Home » TRAVEL NEWS » Greece, Croatia, Spain, Austria, Romania and France Grapple with Tourism Overload and Hidden Travel Gaps as Europe’s Vacation Landscape Reaches Breaking Point
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Europe’s most beloved travel destinations are reaching a critical tipping point, as new data reveals the widening divide between overcrowded tourist hotspots and under-visited regions. Greece, Croatia, Spain, Austria, Romania, and France are at the forefront of this tourism imbalance, with some areas welcoming more than one hundred overnight visitors per resident. This surge is placing enormous pressure on local infrastructure, ecosystems, and community life—while lesser-known destinations continue to be overlooked. The latest findings expose a continent grappling with both extremes of mass tourism, urging a need for smarter, more sustainable travel choices.
Europe continues to battle the growing challenge of overtourism, and a recent analysis by consumer group Which? reveals the continent’s most saturated destinations. Based on newly released data from the European Commission (EC), the findings shed light on the tourist-to-resident ratios that are straining local infrastructure and reshaping travel trends. Notably, Greece emerges as a primary hotspot, appearing four times in the top ten list, with its iconic island of Zakynthos—or Zante—claiming the unenviable title of Europe’s most overcrowded destination.
The EC’s metric evaluates overnight stays relative to permanent population counts in each region. This method offers a clear picture of how intensely tourism impacts local communities during peak seasons. On Zakynthos alone, there were approximately one hundred and fifty overnight tourist stays for every local resident in 2023. With a modest island population of about forty thousand, the island hosted an extraordinary six million overnight stays throughout the year.
A Greek Stronghold in the Overtourism Charts
Joining Zakynthos in the top ten are three more Greek destinations, further underscoring the country’s status as a global travel magnet. The Cyclades island group—including Andros, Thira (Santorini), Kea, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Syros, and Tinos—ranked high, with more than one hundred overnight stays per resident. These islands have long been beloved for their whitewashed architecture, sun-drenched beaches, and postcard-perfect vistas, yet the relentless influx of visitors is now straining both local resources and the resident way of life.
The Dodecanese region, encompassing islands like Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kos, and the ever-popular Rhodes, also made the list, with roughly one hundred and thirteen overnight stays for each islander. Corfu, known officially as Kerkyra, rounded out Greece’s entries with a similar ratio, further reinforcing the message: Greece is experiencing an intense tourism boom that, while economically beneficial, comes with mounting consequences.
Overcrowding Beyond Greece
Although Greece is prominently featured, it’s not alone in dealing with surging tourist numbers. Taking the second spot on the overcrowding index is Istria, Croatia’s largest Adriatic peninsula. It recorded an overwhelming one hundred and thirty-three overnight stays per resident. Croatia’s coastal charm, historical towns, and crystalline waters make it a frequent choice for travelers seeking Mediterranean beauty without Western Europe’s high price tags. However, the data reveals that the influx is reaching unsustainable levels for some localities.
The Canary Islands—particularly Fuerteventura and Lanzarote—also feature prominently in the rankings. Fuerteventura recorded approximately one hundred and eighteen overnight stays per resident, closely followed by Lanzarote with nearly one hundred and eighteen as well. These volcanic islands, part of Spain’s territory off the northwest coast of Africa, have long attracted sun-seeking Europeans, especially during the winter months when the rest of the continent cools down. Yet their appeal is now part of the problem, contributing to infrastructural strain and environmental pressure.
Austria makes three appearances in the top ten, emphasizing that overtourism is not exclusive to coastal or island destinations. Tiroler Oberland, Pinzgau-Pongau in the Salzburg Alps, and Außerfern have become magnets for alpine tourism. With overnight stay ratios ranging from approximately ninety-seven to one hundred and thirteen per resident, these scenic areas attract skiers, hikers, and nature lovers in massive numbers, often outnumbering locals several times over during peak travel periods.
A Tale of Two Extremes
While the most overcrowded regions command attention, the data also reveals the lesser-known corners of Europe where tourism remains minimal. For instance, Dytikos Tomeas Athinon, or western Athens, recorded one of the lowest overnight stay-to-resident ratios in Greece, at just sixty-four. Travelers in search of a more serene experience might find such regions ideal alternatives.
At the opposite end of the European travel spectrum lies Teleorman, a county in southern Romania. In stark contrast to hotspots like Zakynthos or Majorca, Teleorman recorded just twenty overnight stays per one thousand residents in 2023. With its rural landscapes and lack of international branding, it remains one of Europe’s quietest destinations—proof that significant portions of the continent remain untouched by the travel boom.
Another example is Lille, in France’s Nord region, which saw a meager two overnight stays for every resident. Despite being a cultural and historical hub, Lille has yet to experience the tourism intensity seen in many other European locales.
Majorca Tops in Absolute Volume
When shifting the focus from ratios to total volume, Majorca—a Balearic Island in Spain—leads the pack with an astonishing fifty-one million overnight stays in 2023. While the population of the island is just under one million, the sheer scale of visitor numbers cements its place as a major player in European tourism. The implications for infrastructure, local quality of life, and sustainability are becoming ever more pressing.
The Broader Impact of Overtourism
The conversation around overtourism has grown louder over the past decade, with major cities and island destinations implementing strategies to mitigate the downsides. These include tourist caps, restricted entry during peak times, and campaigns to redirect visitors to lesser-known areas. Yet as this latest data shows, the issue is widespread and requires cohesive policy efforts across multiple countries.
As travelers become more conscious of their environmental and cultural footprints, alternative destinations may gain traction. Under-visited regions such as rural Romania or lesser-known urban centers like Lille might see increased interest as sustainable travel continues to evolve.
Greece, Croatia, Spain, Austria, Romania, and France are experiencing a sharp tourism divide, with some regions overwhelmed by visitors while others remain nearly untouched. New data highlights how this imbalance is reshaping Europe’s travel landscape and pressing the need for more sustainable tourism planning.
Most Overcrowded Tourist Regions in Europe (Overnight Stays Per Resident):
- Zakynthos, Greece – 149.88
- Istria, Croatia – 133.46
- Fuerteventura, Canary Islands – 118.72
- Lanzarote, Canary Islands – 117.78
- Dodecanese Islands, Greece – 113.79
- Tiroler Oberland, Austria – 112.71
- Pinzgau-Pongau, Austria – 109.01
- Cyclades, Greece – 104.15
- Kerkyra (Corfu), Greece – 100.08
- Außerfern, Austria – 97.30
Tags: Austria, Croatia, european travel, france, greece, island tourism, overtourism, romania, spain, sustainable tourism, Tourism news, tourist destinations, Travel News, travel trends
