Greece, Spain, Croatia And Austria, Revealed, The Greek Island That Tops Europe’s Overtourism List And It’s Not Santorini Or Mykonos, With Other Overcrowded Locations In The Spotlight

Published on September 22, 2025

Greece, Spain, Croatia, and Austria person each go hotspots for overtourism, but caller investigation has revealed that nan Greek land of Zakynthos, not Santorini aliases Mykonos, tops Europe’s overcrowding list. Known for its stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife, Zakynthos has seen a monolithic influx of visitors successful caller years, acold outpacing nan number of locals who telephone it home. The study compares visitant numbers to section populations, highlighting not conscionable Greece, but besides Spain, Croatia, and Austria, arsenic regions struggling to negociate nan unit of ample tourer volumes. As these countries grapple pinch nan effect of wide tourism, different destinations crossed Europe are besides facing akin overcrowding issues, making nan request for sustainable recreation solutions much urgent than ever.

Recent investigation has highlighted which European land suffers from nan highest level of overcrowding owed to tourism, and it’s located successful Greece. Over nan past fewer years, overtourism has emerged arsenic a increasing taxable of concern, arsenic destinations crossed Europe struggle to negociate nan monolithic influx of visitors. Popular tourer spots person faced mounting unit from precocious visitant numbers, pinch locals successful immoderate cities voicing frustrations astir nan effect connected their regular lives. This hostility has led to protests successful tourist-heavy locations, pinch residents calling for amended guidance of tourism flows.

In immoderate instances, nan hostility has manifested successful alternatively different ways, pinch reports of locals utilizing h2o pistols to fend disconnected tourists. While galore destinations clasp nan economical benefits of tourism, nan overcrowding successful definite areas has started to outweigh nan positives, starring to a deterioration of nan wide acquisition for some locals and visitors. The excessive tourer postulation creates a challenging environment, pinch noise, congestion, and agelong queues. As a result, galore travelers, peculiarly those successful hunt of a relaxing getaway, find themselves disillusioned by nan very places they sought to enjoy.

If you’re looking to debar overwhelming crowds connected your adjacent summertime vacation successful Europe, it’s important to cognize which destinations to enactment clear of. While galore European cities person agelong been known for their vibrant tourer industries, immoderate are now struggling to header pinch nan sheer measurement of visitors. If you’re not willing successful sharing your vacation pinch millions of others, it’s champion to see alternatives.

Among nan astir overcrowded places successful Europe, 1 destination stands retired arsenic nan premier illustration of nan effects of overtourism: nan Greek land of Zakynthos. Also known arsenic Zante, this land has earned nan apical spot arsenic Europe’s astir overcrowded pinch tourists. Zakynthos, located successful nan Ionian Sea to nan westbound of Greece, is celebrated for its pristine beaches, towering coastal cliffs, lively nightlife, and affordable resorts. These qualities make it an charismatic destination for visitors from astir nan world, but they besides lend to its overcrowded nature.

In 2023, Zakynthos saw astir six cardinal group staying connected nan land overnight, which is an astonishing fig erstwhile compared to its organization of conscionable 40,000 residents. This intends that nan number of visitors to nan land was astir 150 times larger than nan population, placing immense strain connected section infrastructure, resources, and services. The island’s tourism manufacture has been increasing quickly successful caller years, but pinch that maturation has travel accrued unit to negociate nan measurement of visitors.

The business connected Zakynthos is not unique, arsenic respective different European destinations are experiencing akin overcrowding issues. A caller study analyzing tourism numbers crossed Europe revealed which areas were suffering nan astir from overtourism. The study compared nan number of visitors visiting circumstantial locations pinch nan number of residents surviving there, calculating nan number of visitors per 1,000 group successful each region. The results were revealing, pinch a number of Greek islands and different celebrated tourer spots topping nan list.

In summation to Zakynthos, different locations that person been severely impacted by tourism include:

• Istarska Zupanija (Croatia): This coastal region is known for its beautiful beaches and medieval towns. However, it has go 1 of nan astir overcrowded destinations successful Europe, attracting ample numbers of visitors each year.
• Fuerteventura (Canary Islands): Known for its sandy beaches and year-round sunny weather, Fuerteventura has seen a surge successful visitors successful caller years, making it 1 of nan astir overcrowded spots successful nan Canary Islands.
• Lanzarote (Canary Islands): Another Canary Island facing overcrowding, Lanzarote offers stunning volcanic landscapes, but nan influx of visitors has started to return its toll connected nan situation and section community.
• Dodecanese Islands – Kalymnos, Karpathos, Iroiki Nisos Kasos, Kos, Rodos (Greece): The Dodecanese Islands, which see well-known destinations for illustration Rhodes and Kos, are besides suffering from nan effects of wide tourism, pinch ample crowds flocking to these islands twelvemonth aft year.
• Tiroler Oberland (Austria): This picturesque region successful nan Austrian Alps has go a celebrated tourer destination, peculiarly for skiing and hiking. However, nan increasing number of visitors has begun to overwhelm nan mini villages and scenic landscapes.
• Pinzgau-Pongau (Austria): This region successful Austria, known for its charming alpine villages and beautiful upland scenery, has go different hotspot for visitors seeking outdoor activities, starring to overcrowding successful celebrated areas.
• Cycladic Islands (Greece): The Cyclades, which see celebrated islands for illustration Mykonos, Santorini, and Naxos, person seen a crisp summation successful visitant numbers. While nan islands are known for their charm and beauty, they are often overwhelmed by visitors during highest seasons.
• Kerkyra, Corfu (Greece): Corfu, 1 of Greece’s astir celebrated islands, has faced expanding overcrowding successful caller years, arsenic its idyllic beaches and taste sites pull ample numbers of visitors.
• Außerfern (Austria): This region successful Austria, known for its medieval villages and stunning earthy landscapes, is besides suffering from overcrowding arsenic much visitors activity retired its quiet beauty.

The overwhelming number of visitors successful these areas is starting to person a antagonistic effect connected nan section environment, infrastructure, and wide visitant experience. Overcrowding leads to longer hold times, reduced value of services, and a diminution successful nan authenticity of nan destinations. For travelers looking to debar these issues, it’s important to see replacement destinations that are little overwhelmed by wide tourism.

Greece, Spain, Croatia, and Austria person each struggled pinch overtourism, but nan Greek land of Zakynthos, not Santorini aliases Mykonos, tops nan list, pinch different overcrowded destinations crossed Europe besides highlighted for their increasing tourism pressures.

While tourism remains a captious manufacture for galore of these regions, it is clear that amended guidance is basal to guarantee nan semipermanent sustainability of these destinations. By spreading tourism much evenly crossed little crowded areas, we tin thief trim nan strain connected celebrated hotspots while supporting section economies and preserving nan unsocial taste and earthy practice that make these places truthful special.