Agritourism in Europe: How to Choose a Farm Stay That Supports Local Farmers

A rustic farmhouse, homemade breakfast, and peaceful countryside views may sound like the perfect holiday stay. But if you are looking for agritourism in Europe, how can you tell whether the accommodation is part of a working farm?

What do the flowers, sunflowers, and apples beside farm stay listings actually mean? And does staying on a farm automatically make your trip more sustainable?

This guide explains where to find farm stays in seven European countries, how to understand their ratings, and what to check before booking a stay that supports local farmers.

What Does Agritourism in Europe Actually Mean?

Rural tourism is hardly a niche in Europe. According to Eurostat, 32.6% of all nights spent in EU tourist accommodation were in rural areas in 2023. It was almost identical to the shares recorded in cities and towns/suburbs.

Agritourism connects travelers to agriculture through farm stays, vineyard visits, tastings, workshops, and other related experiences. However, unlike hotels, which have established classification systems across much of Europe, agritourism has no single European framework defining what the term means.

The STAY (Still Tourism Around Yard) Summary Report found that definitions, data, and approaches to agritourism vary widely across European countries. Therefore, listings should have more explanation than a countryside address and the word "farm."

Where Should You Look for Farm Stays in Europe?

National farm tourism networks are useful starting points. They help you find properties and understand the criteria behind their listings. However, each network works differently, so check behind the ratings.

Italy

Agriturismo Italia is the official information portal to find agritourism stays. It has a one-to-five sunflower classification to help travelers understand the hospitality offering.

Agritourism is a significant part of Italy's tourism landscape. Istat counted 26,360 authorized agritourism businesses in 2024, which welcomed 4.7 million guests. International travelers accounted for 54.8% of them.

France

Bienvenue à la ferme lets you search separately for accommodation, farm products, activities, and catering. It brings together more than 5,000 farmers across France, including nearly 1,200 farms offering accommodation and more than 800 offering leisure or educational activities.

All members get a flower logo once approved according to the network's specifications. Certain regions may also identify properties with separate certifications or labels, including organic agriculture, High Environmental Value (HVE), Gîtes de France, Accueil Vélo, and Tourisme & Handicap.

Germany

Landsichten is a booking and information portal rather than an association or classification body, representing more than 2,300 hosts. For a clear connection to active agriculture, look for the "Qualitätsgeprüfter UrlaubsBauernhof" mark.

To qualify for this mark, an accommodation must be connected to an active agricultural business, offer at least one farm tour per week, and provide products from the farm or other regional producers.

Landsichten celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2026 and now represents more than 2,300 hosts not only in Germany, but in Austria too.

Austria

Start with Urlaub am Bauernhof, also known as Farm Holidays. Its member farms undergo regular, standardized checks covering facilities, services, and farm experiences.

Properties receive two to five flowers, which indicate different levels of accommodation and amenities, from basic, comfortable facilities to more elaborate interiors and services.

Switzerland

MyFarm is the Swiss agritourism portal that lists farm accommodation, activities, food experiences, and farm shops nationwide. Travelers can choose from classic rooms and apartments as well as unusual stays, such as sleeping on straw, tepees, and treehouses.

Listings usually describe the farm's production and guest activities, but also share practical details such as bedding, bathrooms, breakfast, and arrangements for children.

The Swiss Federal Statistical Office reports that MyFarm represents around 200 providers. Domestic travelers made up 72% of overnight stays, while German visitors accounted for another 21%.

Slovenia

The Association of Tourist Farms of Slovenia has a directory of tourist farms, including properties offering overnight stays. It uses an apple classification for tourist farms, with one to four apples indicating the quality of the accommodation and services.

In its latest brochure, the Association counted 900 tourist farms, including 391 farms with accommodation, 325 excursion farms, 129 wineries and 31 traditional osmice, a traditional temporary farm tavern or wine bar in Slovenia, especially in the Karst, Vipava Valley and Slovenian Istria. An osmica is when farmers open their homes for a limited period and serve their own wine and homemade food.

United Kingdom

Farm Stay UK is a not-for-profit consortium with around 400 members across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It lists cottages, bed and breakfasts, glamping, and other countryside accommodation, but it has a dedicated working farm section.

Beyond the facilities, listings often highlight seasonal activities such as lambing, shearing, or harvesting.

How Can Agritourism Support a Farmer?

When a working farm welcomes overnight guests, accommodation provides an additional income source beyond agriculture. Paying for meals, tours, or workshops, and buying products directly from the farm, will also help farmers earn more.

Developing other income sources matters because income from agriculture can be affected by changing prices, rising production costs, and poor harvests.

Spending money at a working farm can also support the local community, as farmers may sell both their own products and those of their neighbors. If your accommodation has a kitchen, ask the hosts where to find farm shops and farmers' markets.

However, supporting a farmer is one part of sustainable travel. A countryside address will not tell you how the property manages energy, water, or waste. While the flower and apple ratings describe the quality of hospitality, they don't say anything about environmental claims.

Choosing a sustainable agritourism stay starts with the same questions you would ask when choosing a sustainable hotel in Europe. Does the website have a sustainability page? Does it explain specific practices or measurable results? If it mentions certification, does that cover agricultural production, accommodation, or both?

Beyond accommodation, your transport choices also matter. Traveling by plane or train to Europe makes a difference when you want to lower your carbon footprint.