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This country welcomes approximately 32 million tourists each year(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\nResearch has revealed that there is one country in Europe where tourists outnumber locals three to one, and surprisingly, it’s none of the summer hotspots that Brits tend to frequentThis country welcomes approximately 32 million tourists each year(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
When you think of crowded European tourist destinations, Spain <\/a>and Greece <\/a>are probably top of mind. But another European country has scooped the title of the most overcrowded tourist destination in the world.<\/p>\n Despite the fact that protestors reclaimed the beaches in Spain to fight overtourism <\/a>and housing shortages, the country with the most visitors per local is actually Austria. Research conducted by the team at MoneyTransfers.com reveals that the country in central Europe is the most crowded.<\/p>\n The study found that for every local resident in Austria, there are 3.6 tourists. Despite having a population of just 8.9 million, the country welcomes around 32 million visitors each year, as previously reported by the Express<\/a>. But where exactly are all these tourists heading? Vienna, the culturally rich capital city of Austria, is the country’s top tourist draw.<\/p>\n Known as the ‘City of Dreams’, it\u2019s not hard to understand Vienna\u2019s mass appeal. The capital is home to top-rate attractions including the Schonbrunn Palace, the Vienna Opera House<\/a>, and the Museum of Natural History. The city is also famous for its delicious namesake cake and baroque architecture.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Little-known under-the-radar Greek island Brits know nothing about<\/a><\/p>\n But while Vienna may be equipped to welcome hordes of tourists, some of Austria’s smaller locations are struggling with the task. Hallstatt<\/a>, a stunning village located on the shores of Lake Hallstatt, has seen locals taking to the streets to protest against the surge in tourism.<\/p>\n The small village of Hallstatt <\/a>sits on southwestern shore of Lake Hallstatt in Austria\u2019s Salzkammergut mountain region. If you\u2019re trying to conjure an idea of the little hamlet, think Austrian postcard: 16th-century Alpine houses on the lake\u2019s edge with snow-capped mountains in the background. But it might be a bit too picturesque.<\/p>\n![\"Aerial](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_GettyImages-483201541.jpg\")
Vienna lies in the northeastern corner of Austria, where the Danube cuts through the mountains.(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
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For those wanting to avoid the crowds in Hallstatt, there is another Austrian town that promises history and holiday fun(Image: Getty Images\/EyeEm)<\/p>\n