Camping in Paris | Staying overnight in Paris

During a city trip to Paris, chances are you’ll be staying in a hotel, apartment, Airbnb, or perhaps with friends. But did you know that you can also go camping in Paris? I camped at Camping Huttopia Versailles during my city trip to Paris and would like to share my experience. 

Cheap accommodation in Paris

It can be quite a challenge to find a cheap hotel in Paris because prices in the French capital are quite high. To save money, but also because camping is simply a lot of fun, I booked a stay at a campsite just outside Paris. During the day, I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the city, but in the evening, I relaxed in the forest and slept surrounded by nature.

Camping Huttopia Versailles

There are a number of campsites near Paris. I chose Huttopia Versailles because I had heard positive stories about it and the online reviews were also good. In addition, the campsite in Bois de Boulogne is not as well regarded. The choice for Huttopia was therefore an easy one.

At the campsite, you can stay in glamping tents, wooden cabins, or camp with your own camping equipment. (I brought my own tent). The campsite has a swimming pool with a sliding roof and a restaurant where you can eat in the evening. The usual amenities are also available. Three sanitary buildings, a playground, table tennis table, and parking lot at the entrance to the campsite. You can also park at your camping spot. The campsite is located among the trees, and you camp on sand.

How much does camping in Paris cost?

 I booked the campsite six days upon arrival via the campsite’s website. I was able to book online and had to pay in advance. This was easy to do with Ideal. For four nights at the campsite (Thursday–Monday), I paid €206.16. This was for two people on a camping spot where we could park our tent and car. The price includes use of the sanitary facilities (so no extra coins for the shower) and electricity. If I had wanted to, we could have used the swimming pool. We didn’t. 

Visiting Paris

Camping Huttopia Versailles is located, as the name suggests, in Versailles. The campsite is 3.4 kilometers from the Palace of Versailles. The nearest RER station is Porchefontaine, located 650 meters from the campsite. From this station, the RER C runs in two directions: towards the Palace of Versailles and towards Paris. From Porchefontaine, it takes 25 minutes by RER to Champ de Mars (where the Eiffel Tower is located). Saint-Michel Notre Dame is 35 minutes away. The last RER leaves around midnight, so you can easily go out for dinner and walk through the city in the evening before returning to the campsite. 

I bought a Navigo weekly pass, which costs €31.60 and allows you to use all public transport in and around the city from Monday to Sunday. Please note that weekly passes are only valid for one calendar week, which means that a weekly pass purchased on a Wednesday is only valid until Sunday. 

My experience camping in Paris

As a true camper, camping in Paris felt a bit like combining the best of both worlds. During the day, I could enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city and end the day with the space and tranquility of the campsite. And if I had had more days, I could have easily spent a day at the campsite. The campsite is very nice and the connection to Paris is ideal. But the center of Versailles and the world-famous castle are also within easy reach and you can even walk there. What’s more, staying at the campsite is a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel. Provided you have your own camping equipment or can borrow some from someone. If you have to buy everything and don’t expect to go camping more often, it’s a bit of a waste.   

Camping in Paris more often?

To answer the question as briefly as possible, yes! I really enjoyed camping in Paris. From the campsite, you can be in the city in no time, but you can also seek out peace and quiet every day. The cost of camping is a lot lower than the cost of a hotel. And the facilities at the campsite are good. I might be a little less inclined to go camping in winter. But in spring, summer, and late summer, I would like to go camping in Paris more often. 

Camping blogs

Ever since I was a child, I have been going camping with my parents every year. After a break from camping for a few years, I started tent camping again in 2022. I really enjoyed it and since then I have been camping several times, not only in Paris but also in Vienna. (And I worked for Europe’s leading camping specialist for two years.) Are you a camper too? Then be sure to read my other camping blogs.