Thailand, Croatia, Greece, And Europe’s Hottest Tourist Cities Like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Venice, And Rome Are Overwhelmed With Crowds: Why You Should Skip Them This Summer

Published on August 13, 2025

This summer, Thailand, Croatia, Greece, and Europe’s hottest tourer cities for illustration Amsterdam, Barcelona, Venice, and Rome are struggling pinch overwhelming crowds. These destinations, erstwhile known for their charm and beauty, person go saturated pinch tourists, resulting successful longer lines, inflated prices, and a diminution successful nan wide experience. In Thailand, places for illustration Phuket and Pattaya person seen tourer numbers soar, contributing to contamination and rising costs. Croatia’s Dubrovnik, a Game of Thrones hotspot, now faces postulation jams and overcrowded streets. Greece’s islands, particularly Santorini, are buckling nether nan unit of millions of visitors each year, leaving locals protesting nan wide tourism. Meanwhile, European cities for illustration Amsterdam and Venice are dealing pinch anti-tourist sentiments, skyrocketing lodging prices, and biology degradation. With specified challenges, these once-idyllic spots are nary longer nan serene escapes they erstwhile were. Here’s why you should see skipping these overcrowded destinations this summertime and look for quieter, much enjoyable alternatives.

This summer, recreation has go much crowded than ever before. From nan packed streets of Dubrovnik to nan overwhelming crowds astatine Rome’s Trevi Fountain, overtourism is astatine its peak. A caller Global Rescue study reveals that 73% of travelers are concerned astir nan effects of overtourism, pinch much than half actively avoiding well-known destinations for illustration France, Spain, Italy, and Thailand.

Overtourism has wide-reaching consequences. It places strain connected infrastructure, depletes resources, and leaves destinations susceptible erstwhile crises hit. Popular spots now look expanding political, environmental, and information risks, making observant readying basal for travelers.

Are crowded destinations much dangerous?

Traveling to overcrowded destinations tin summation risk. While galore destinations erstwhile considered safe now look a assortment of analyzable challenges, travelers must beryllium other cautious. Factors for illustration rising crime, governmental instability, and biology issues complicate recreation successful these places.

Even though immoderate crowded destinations whitethorn still beryllium safe, nan acquisition whitethorn not beryllium pleasant. There’s a increasing resentment towards wide tourism successful these locations, making immoderate visitors consciousness unwelcome. Restrictions connected tourism and a little hospitable ambiance are becoming much communal successful heavy trafficked spots, which could effect your trip.

Popular destinations to skip this summer

Some destinations person go excessively crowded to negociate effectively, particularly during highest season. Here are immoderate places that mightiness beryllium amended avoided:

• Thailand: Famous for its tropical islands and budget-friendly offerings, Thailand is now struggling pinch overcrowding. Areas for illustration Phuket, Pattaya, and Krabi are plagued by rising costs, pollution, and a declining value of life for locals. Instead, see visiting Chiang Mai successful nan north, which offers a quieter experience, aliases Bangkok, pinch much abstraction and vibrant shopping.
• Croatia: Dubrovnik, boosted by its domiciled successful “Game of Thrones,” has go 1 of Europe’s astir crowded cities. With only 41,000 residents, it’s difficult for nan metropolis to header pinch nan monolithic influx of tourists. Instead, research Split for its humanities charm aliases Zagreb, which remains little crowded yet offers nan quintessential Croatian experience.
• Greece: Santorini is undeniably beautiful but pinch complete 3.4 cardinal visitors annually, it’s becoming progressively difficult to enjoy. Other islands, for illustration Mykonos and Corfu, are besides emotion nan strain. Consider Athens aliases Thessaloniki, which are still engaged but connection a little overwhelming atmosphere.
• European tourism capitals: Cities for illustration Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Venice are grappling pinch overcrowding, worsened by rising lodging costs and anti-tourist sentiment. Record-breaking heatwaves make these destinations moreover little desirable. A sojourn to Berlin, Helsinki, aliases Stockholm during nan summertime tin connection a overmuch much relaxed experience, arsenic these cities are comparatively uncrowded.

While these destinations are iconic, they’re progressively difficult to bask during highest season. For instance, Rome is expected to beryllium other engaged owed to it being a Jubilee year, truthful it’s champion to reconsider if you’re readying a travel there.

Safer recreation options

If you’re looking for safer alternatives, see destinations rated arsenic Level 1 aliases Level 2 successful nan U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory system. However, beryllium cautious moreover successful these areas, and investigation circumstantial neighborhoods to avoid.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) provides an yearly study connected nan safest destinations. This year, Iceland, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Switzerland, and New Zealand apical nan list. These places are little prone to wide tourism, and factors for illustration less formation delays and little biology risks make them charismatic alternatives.

• Australia and New Zealand are successful wintertime during nan bluish hemisphere’s summer, making them cleanable for avoiding crowds. The South Island offers skiing for those who bask wintertime sports, while nan remainder of nan state remains peaceful.
• Switzerland and Singapore stay pricey capable to deter wide tourism, though they connection pristine landscapes and exceptional infrastructure.
• Iceland offers stunning earthy beauty pinch a level of isolation that guarantees an uncrowded experience.

Tips for avoiding crowds

To debar nan summertime tourer rush, deliberation extracurricular nan box. Instead of heading to celebrated spots, task southbound aliases take lesser-known locations successful nan aforesaid region. If everyone is heading to nan north, effort nan south. For a much tranquil trip, opt for under-the-radar cities aliases smaller towns that connection a unsocial acquisition without nan chaos.

This summer, Thailand, Croatia, Greece, and Europe’s apical tourer cities for illustration Amsterdam, Barcelona, Venice, and Rome are overwhelmed by crowds, starring to rising prices, pollution, and a little enjoyable experience. Consider skipping these hotspots for a much relaxed and authentic recreation experience.

By taking this approach, travelers tin bask a overmuch much relaxed and fulfilling summer, free from nan overwhelming crush of tourists. If you’re readying a travel this summer, why not subordinate nan inclination of exploring destinations little touched by wide tourism? There are plentifulness of awesome places waiting for you—without nan crowds.