Italy, France, Spain, Croatia, Norway, Romania, Poland, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Greece’s Overtourism Alert: Europe’s Most Crowded Destinations Revealed — See Which Beautiful Spots to Avoid

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Industry observers were reportedly turning their attention to a new Which Overtourism Alert: Europe’s Most Crowded Destinations Revealed — See Which Beautiful Spots to Avoid? Travel study that, while not surprising to many, has reinforced growing concerns over overtourism in Europe. The report, published in early May 2025, emphasized not only the volume of visitors descending upon specific destinations, but also how this influx is reshaping the very nature of travel. Stakeholders in tourism—airlines, tour operators, local municipalities, and travelers alike—were said to be grappling with the implications.

For many industry experts, the findings confirmed long-standing trends that have escalated post-pandemic. With travel once again surging globally, the tourism infrastructure in several European cities appeared to be straining under the weight of ever-growing footfall. This development was being closely watched worldwide, with parallels already being drawn to similar hotspots in Asia, Latin America, and even parts of North America.

The Greek Island Setting a Troubling Record

It was indicated in the report that Zakynthos, commonly known as Zante, had now taken the unwanted title of the most crowded tourist resort in Europe. With overnight stays outnumbering local residents by an astonishing ratio of 150 to 1, the island had become a case study in what unchecked visitor numbers could mean for small communities.

Zakynthos, famed for its turquoise waters and the photogenic Navagio Beach, has long been a staple of Mediterranean holiday brochures. However, the new data appeared to raise red flags for regional planners and environmentalists alike. The volume of tourism, while beneficial to the local economy in the short term, could be threatening the island’s ecosystems, housing affordability, and overall liveability.

Other European Destinations in Crisis

Zakynthos was not alone. The Which? Travel study reportedly highlighted other prominent European destinations buckling under similar stress. Mallorca had emerged as the location with the highest number of overnight stays—an overwhelming 51 million—while Paris, with a jaw-dropping tourist density of over 418,000 stays per square kilometre, had surpassed all others in terms of congestion.

Observers pointed to a growing consensus that Paris had reached its tourism tipping point, surpassing Athens, which had previously ranked high in visitor density. While iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre remain magnet attractions, local residents have increasingly expressed frustration with inflated rents, street congestion, and strained municipal services.

The Role of Social Media in Driving Crowds

Social media’s influence on destination popularity had again been underscored, this time through a striking example from Italy. The mountain village of Roccaraso, with a modest population of 1,500, was said to have experienced an influx of 16,000 visitors in January 2025—all drawn by the presence of TikTok influencer Rita de Crescenzo. The response from locals reportedly bordered on panic, with Mayor Francesco Di Donato even suggesting military intervention to manage the chaos.

This kind of event-based overtourism, driven not by traditional holiday planning but by viral content, was emerging as a new trend in travel behavior. Such surges could overwhelm small, unprepared destinations, forcing local authorities to reconsider open-access tourism models.

Lessons from the Past: The Great Yarmouth Parallel

Observers were reminded of a different era when Great Yarmouth in the UK had welcomed similarly large numbers of visitors. In 1903, 10,000 workers from the Bass Brewery in Burton upon Trent were transported there in a coordinated event involving 16 trains. Unlike the reaction in Roccaraso, that influx had been welcomed and even celebrated.

Local historian Roger Silver had reportedly emphasized how different the public perception was back then. The town’s infrastructure, designed for leisure and spectacle, embraced the tourist flow. Modern destinations lacking such embedded systems, however, are finding it more difficult to cope.

Tourist Behavior vs. Tourist Volume

Prof. Richard Butler from the University of Strathclyde was cited for making a crucial distinction: in many cases, the problem might not lie solely in the number of tourists, but in their behavior. He pointed out that long-standing tourist centers like Blackpool, Las Vegas, and Orlando tend not to face the same complaints. These cities had grown up with tourism at their core and adapted over decades.

In contrast, cities like Dubrovnik, Prague, and Barcelona had entered the global spotlight more recently. As Butler reportedly explained, some of their wounds might be self-inflicted. For instance, Barcelona had deliberately reoriented its economy towards tourism following the 1992 Olympics, only to find itself now overwhelmed.

The Industry’s Struggle to Adapt Marketing Strategies

One concerning finding from the report was the lag in marketing adaptations. Destinations like Istria in Croatia, which ranked second in terms of tourist-resident ratio, were still being promoted as “best-kept secrets.” This branding strategy no longer aligned with the reality on the ground.

Experts suggested that outdated promotional narratives could compound the problem. Tourists expecting tranquil settings were often arriving to find congested towns and overwhelmed services, leading to dissatisfaction and conflict between visitors and locals.

Suggested low-pressure alternatives according to the report included:

Rybnik, PolandSeveroistočen, North MacedoniaTeleorman, Romania
These destinations offered more space, lower tourist density, and often more authentic cultural experiences for those willing to explore beyond the traditional path.Where Silence Reigns: Europe’s Least Visited Corners

At the far end of the scale, destinations such as the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen had reported virtually no visitors. Located well inside the Arctic Circle and requiring special permissions, Jan Mayen was unlikely to appear in mainstream tourist brochures.

In the rest of Europe, sparsely visited areas such as Teleorman in Romania or Svalbard in Norway offered similar retreats for those seeking isolation. These areas might serve as key examples for how the tourism industry could distribute traffic more evenly and reduce environmental and social pressures elsewhere.

Statistical Snapshot from the Report

The report provided a concise numerical overview of tourism pressure, helping industry professionals and policy makers to visualize the disparities:

Highest tourist pressure (per 1,000 residents):

Zakynthos, Greece: 149,887Istria, Croatia: 133,467Fuerteventura, Canary Islands: 118,720

Lowest tourist pressure (per 1,000 residents):

Targovishte, Bulgaria: 332Rybnik, Poland: 351Benevento, Italy: 398

Highest tourist density (per sq km):

Paris: 418,280Athens: 88,535Copenhagen: 63,944

Least visited areas:

Jan Mayen: 0 visitorsTeleorman: 6,983 staysZasavska, Slovenia: 22,990 staysA Wake-Up Call for Travelers and Planners Alike

It was becoming increasingly apparent that the global travel industry stood at a crossroads. As destinations like Zakynthos, Mallorca, and Paris faced unsustainable levels of tourism, travelers were being urged to consider lesser-known destinations. Tour operators, meanwhile, were expected to adapt their offerings, encouraging more mindful travel choices.

Planners and policymakers might need to accelerate the development of sustainable tourism frameworks that both support local economies and preserve cultural and environmental integrity. From capacity limits and taxation to incentivized travel to under-visited areas, the spectrum of possible interventions was broad.

A Glance to the Future

As Roger Silver reportedly observed while standing on the historic quays of Great Yarmouth, there remained a longing in some places for the tourism levels of old. While some regions suffer from too many visitors, others await revitalization through responsible travel flows.