European cities have withstood the ravages of time; some of their architecture dates back hundreds or even thousands of years. Paradoxically, the ancient metropolises that didn’t fall to besiegers, invaders, or baying armies might be falling to another enemy — tourists.
Nobody in the Middle Ages could have foreseen these medieval strongholds falling under the weight of selfie-stick-wielding cruise ship passengers and stag weekends. However, cities that once offered their charms now receive clogged sidewalks, overpriced food menus, and overcrowded museums.
Where should tourists in Europe avoid during the peak tourist season?
Dubrovnik, Croatia
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The sad thing about Dubrovnik is how fast the well-preserved city has fallen to tourism, considering its fortress-like appearance. This Unesco World Heritage city now sits atop the densest tourist traps in Europe, with 36 tourists per resident.
Croatia Week reports that over-tourism presents several problems in Croatia’s coastal jewel — traffic jams, overcrowding, and infrastructural damage. Moreover, residents of the old district have been priced out as globalized gentrification takes over.
Rhodes, Greece
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Sitting in second place is the largest of Greece’s Dodecanese island region, Rhodes. Like Dubrovnik, Rhodes boasts incredible ancient monuments, cobbled streets, and whitewashed architecture. All this is a stone’s throw from the Aegean Sea, making Rhodes a much sought-after vacation island. However, the island and its main city, Rhodes, are creaking under tourists’ weight.
Consequently, the Greek Tourism Confederation and the Ministry of Tourism collaborated with the research group Toposophy to design a new management plan. This project aims to mitigate the negative effects of cruise ships and overtourism, which is still a huge part of Greek GDP.
Venice, Italy
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The Venetians created the world’s finest floating city, using a network of wooden support beams on which they built a stunning Gothic city. “Once did she hold the gorgeous East in fee and was the safeguard of the West,” wrote William Wordsworth of the former city-state in his poetry. “The worth Of Venice did not fall below her birth: Venice, the eldest child of Liberty.”
Sadly, the worth of Venice is too much for tourists to resist, bringing with them all kinds of issues, not the least being litter, agitated locals, and cramped streets. As of 2024, Venice has 21 tourists per resident, sparking resident-only zones where tourists may not roam.
Reykjavik, Iceland
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Iceland’s capital sits at the south end of its wondrous volcanic climes and expansive landscape. The city is a highly functioning, modern metropolis, making for a good base to explore the rest of the island.
This old Viking settlement-turned-investment banking economy has a population of only 377,000 people. It’s hardly a surprise, then, that tourists outnumber the locals at 16-1. Responsible Travel blames this ratio on too many budget travel options; moreover, Iceland is the perfect mid-Atlantic tour stopover for cruise liners.
Florence, Italy
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Italy gets a fair share of tourists yearly because Italians have some of the world’s most dream-like surroundings. No city captures the imagination like Florence, though, like most of the world’s historical places, it suffers from its reputation. Florence currently receives almost 14 tourists per inhabitant.
With so many travelers passing through, complaints about visitors’ behavior are common. For example, a BBC report details one lewd act in particular. In 2024, a tourist became somewhat “over-friendly” with a statue of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and excess.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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The Dutch capital has long been popular with younger crowds, namely men on stag weekends, taking advantage of the vices on offer. With recreational marijuana and prostitution on offer, Amsterdam spent a few decades letting itself go like its visitors.
The city has since cleaned up its image. Since 2023, strict rules with penalties have been put in place. The city’s tourist board, IAmsterdam, publishes details of fines for public behavior, such as drinking alcohol in prohibited spaces.
Lisbon, Portugal
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Lisbon is buzzing with deep history and stucco-covered architecture hugging its steep hills and avenues. The only problem is deciding when to visit, though the city is big enough to escape into its many corners.
While Lisbon has many great sites, the busiest tourist spots are overwhelming in mid-August. What’s more, EuroNews reports how tuk-tuk motorbikes are taking over the streets, making life quite uncomfortable.
Porto, Portugal
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With a similar tourist density to the capital, the old city of Porto sits next on the list. The city boasts postcard-perfect vistas of old Europe, making it onto countless Instagram feeds and travel guide top-tens.
Porto’s elegant old city attracted 30 million visitors in 2023, which has pushed the tourist authority to bring measures. The Portugal Municipal Chamber announced plans to implement delimitations on the city’s eight quarters to mitigate the pressure on certain zones.
Dublin, Ireland
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Dublin’s population means annual visitor numbers exceed its residents by nine to one, making Dublin a place to avoid in peak season. Overall, Dubliners have a positive view of tourists, many of whom go for the drinking culture and bar scene.
A reported 83% of its U.S. visitors don’t leave the capital, according to Failte Ireland. Furthermore, the Irish capital is also in a housing crisis, experiencing overcrowding, fierce competition for accommodation, and rising food prices. Besides, visiting Ireland should entail visiting Ireland, not just walking around Dublin — anyone making an effort to go there needs to see the country’s full repertoire.
Athens, Greece
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Visiting the Greek capital during the peak holiday heat may be some travelers’ idea of punishment, though some have no choice but to travel then. Subsequently, Athens is a hive of tourist activity. Many people go on stopovers en route to the islands; other visitors include weekenders and guided tour groups looking for an Acropolis money shot.
Much like the oversaturated Santorini or Paros, Athens suffers a similar problem with heaving crowds of disembarked cruise ship passengers. What’s more, they are not spending enough money there. It pushed Athens mayor Harris Doukas to declare that Athens is no longer viable for tourists.
Paris, France
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The 2024 Paris Olympics brought a reported 11 million people to watch the games, though the city is no stranger to crowds. The French capital is a year-long tourist destination with a sizable 7 tourists per resident — no mean feat with a two-million population.
In most people’s eyes, Paris represents a dream trip of a lifetime to the world’s most romantic city. In reality, parts of the city have become a hive of street scammers, high prices, and sluggish tourist trap lines.
Nice, France
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Nice used to be nice but not so much today, according to TravelWithWendy, a writer who has traveled to France extensively. She laments overpriced accommodation and sky-high taxi prices, which are possibly connected to increasing tourist growth.
The Mediterranean coastal city is becoming a popular cruise ship hub, which means sudden introductions of sidewalk-blocking tour groups. Over the summer, it leads to a strain on local resources, water bottles in the sea, and an overwhelmed water system.
Bruges, Belgium
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Belgium is not everyone’s idea of a dream adventure destination, though it does have a feather in its cap — Bruges. The Unesco World Heritage City has a long list of admirers; its Baroque architecture, historical walks, and al fresco coffee culture are hard to beat.
Unfortunately, these benefits come with a price. Bruge has almost seven tourists per local, according to travel research platform Holidu. Maybe Ghent or Antwerp would be a better place for those averse to large crowds, perhaps taking in Bruge for a day trip.
