There’s a reason Italy has more registered campsites than almost any country in Europe. Firstly, the geography makes a compelling case: mountain lakes in the north, a coastline that runs for thousands of kilometres, islands, national parks, and towns where nothing much has changed since the fifteenth century. Hire a car and a pitch, and you can reach corners of the country that hotels simply don’t serve.
Camping in Italy has also grown considerably. The days of a muddy field and a single cold shower block are behind most sites now. Across the north of the country, especially, you’ll find places that offer everything from basic tent pitches to fully furnished chalets, swimming pools, on-site restaurants, and kids’ entertainment. All this, without losing the essential point of the whole thing, which is being outdoors in a beautiful place.
The lakes region is one of the most popular destinations for campers arriving from northern Europe. Garda gets most of the attention, and for good reason, but travellers who’ve been around tend to rate Iseo and Maggiore just as highly with far fewer crowds. Lake Iseo in particular sits between Brescia and Bergamo, with the Franciacorta wine country rolling up behind it, small lakeside villages accessible by ferry, and a natural reserve at the Torbiere del Sebino: a wetlands area that’s completely unlike anywhere else in Lombardy.
Camping del Sole Village is right on the lake at Iseo, about 800 metres from the town centre along a flat pedestrian path, close enough to walk in for an evening, far enough that you’re genuinely in the open. The site covers 90,000 square metres and runs from April through to mid-October, which gives it a long useful season. Accommodation runs from standard pitches for tents and campervans through to glamping tents, mobile homes, and private chalets, so the same site works for someone touring with a campervan as it does for a family who wants the comforts of a holiday apartment. Whatever your ideal camping experience may be, you’ll be satisfied.
But what really sets it apart from the generic lakeside campsite? A few things. There are two private beaches with both sand and lawn areas, which not every Iseo site can offer. Also, three swimming pools, including one with a slide and one specifically for young children. A kids’ club with structured programmes, which matters if you’re travelling with children and occasionally want an hour to yourselves. Then the restaurant serves local dishes alongside a Franciacorta wine list: the region produces some of Italy’s best sparkling wines, and most visitors don’t realise it until they’re already there. Lastly, pets are welcome in common areas and along the lake walks.
Conclusion
Italy rewards this kind of travel. You’re not sealed into a resort with a wristband; you’re in a place, with a lake in front of you and somewhere worth exploring on the other side of a short walk. Camping del Sole handles the practicalities well enough that you can actually enjoy that.
