Greece, Spain, Italy, And The Uk’s Beach: How Overtourism Is Changing The Tourism Landscape Of Europe’s Most Popular Destinations

Published on August 7, 2025 |

By: TTW News Desk

Europe, pinch its dazzling coastline and picturesque beaches, remains a magnet for travelers seeking sun, sea, and relaxation. However, arsenic nan fame of these spots grows, truthful excessively does nan rumor of overcrowding. Recent reports item that respective of Europe’s astir visited beaches are facing rising complaints regarding noise, pollution, and congestion. Despite nan Instagram-worthy images that capable societal media, nan reality of visiting these once-idyllic places often fails to meet expectations. With millions flocking to apical formation destinations each summer, visitors are near grappling pinch crowded sands, agelong queues, and a deficiency of tranquility. The problem of overtourism is evident not only successful Spain, Italy, and Greece, but besides successful nan UK, wherever overcrowding issues astatine beaches for illustration Bournemouth person caused frustration. In this report, we will research nan astir complained-about beaches, nan complaints visitors person voiced, and really these destinations are addressing nan crisis.

The Most Overcrowded Beaches successful Europe

Europe dominates nan world database for nan astir overcrowded beaches, pinch galore of nan astir celebrated destinations facing an overload of visitors during nan precocious summertime season. According to a study by Cloudwards, which analyzed complete 1.3 cardinal TripAdvisor reviews of 200 world beaches, respective European stretches of soil guidelines retired for their overcrowding complaints. The study focused connected 4 main issues: cleanliness, overcrowding, agelong queues, and noise, ranking each formation based connected nan wave of these complaints.

• Bournemouth Beach, UK: Ranked arsenic nan 5th astir criticized formation globally, Bournemouth successful nan UK topped nan database for European complaints. Tourists often mention nan beach’s overcrowding, particularly during highest summertime months. The formation is besides criticized for cleanliness issues, pinch galore travelers expressing disappointment astatine nan deficiency of upkeep.
• La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia, Italy: Sardinia’s La Pelosa beach, pinch its stunning turquoise waters, has garnered nan apical spot globally for overcrowding complaints. Nearly 87% of antagonistic reviews attraction connected nan rumor of overcrowding, pinch 1 reviewer describing it arsenic resembling nan crowded streets of New York aliases London during highest seasons. Despite its beauty, nan beach’s constricted abstraction has led to vexation among visitors.
• Spiaggia La Cinta, Sardinia, Italy: Another formation successful Sardinia, Spiaggia La Cinta, besides ranks precocious for overcrowding issues. This five-kilometer agelong of achromatic sand, surrounded by junipers and dunes, sees galore complaints astir crowded conditions, particularly during nan tallness of summer.
• Praia da Falésia, Portugal: In Portugal, Praia da Falésia, a formation celebrated for its aureate sands and towering cliffs, besides ranks precocious for overcrowding. Visitors often study that nan beach, contempt its earthy beauty, becomes excessively packed, peculiarly during nan busiest months.
• Cala Comte, Ibiza, Spain: Known for its crystal-clear waters and picturesque setting, Cala Comte successful Ibiza, Spain, is different formation often criticized for overcrowding. Despite being a paradise-like destination, visitors are often near disappointed by nan crowded conditions that hamper their experience.
• Elafonissi, Crete, Greece: Elafonissi, known for its unsocial pinkish sands and shallow waters, is among nan astir often complained-about beaches successful Greece. Over 70% of antagonistic reviews mention overcrowding, pinch visitors emotion that nan formation is overrun during highest tourer seasons.

The Impact of Overtourism connected Local Communities

The influx of visitors to these celebrated beaches has led to important pressures connected section infrastructure and ecosystems. The monolithic number of visitors results successful accrued waste, sound pollution, and moreover harm to vulnerable earthy environments. For example, astatine La Pelosa Beach, efforts to curb overcrowding person included visitant caps, mandatory beforehand bookings, and moreover bans connected bringing towels to forestall soil erosion. In Ibiza, Cala Comte has struggled to header pinch its popularity, pinch nan section authorities now considering measures to limit visitant numbers during highest seasons.

The Challenges of Social Media and Viral Fame

The emergence of societal media has played a important domiciled successful nan fame of galore European beaches. Stunning photographs posted connected platforms for illustration Instagram and TikTok tin move lesser-known beaches into must-visit destinations. However, this viral fame often outpaces nan improvement of section infrastructure, leaving galore destinations unprepared for nan monolithic crowds that follow. Sardinia, successful particular, has been overwhelmed by societal media attention, pinch immoderate of its once-quiet beaches now facing regular caps connected visitors to forestall biology degradation.

Greece’s Battle pinch Overtourism

Greece, while not ranking arsenic nan worst for overcrowding, faces important complaints related to its celebrated beaches. In summation to overcrowding, galore Greek beaches suffer from cleanliness and sound issues. Balos Lagoon successful Crete, for instance, is 1 of nan astir complained-about destinations successful nan country. More than 40% of reviews mention overcrowding, while astir half of them item cleanliness concerns.

On nan land of Mykonos, a €20 introduction interest has been introduced successful 2025 for cruise passengers visiting celebrated hotspots. This move is portion of an ongoing effort by Greece to negociate overtourism and guarantee nan preservation of its iconic beaches.

Efforts to Manage Overcrowding

Across Europe, respective destinations person begun implementing measures to reside overtourism and nan issues that originate from it. Sardinia’s innovative policies, specified arsenic visitant caps, mandatory beforehand bookings, and restrictions connected towels, purpose to protect nan situation while ensuring a amended acquisition for travelers. In summation to limiting visitant numbers, section authorities successful Sardinia person besides enforced regulations connected activities for illustration h2o sports to minimize nan biology impact.

In Spain, celebrated beaches for illustration Ibiza person introduced fines for bad behavior, specified arsenic excessive sound and littering. This inaugural is portion of a broader effort to create a much sustainable tourism exemplary that balances nan needs of section communities pinch those of travelers.

Meanwhile, Greece has implemented an introduction interest for definite islands and is considering further regulations to forestall nan degradation of its coastal destinations. The preamble of fees and caps is seen arsenic a basal measurement successful preserving nan beauty of these beaches while reducing nan strain connected section resources.

Conclusion: The Future of European Beaches

The aureate committedness of a cleanable formation vacation is progressively being tested by nan pressures of overcrowding, noise, and biology degradation. While these issues whitethorn look for illustration a consequence of nan allure of Instagram-perfect destinations, they are a important situation for galore of Europe’s apical formation spots. Local authorities are now opening to return action, introducing measures to limit visitant numbers and sphere nan earthy beauty of these locations. As overtourism continues to grow, it is clear that sustainable practices will beryllium important successful maintaining nan charm and entreaty of these iconic destinations for early generations.

Key Takeaways:

• Overcrowded Beaches: The UK’s Bournemouth Beach, Sardinia’s La Pelosa, and Greece’s Elafonissi are among nan astir complained-about beaches for overcrowding.
• Tourism Challenges: Overcrowding leads to biology strain, sound pollution, and cleanliness issues.
• Social Media’s Role: The emergence of viral societal media posts has contributed to nan overcrowding of galore once-quiet beaches.
• Regulation Measures: Many destinations, including Sardinia and Greece, are implementing visitant caps, introduction fees, and fines to negociate overtourism and sphere section ecosystems.

By taking proactive steps to negociate visitant numbers and reside nan increasing rumor of overtourism, Europe’s iconic formation destinations dream to onslaught a equilibrium betwixt welcoming visitors and preserving their earthy beauty for years to come.