Campsites: Infrastructure

There are approximately 450 campsites in Switzerland and camping is becoming more and more popular. Back in 2005, approximately 2.7 million people spent a night on a Swiss campsite, compared to around 3.3 million in 2010 and over 3.7 million in 2019. One reason for the popularity of campsites is their diversity: there is usually a campsite to be found wherever people enjoy spending their free time – at lakes, rivers or in the mountains, from Lake Maggiore to the Jaun Pass. The largest campsite – Campofelice in Tenero, Ticino – has 581 spaces on an area of 15 hectares, while the smallest – Dany’s Camping in Lütschental, Bern – has only 36 spaces on 0.4 hectares. Camping Arolla in Val d’Hérens stretches up to 1,950 metres, making it the highest campsite in Europe.

Some areas are specially designed with long-term campers in mind and only have a few visitor spaces, while others specifically aim to attract customers such as windsurfers, cyclists or families.

There is a star-rating system for campsites, just like for hotels. Since 1987, the Swiss Camping Association (swisscamps) in cooperation with Touring Club Suisse (TCS) and the Swiss Camping and Caravanning Association (SCCV), under the umbrella of “Camping Switzerland”, have been responsible for the official rating and classification of campsites. Approximately half of all campsites in Switzerland are rated. Four criteria are examined: location, facilities, sanitation, service and management. The sites are classified as follows based on these criteria:

* Basic campsite (required infrastructure)

** Practical campsite (practical infrastructure and facilities; functional)

*** Standard campsite (good level of infrastructure; facilities are well-maintained and comfortable)

**** Comfort campsite (high standard of infrastructure; modern facilities and very comfortable)

***** First-class campsite (excellent infrastructure; luxurious facilities with all the mod cons).