Off-season camping in southern Europe
Warm days, empty beaches and lower prices from October to April.
By CampingSpirit Editors · August 6, 2026 · 3 min read
When the summer crowds leave, southern Europe becomes one of the best places in the world to travel by campervan. Portugal's Algarve and Alentejo coast, Andalusia and Murcia in southern Spain, Sicily, the Peloponnese and Crete stay mild for much of the winter, with sunny afternoons often well above 15 °C. Beaches are empty, prices drop and towns belong to the people who live there again.
Where the warmth is
The further south and the closer to the sea, the milder the nights. The Spanish coast between Almería and Cartagena and the Algarve are the most reliable for winter sun, while inland Andalusia and the Portuguese interior can drop to freezing at night. Sicily and Crete are warmer than mainland Italy and Greece but get more rain between December and February. The Canary Islands are warm all year, but taking a motorhome there means a long ferry crossing from mainland Spain.
Campsites and stopovers in winter
Many coastal campsites close from about November to March, so check opening dates before you plan a night. Those that stay open, especially in Spain and Portugal, often cater for long-stay guests from northern Europe and offer weekly or monthly rates; popular ones fill up over Christmas and in February. Off-season discount cards such as the ACSI CampingCard can cut prices further at participating sites. Rules on overnight parking outside designated areas have been tightened along much of the Portuguese and Spanish coast, so plan nights at campsites and official stopovers.
Short days, cold nights
Around the winter solstice, the sun sets around 6 p.m. even in southern Spain and earlier in Greece, so plan shorter driving stages and arrive before dark. Nights can be cold even when afternoons are warm, and damp near the sea. A heater that runs on your hookup saves gas; a dehumidifier or good ventilation keeps condensation down. Gas bottles and fittings differ between countries, so a refillable LPG system with a set of adapters makes winter touring much easier.
What winter does well
Winter is the best season for hiking in the hot south: the Alpujarras, the coastal paths of the Algarve and Alentejo, Sicily's Etna and the gorges of Crete are far more pleasant at 18 °C than at 35 °C. Almond trees blossom in southern Spain and Portugal from late January, orange harvests fill the markets, and festivals such as Carnival bring life to towns that feel quiet the rest of the season. In the planner, raise the detour distance a little: with less traffic, a scenic side trip costs less time than in summer.
