Top 11+ European Countries Overwhelmed by Tourists in 2025

Spain: The Water Pistol Rebellion

Spain received almost 94 million international visitors in 2024, nearly double its own population. The largest protest occurred in Majorca where approximately 5,000 people took to the streets in the island's capital city of Palma.

Last month at the iconic Sagrada Familia, frustrated locals resorted to spraying tourists with water pistols to protest the overwhelming volume of short-term visitors in their neighbourhoods, with Barcelona welcoming approximately 15.5 million tourists—roughly nine times its resident population of 1.7 million. Spain's government ordered Airbnb to take down almost 66,000 properties it said had violated local rules, while Barcelona announced a plan to phase out all of the 10,000 apartments licensed in the city as short-term rentals by 2028.

Italy: Venice's Entry Fee Revolution

Venice is now seeing up to 85,000 daily day-trippers, a staggering figure considering that the resident population is under 50,000. Venice has expanded its day-tripper fee system, charging visitors between €5 and €10 depending on the time of their visit, intended to regulate the flow of visitors and generate revenue for the preservation of the city's historic sites.

There are currently 8,322 Airbnb listings in Venice according to Inside Airbnb, 77% of which are entire properties. Venice has decided to cap the size of tourist groups at 25 individuals, aimed at managing the flow of visitors more effectively and ensuring a balance between tourist activities and preservation efforts.

Greece: Water Scarcity on Paradise Islands

Greece welcomed nearly four times more tourists than its population in 2024, creating a recipe for disaster on islands like Mykonos and Santorini, where water is now trucked in from the mainland or desalinated to meet surging demand. On some of Greece's most-visited islands, tourism has overlapped with water scarcity as drought grips the Mediterranean country of 10.4 million.

The Greek government has introduced measures including limiting the number of cruise ships that can dock at popular ports, introducing a visitor cap on certain islands, and imposing regulations on short-term rentals. With millions of tourists visiting historical sites such as the Acropolis, Delphi, and Olympia, the country has been working to limit the number of visitors allowed at certain sites and improve visitor management systems.

France: The Louvre Strikes Back

France, the biggest international destination, received 100 million international visitors in 2024. The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, shut down this week when its staff went on strike warning that the facility was crumbling beneath the weight of overtourism, stranding thousands of ticketed visitors lined up under the baking sun.

Tourism direct gross value added from France amounted to €87 billion, making it one of the main contributors to EU tourism. The country is now implementing stricter crowd control measures and early-bird ticketing systems to manage visitor flows to its most popular attractions.

Portugal: The Lisbon Housing Crisis

Portugal recorded 1.6 million visitors in January 2025, up 8.3% year-on-year, and April's guest count rose to 2.9 million, marking an 8.5% increase. Alfacinhas in Lisbon have been making noise against uncontrolled tourism, as the city faces a housing crisis similar to Barcelona's situation.

In Q1 2025, occupancy reached 58.1% with ADR averaging €113.10, while Lisbon remains the epicenter of hospitality development, boasting a pipeline of over 5,000 new rooms. The government is now considering regulations on short-term rentals to address the displacement of local residents.

Croatia: From Game of Thrones to Overtourism

Croatia was crowned Europe's #1 travel destination for 2025 at ITB Berlin, after drawing nearly 20 million visitors in 2024 and expected to surpass that mark again this year. Tourism represents around 20% of Croatia's GDP, making the country heavily dependent on visitor revenue.

Dubrovnik has seen a strong return of visitors with hotels inside the walled city reporting early full-bookings for spring and summer, while Split's combination of Roman history and Adriatic access continues to appeal to travelers. The Adriatic coastline is struggling with infrastructure that wasn't built to handle millions of international visitors annually.

Netherlands: Amsterdam's Tourist Tax Revolution

In Amsterdam, tourists pay around €22 per night (AU$36), in addition to the standard hotel rate. The Netherlands, known for calm canals and laid-back charm, is hitting back with warning signs and restrictions.

The city has implemented some of Europe's highest tourist taxes and is actively discouraging certain types of tourism, particularly bachelor parties and pub crawls. The Netherlands has officially joined the crisis alongside other European destinations struggling with overtourism impacts.

Austria: Cultural Strain in the Alps

Austria, famous for culture and calm, is showing signs of strain as tourist numbers continue to climb. Austria recorded 14 nights spent per inhabitant in tourism intensity measures, indicating significant pressure on local infrastructure.

The country is now part of the growing coalition of European nations implementing stricter tourism regulations. Mountain regions are facing environmental degradation from increased hiking and skiing traffic, while cities like Vienna and Salzburg struggle with short-term rental proliferation.

Malta: Island Paradise Under Pressure

Malta recorded 18 nights spent per inhabitant in tourism intensity measures, making it one of the most tourism-intensive destinations in Europe relative to its population. Malta is among the ten most iconic destinations enforcing the continent's toughest overtourism crackdowns in 2025.

The tiny Mediterranean island nation is implementing visitor caps and seasonal restrictions to protect its historical sites and marine environment. With limited land and infrastructure, Malta faces unique challenges in managing tourist flows while maintaining its appeal as a luxury destination.

Czechia: Prague's Historic Center Overwhelmed

Czechia is among the destinations enforcing Europe's toughest overtourism crackdowns with new travel rules for 2025. Prague's historic center has become so crowded that locals can barely navigate their own city streets during peak tourist seasons.

These destinations are imposing real, enforceable restrictions on short-term rentals, day-trippers, cruise ships, and even selfies, with the message clear: tourism is welcome, but not at any cost. The Czech capital is introducing time-slot reservations for major attractions and implementing stricter regulations on group tour sizes.

France's Provence and Côte d'Azur: Beyond Paris Problems

While Paris grabs headlines with Louvre strikes, Mediterranean nations like France are making substantial efforts to ensure that growth doesn't come at the expense of the environment, promoting slower, more immersive travel experiences and reducing overtourism. The French Riviera and Provence regions are experiencing severe overcrowding during summer months, with small villages like Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Gordes becoming Instagram hotspots that can't handle the influx.

France contributed €87 billion in tourism direct gross value added, but regional authorities are now implementing visitor quotas and parking restrictions to manage crowds. Local governments are working with tourism boards to redistribute visitors to less-known areas and promote off-season travel.

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