Camping
ADAC Classification: Services & Criteria
The ADAC classification, which is uniform throughout Europe and has five possible stars, reflects the level of facilities offered by campsites in Europe and enables a fair comparison in the areas of sanitary, grounds, campsite stores, recreation and bathing . It takes into account equipment and quality features, is based on standardised criteria and is highly regarded by campsites and campers.
The basis for the classification of a campsite is the results of annual inspections carried out by independent inspectors during the summer peak season. Due to limited capacity, campsites are prioritised. Campsites that are interested in an inspection can contact us by
Email: data@adac-camping.de. Campsites with classifications that have made major changes from one season to the next can also contact data@adac-camping.de. Campsites with 5 stars will be awarded the rating “ADAC Superplatz”, campsites with 4 to 4.5 stars will be awarded “ADAC TIPP”. This system helps campers find their ideal destination and select campsites according to their preferences.
Everything you need to know: Ilka Heyke, Lead of Inspection at ADAC Camping, explains the ADAC classification and gives an outlook on the future direction of the camping industry's most important classification.
Not all criteria are equally important to campers. That´s why the different campsite characteristics weigh differently on the ADAC Classification.
The rating of the sanitary facilities has the greatest influence on the ADAC classification, accounting for 39%. Both the quantity and quality of the sanitary facilities play an important role.
In terms of quality, the architecture and design of the buildings, maintenance and cleanliness are assessed. Buildings with a high relevance for tourist campers also have a greater influence than sanitary facilities that are partly or mainly used by permanent campers. In relation to the number of guests at full occupancy of the campsite, the following sanitary facilities pay off quantitatively in the ADAC classification:
Requirements per 100 pitches* to achieve the highest rating:
We use the following weighting: Pitches for tourists = 100%. Pitches for permanent campers without own sanitary facilities = 60%. Rental accommodation without own sanitary facilities 100%.
Requirements for structure, design and equipment of sanitary buildings to achieve the highest rating:
The rating of the pitches category accounts for 26% of the ADAC classification. It is made up equally of the evaluation of the pitches and the so-called public areas of the campsite. Both quantity and quality are taken into account.
The following factors play a role in the evaluation of the pitches:
Public areas include:
The supply category has a 10% influence on the ADAC classification of a camp site. Shopping facilities such as bread service, kiosk, grocery store and supermarket are taken into account, as well as camping and leisure articles available and cafés, bistros, snack bars and restaurants. Shopping and catering each contribute equally to the overall score and are assessed qualitatively in addition to “available on site or not”.
Type and equipment of the pitches for a best rating:
Kiosk / Grocery / Supermarket
The ADAC classification distinguishes between a kiosk, which sells fresh rolls and usually also newspapers, sweets, ice-cream and drinks, a grocery store, which offers a wider range of products and where you can buy various types of fruit and vegetables, cheese, dairy products, basic meals and the like, and a supermarket, which is mainly characterised by fresh produce, independent departments and a very wide range of products.
The range of camping and leisure products may be in a standalone store or in a section within the supermarket. The range is also rated as Standard or Exceptionally Good.
Accordingly, the best results within this sub-category may be achieved by locations with an exceptionally good supermarket and an exceptionally good range of camping and leisure articles.
Snack Bar / Restaurant
A snack bar is characterised by simple (fast food) meals such as chips or pizza to go or a short stay to eat. Restaurants are divided into three categories:
Leisure activities account for 12.5% of the ADAC classification. A distinction is made here between entertainment facilities for children, sports enthusiasts and adults, and all permanent facilities relating to games, sport and wellness. The scores for each of these two areas contribute equally to the leisure category score.
Games, sports and wellness are assessed both quantitatively and qualitatively. This means that it depends on how many different types of play equipment, sports fields and wellness facilities are available and how well maintained and up-to-date they are. The size of the playgrounds also affects the score. Bad weather facilities such as a recreation room and indoor play areas are also taken into account. Recreation is assessed on the number of days in the peak summer season and the number of hours of guided activities.
Bathing facilities account for 12.5% of the ADAC classification. Points can be awarded for access to natural waters such as the sea, lake and river, as well as for swimming pools and paddling areas.
When assessing natural facilities, the ADAC classification focuses on the size of beaches and sunbathing areas and their facilities, such as umbrellas and showers, as well as the cleanliness and maintenance of the recreational areas. Outdoor and indoor swimming pools are judged on cleanliness, maintenance, pool design and the size of all areas for swimming and splashing about.
