 Visit the Mezquita, the mosque-cathedral of Córdoba
  • 🏰 Explore the stunning Alhambra Palace in Granada
Algarve
Golden cliffs and azure waters
8.5
Official ASA service areas offer wastewater disposal, fresh water and sometimes electricity for a few euros. Wild camping outside them can draw fines of 60 to 300 euros. Protected areas can cost 600 euros or more. The south coast runs about 96 miles. Faro averages about 3,044 sunshine hours a year.
Highlights:
  • 🏰 Visit Lagos Old Town and its historic fortifications
  • 🌊 Relax on Praia da Marinha, one of Europe’s best beaches
  • ⛱️ Explore the stunning sea caves and cliffs of Benagil
Scotland
Mystic Highlands and Historic Castles
7.7
Access rights under the Land Reform Act 2003 cover walkers and cyclists but not campervans. Plan overnight stops at campsites and caravan sites. About 900 islands lie offshore and roughly 118 are inhabited. Ben Nevis in Lochaber tops out at 4,413 feet. The Highlands hold the highest elevations in the British Isles.
Highlights:
  • 🏚️ Walk through the mysterious Real Mary King's Close
  • ⛰️ Hike up to panoramic views from Arthur’s Seat
  • 🏰 Explore the historic Edinburgh Castle in Old Town
Lofoten
Dramatic Peaks and Northern Lights
8.4
The archipelago stretches about 62 miles and the E10 links its larger islands with bridges and undersea tunnels. An overnight parking ban applies to most E10 pullouts, so use official campsites or stellplatz spots. The midnight sun shines in Svolvær from 25 May to 17 July.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on white sands of Kvalvika Beach
  • ⚔️ Explore the Viking history at Lofotr Viking Museum
  • 🥾 Hike the steep trail up Reinebringen for views
Brittany
Coastal charm meets historic Breton villages
8.5
About 1,780 miles of coastline make up roughly a third of the French total. About 800 islands lie offshore, with Belle Île the largest. Camping-car Park stops in the region logged 425,750 overnight stays in 2025, up 16%. Hirel was the most used at about 10 euros a night.
Highlights:
  • 🍽️ Taste crêpes in a traditional Breton stall
  • 🏰 Explore the medieval town of Dinan
  • 🌅 Climb Mont Saint-Michel's cliffs at sunrise
Provence
Sunlit lavender fields and historic villages
8.6
Avignon hosted the papacy and still has the Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic palace in Europe at the time. Mistral winds often top 62 mph, which matters for tall vans. Mont Ventoux rises 6,263 feet. The Verdon canyon runs about 12 miles and drops more than 980 feet.
Highlights:
  • 🏰 Explore the medieval town of Gordes by foot
  • 🍷 Sample rosé wine in a local vineyard
  • 🌾 Stroll through lavender fields at sunset
Dolomites
Majestic peaks echoing alpine serenity
9.2
UNESCO declared the Dolomites a World Heritage Site on 26 June 2009. Marmolada is the highest peak at 10,968 feet. Pordoi Pass reaches 7,382 feet and Sella Pass 7,362 feet. Rules for overnight stays differ between South Tyrol, Trentino and Veneto, so check before you park.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike to Alpe di Siusi for panoramic vistas
  • ⛷️ Ski powdery slopes at Cortina d'Ampezzo in winter
  • 🏔️ Ascend Tre Cime di Lavaredo via scenic trail
North Coast 500
Scenic cliffs and rugged coastlines
The 516 mile circuit from Inverness Castle launched in March 2015. Single track stretches need drivers to use passing places and keep a gap between vehicles. Campervans cannot rely on wild camping rights, so book campsites early. Plan at least five to seven days on the road.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Stroll through picturesque Portree harbor at sunset
  • 🌊 Explore Skye's Fairy Pools waterfalls
  • 🏔️ Hike the scenic Old Man of Storr ridge
Ring Road Iceland
Scenic loop through volcanic landscapes and waterfalls
Route 1 circles Iceland for 813 miles and was completed in 1974. About 31 single lane bridges remain, mostly in the rural east and across southern glacial plains. Since November 2015 sleeping in a camper van outside organised campsites is illegal without landowner consent. Open sections have a 56 mph limit.
Highlights:
  • 🛁 Soak in Blue Lagoon geothermal spa
  • 🌞 Witness midnight sun over Þingvellir National Park
  • 🚗 Drive the Ring Road, stopping at waterfalls
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