Italy, Austria, Spain, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland And More, Overtourism Is Pushing Europe’s Most Popular Locations To The Brink And Here’s How Local Communities Are Reacting

Published on September 2, 2025

Mass tourism is putting immense unit connected Europe’s astir iconic destinations, from Italy and Austria to Spain, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland, and beyond. As these celebrated locations grapple pinch overcrowding, section communities look nan situation of balancing tourism pinch nan preservation of their taste and biology heritage. With rising visitant numbers and expanding strain connected infrastructure, these destinations are uncovering it harder to stay welcoming while ensuring their semipermanent viability. From Venice’s entranceway fees to nan overcrowded beaches of Santorini, Europe is struggling to negociate wide tourism successful a measurement that benefits some visitors and residents alike.

From nan Dolomites to Santorini and Mallorca, nan communicative is progressively nan same: hiking trails are packed to capacity, and cruise ships unload thousands of day-trippers into historical towns already overrun pinch visitors. What were erstwhile idyllic destinations are now overshadowed by nan effects of wide tourism, leaving locals disappointment by nan increasing pressures connected their communities.

Italy stands arsenic a premier illustration of this struggle to equilibrium hospitality pinch nan load of overtourism. Venice, which has agelong been a awesome tourer draw, introduced entranceway fees for time visitors successful 2025, raising much than €5 cardinal (approximately \$5.8 million) from this initiative. However, contempt these efforts, nan guidelines rumor remains unresolved: overcrowded streets, disappointment residents, and a diminishing consciousness of mundane life successful what should beryllium a tranquil setting.

Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè has pointed retired that 75% of Italy’s visitors ore successful conscionable 4% of its territory, but she refutes claims of “overtourism.” While immoderate locals definitive interest complete nan crowds, others—such arsenic retailers successful Lake Garda—complain astir mediocre summertime bookings and quiet terraces. The hostility betwixt nan influx of visitors and nan needs of residents is growing, pinch nan equilibrium progressively difficult to achieve.

In nan Dolomites, nan summertime tourer play has go a grueling trial of endurance. Four landowners person introduced a €5 interest for entree to Seceda, 1 of South Tyrol’s astir photographed viewpoints overlooking nan Geisler peaks. They asseverate that nan interest is not designed for profit but is simply a basal measurement to protect vulnerable alpine ecosystems. However, critics, including alpine clubs, reason that charging for entree is arguable and that much sustainable guidance strategies are needed to debar further overcrowding.

Switzerland and Austria are besides struggling pinch nan effects of tourism, driven by nan fame of TV series. In Iseltwald, Switzerland, a 5 franc (\$6.16) interest was introduced successful 2023 to negociate nan influx of visitors drawn by a Netflix bid that featured a woody walkway on Lake Brienz. While nan interest helps money attraction and security, nan fame of nan tract shows nary motion of waning. Similarly, Austria’s Hallstatt, a picturesque colony pinch conscionable 750 residents, faces nan challenges of hosting complete 1 cardinal visitors each year, galore of whom are drawn by nan idyllic scenery showcased successful celebrated media.

Northern Europe is likewise grappling pinch nan impacts of overtourism. Small towns crossed Denmark and Norway are emotion nan pressure, arsenic time visitors—often from “coolcation” trends—outnumber nan section populations. These visitors activity respite from nan power of confederate Europe, contributing to nan overcrowding of antecedently serene destinations. In Norway’s Geirangerfjord and parts of Iceland, visitors often disregard information barriers to seizure nan cleanable societal media photo, risking some their information and nan integrity of nan environment.

In consequence to these challenges, respective Nordic countries are implementing innovative solutions. Copenhagen has launched nan “Copenpay” campaign, which promotes sustainable tourism by rewarding visitors who return nan train to nan metropolis alternatively than flying. The Faroe Islands are besides taking steps to negociate tourism by renting retired cars equipped pinch GPS, which guideline visitors to lesser-known locations, frankincense alleviating unit connected celebrated sites and helping to protect nature.

Spain, nan world’s second-most-visited country, faces akin pressures. In 2025, nan state expects to surpass 100 cardinal overseas visitors. Mallorca, successful particular, is struggling pinch nan weight of tourism, having hosted 13.5 cardinal visitors successful 2024, compared to less than 1 cardinal residents. The surge successful visitors has led to concerns astir lodging shortages, pollution, noise, and biology damage. To reside these issues, Spain has raised accommodation taxes, peculiarly successful Barcelona, wherever nan complaint has reached €15 per night, and is considering a prohibition connected short-term picnic rentals by 2028. Locals person besides resorted to imaginative protestation methods, specified arsenic placing clone warnings astir jellyfish and rockfalls to deter tourists.

In Greece, while protests are little common, location is expanding discontent pinch nan authorities of tourism. Popular islands specified arsenic Santorini and Mykonos are overwhelmed by nan sheer measurement of cruise vessel passengers, starring nan authorities to present a €20 entranceway interest to thief money infrastructure improvements. The precocious costs of surviving connected Mykonos has made it difficult for galore Greeks to spend a picnic connected nan island, while lodging shortages proceed to plague residents. Additionally, beaches that were erstwhile nationalist person go overrun by sun loungers and bars, reducing nan disposable abstraction for locals and visitors alike. In response, Greek authorities are strictly enforcing laws that require astatine slightest half of each formation to stay unfastened to nan public.

Mass tourism is overwhelming Europe’s iconic destinations, from Italy to Iceland, arsenic overcrowding threatens some section communities and nan sustainability of these celebrated sites. Efforts to equilibrium tourism and preservation are becoming progressively difficult crossed nan continent.

Across Europe, nan situation of overtourism is becoming much urgent arsenic celebrated destinations look nan increasing strain of wide tourism. While measures specified arsenic entranceway fees, taxes, and imaginative guidance strategies are being introduced, nan mobility remains: tin these efforts reconstruct nan equilibrium betwixt tourism and section communities. Without further invention and collaboration, Europe’s astir iconic destinations whitethorn suffer their charm, and nan very principle of what makes them unsocial whitethorn beryllium eroded by nan forces of wide tourism.