Campingplatz Stover Strand International

Wherever you land up in the world, beach holidays are simply splendid. Riverside breaks, ditto. And if you're also within easy reach of a beaut city such as spectacular Hamburg, you might feel you've been mighty lucky in your pick of holiday locale.

Such smugness at your aptitude in finding smashingly located sites should kick in nicely at Lower Saxony's Campingplatz Stover Strand International. It's on the banks of the vast River Elbe, which flows for a momentous 1,094 kilometres from the northern Czech Republic all the way to the North Sea, and is a couple of kilometres from sandy lakeside beaches for swimming, watersports and fishing.

And – get your chuffed face ready – it's only about 35 minutes' drive from this peaceful green setting to Germany's second biggest city, Hamburg (prep your sightseeing persona too; you'll want to spend several days here). Additionally, the site's surrounding district of Nordfriesland is the most visited rural region in Germany, and includes the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park and the North Frisian Islands: you'll def be fairly busy out and about around here.

Stover Strand has spacious grass pitches overlooking the water. There's a well-stocked shop to hand for your foodie bits and bobs, as well as a restaurant serving home-cooked meals. A restaurant which is really rather spectacular too and which is dined in by locals as well as holidaymakers: it has a heated terrace, an a la carte menu, regional specialities and regular foodie events including barbecue buffets and dinners on the beach. The staff can also put together a personal picnic basket or arrange a barbecue party for you; just ask when you arrive.

Leisure facilities include a playground, miniature golf and a sports court.