Most overcrowded destinations in Europe - Greek island and Croatian peninsula top the list
A new report has shown that some small destinations in Europe are bearing the brunt of mass tourism. These areas of Greece and Croatia have a high ratio of visitors per capita, causing problems with accommodation and infrastructure.
With the summer holiday season approaching, popular tourist destinations are preparing for the influx of visitors. Many popular places are now becoming synonymous with overtourism, such as Venice, Barcelona and Amsterdam.
But a new report from Which? Travel suggests that there are also smaller destinations in Europe that are bearing the brunt of mass tourism.
The new research analyzed the impact of overtourism through three different metrics, based on figures from the European Commission. In addition to total overnight stays, it looked at the density of tourists per square kilometer and their number in relation to residents. The latter figure highlighted some destinations that travelers may not be aware are suffering from the pressures of mass tourism.
Zakynthos topped the list with a staggering 150-to-1 ratio of visitors to residents. The Greek island is touted as a gorgeous resort with plenty of wild and undiscovered areas. But the data paints a different picture, one of a destination grappling with rising accommodation costs, environmental damage and a strain on local infrastructure during peak periods.
"It's becoming more difficult for residents to live comfortably here year-round. Rents are high and traffic is constant during the summer," said a local citizen.
The destination that ranked second for the ratio of tourists to residents is also a place that travelers may not immediately associate with overtourism.
Croatia's Istria peninsula is suffering the pressure of 133,467 visitors per 1,000 locals, despite often being called the country's 'best-kept secret'.
The third place on this list is known for its struggle with overtourism. In Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands, visitors outnumber residents by a ratio of 120 to 1, according to the study.
Despite dozens of protests against mass tourism last summer, the archipelago welcomed more than 1.55 million foreign visitors in March 2025, a record figure and 0.9 percent more than the same month last year.
While the list of destinations with the highest tourist density shows no surprises at the top. Paris hosts a staggering 418,280 visitors per square kilometer, significantly surpassing Athens in second place with 88,535 and Copenhagen with 63,944.
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