When evaluating playgrounds, all play areas that a campground offers are considered. These include outdoor play areas, indoor play areas, adventure play areas, and water play areas. The following factors are evaluated:
Sports fields and exercise facilities are one of the top topics for vacation-happy campers. For all travel constellations, from families with children and sports-minded couples to solo travelers and groups, sports activities are high on the list of expectations for campsites. Sports facilities are rated qualitatively from new or very good to insufficient and quantitatively according to their degree of specialness.
Examples of normal sports offers
Examples of extraordinary sport offers
Relaxing and places to unwind are part of a successful stay at a campsite for many campers. Wellness offers are qualitatively evaluated from as good as new or very good to insufficient. Among other things are recorded:
In addition, reading rooms, lounges and discos are included in the ADAC classification.
Animation will consider offers that take place under the guidance of competent personnel. The activities must be offered for at least one hour per week in at least four weeks of the summer peak season.
A distinction is made between children’s animation, sports animation and entertainment animation.
For a maximum rating, there should be a program at the campsite for at least six days a week for at least four weeks in each of the three categories during the peak season. In total, there should be at least 50 hours of program per week.
Only waters that are located directly at the campsite and that can be reached from the pitches without crossing a public road will be evaluated. The evaluation is based on the quantity (area) of the beach and the quality (condition and equipment). Best values can be achieved from 20 square meters of beach per pitch and when the beach is evaluated as very good in quality.
For this, the beach must be clean, slope rather shallowly into the water, there must be a lifeguard and there should be enough well-maintained showers, sunbeds, umbrellas and other equipment available.
Outdoor pools, indoor pools, children’s pools and paddling pools are evaluated. Here, too, the evaluation is made up of the quantity (surface area) of the pools and the quality (architectural design, maintenance and cleanliness). For a quantitative best rating, a water surface of 2.5 square meters per stand is necessary. Qualitatively, it depends on the following:
Despite all the explanations, sometimes something remains unclear. We have summarized the most frequently asked questions and their answers here. Should you also have individual concerns regarding the ADAC classification of your campsite, please feel free to contact us, stating your campsite name and location or your ADAC search number. Send your email to: data@adac-camping.de
The inspection season ends in October of each year at the latest. This is also the time when you will be informed by e-mail about your ADAC classification. And this is regardless of whether an inspection has taken place at your campsite in the current year or in a previous year.
The ADAC classifications valid for the coming season are published for the first time in the ADAC Camping Guide, which appears annually in December. On pincamp.de, on pincamp.ch and in the ADAC Camping and Pitch Guide App, the current classification results can be seen from January of the new year.
Example: In August 2022, an inspection will be carried out on your pitch. You will receive the resulting classification result by e-mail in October 2022. It will appear in print for the first time in the ADAC Camping Guide 2023, which will be launched in December 2022. On pincamp.de, pincamp.ch and in the ADAC Camping and Pitch Guide App, the latest results will be available from January 2023.
An ADAC classification that you are not satisfied with does not necessarily mean that you have been rated poorly. Basically, the star rating represents an overall value from the five categories of sanitary facilities, grounds, supply, leisure and bathing.
So it may well be that you have scored very highly in the category or categories that are particularly important to you and your target audience, and that an area you don’t necessarily target puts the overall result into perspective. All categories are displayed to campers with your individual results, so that your target group is informed in the best possible way.
We inform you about the ADAC evaluation criteria on this page. If you still have doubts about a fair evaluation even after comparing the evaluation criteria with your campsite offer, please feel free to contact us with your specific request: data@adac-camping.de
It depends. The rule is that an inspector visits your place every 1 – 3 years. If you find that this has not been the case for you and you would like to push for an inspection, simply notify us of your inspection request, including specific details of changes made and new offers by sending an email to data@adac-camping.de
You are also welcome to send us photos. We will then check whether we can prioritize your campsite for an upcoming inspection.
An ADAC classification is given to campsites that have been inspected by an independent inspector on behalf of ADAC. The results of this inspection will be calculated and displayed as the ADAC classification in stars.
In order to be scheduled for an inspection, we depend on the support of the campsites. The more promptly and comprehensively we are informed about developments such as investments or redesigns, the faster and more accurately we can prioritize for inspection. Whether this is a first inspection or a re-inspection does not matter. It is important to know that classifications can only change based on an inspection.
Feel free to contact us if you are interested in an inspection, providing as much detail as possible about any new additions to your campsite. Send your email to: data@adac-camping.de
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