The European Regions with the Highest and Lowest Tourist Pressure
A new report by Which? Travel has shed light on a pressing issue for the travel industry and holidaymakers alike—overtourism. As millions of tourists flock to the same popular European destinations each year, the report ranks the regions under the most pressure, as well as those still offering space to breathe.
This list isn’t just a ranking—it’s a valuable tool for responsible travellers. Whether you want to escape the crowds, reduce your environmental impact, or discover overlooked gems, these insights can help you make smarter, more sustainable travel choices.
Overtourism can lead to housing shortages, strain on local resources, environmental degradation, and rising resentment from local communities. By choosing less-crowded destinations, travellers not only enjoy a more authentic experience but also help ease pressure on hotspots that are struggling to cope with demand.
Destinations Under the Most Pressure
The Greek island of Zante (Zakynthos) tops the list as Europe’s most tourist-crowded destination, with almost 150,000 tourists per 1,000 residents. In other words, visitors outnumber locals 150 to 1.
Other high-pressure destinations include:
- Istria, Croatia: 133,467 tourists per 1,000 residents
- Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (Spain): 118,720 tourists per 1,000 residents
- Mallorca: The most overnight stays in Europe, totalling over 51 million
- Athens and Paris: Among the densest for tourists per square kilometre
These figures reflect areas where tourism is threatening to overwhelm the local infrastructure, culture, and way of life.
Destinations with Room to Breathe
If you’re looking for a more peaceful, low-impact travel experience, Eastern and Central Europe offer fantastic alternatives. In places like Targovishte, Bulgaria or Rybnik, Poland, locals still outnumber tourists 3 to 1.
Other low-pressure destinations include:
- Benevento, Italy: Just 398 tourists per 1,000 residents—surprisingly low for Italy
- Zasavska, Slovenia: Only 22,990 overnight stays recorded
- Teleorman, Romania: Just 1.2 tourists per sq km
- Jan Mayen, Norway: A remote Arctic island with no overnight visitors
These lesser-known spots allow travellers to explore rich cultures and landscapes while helping to redistribute tourism more evenly across the continent.
Beyond the Numbers: The Human Impact of Overtourism
Crowds aren’t the only concern. Rising visitor numbers have triggered protests in cities like Barcelona and Amsterdam, where locals face soaring rents, anti-social tourist behaviour, and strained public services.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, noted that the data proves what many residents already feel: “Overtourism has overwhelmed some of Europe’s most popular destinations.”
But experts like Prof Richard Butler of the University of Strathclyde argue that it’s not just about numbers—well-prepared destinations like Las Vegas or Orlando avoid overtourism issues because they’ve grown around tourism from the start. For others, rapid growth without planning has created imbalance.
What This Means for Travellers
Choosing where to go isn’t just about bucket lists anymore—it’s about travelling consciously. This report empowers travellers to:
- Discover under-the-radar locations with unique charm
- Reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact
- Avoid the stress of packed attractions and overbooked stays
- Support local economies that benefit more from responsible tourism
Next time you plan a trip, look beyond the obvious. Swapping Santorini for Slovenia or skipping Paris in favour of Benevento could lead to a more memorable, meaningful, and sustainable journey.
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