Europe’s favorite holiday hotspots are at breaking point. New statistics shed light on the widening divide between crowded tourist hotspots and the less crowded, oft-missed parts of the continent. Greece, Croatia, Spain, Austria, Romania, and France are at the forefront of this mismatch — some areas now receiving more than 100 overnight stays per head of local population. This boom is imposing huge pressure on local infrastructure, vulnerable ecosystems, and daily community life, and yet lesser-known destinations remain skipped over. The new evidence outlines starkly a continent struggling to cope with both the advantages and disadvantages of mass tourism, so the demand for wiser, more sustainable travel is now greater than ever before.

Greece Tops the Overtourism List Greece is prominent in the list. Aside from Zakynthos, three other Greek destinations were also in the top ten. The Cyclades (Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, and others) remain popular among tourists with their signature whitewashed houses and beautiful beaches — but over 100 overnight stays per resident reflects the pressure. The Dodecanese islands (Rhodes, Kos, and so on) recorded some 113 stays per islander, with Corfu also featuring on the list with comparably high figures.

Greece’s international fame is not in question, but it’s now happening at the expense of the locals and the environment.

It’s Not Just Greece

Istria peninsula of Croatia ranked second with 133 overnight stays per capita. Famed for coastal towns and sparkling Adriatic Sea, Istria has emerged as a favorite of tourists looking for Mediterranean ambiance without the high tag — although its infrastructure is now starting to show signs of the strain.

Spain’s Canary Islands are close behind. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote each had approximately 118 overnight stays per resident. Their sun and volcanic landscapes have long attracted sun-seekers, particularly in winter — but as numbers increase, so does the strain on local resources.

The Quiet Side of Europe

While some areas are swamped, others barely register on travelers’ lists. Western Athens, for instance, had only 64 overnight stays per resident, providing a laid-back alternative to Greece’s frenetic islands.

In Romania’s Teleorman county, just 20 overnight stays per 1,000 locals were registered — one of Europe’s least visited places. Its rural beauty and unspoiled landscapes are a far cry from the likes of Zakynthos or Majorca.

In the same way, northern France’s Lille, as rich in history and culture as it is, experienced only 2 overnight visits per resident — far from saturation levels like Paris or the French Riviera.

Majorca Leads in Sheer Numbers

If we look beyond visitor numbers and at raw volume of visitors, the winner is Majorca with an amazing 51 million overnight stays in 2023. With a population of just under 1 million people, the sheer volume of tourism here gives stark cause for concern over long-term sustainability and quality of life for locals.

What’s the Future for Tourism in Europe?

Although discussion around overtourism has been afoot for years, these figures make it increasingly hard to disregard. In an effort to lure tourists away from over-touristed sites, many areas have already begun enacting policies including visitor quotas, restricted opening hours, and promotion campaigns.

This data provides responsible travelers with a chance to think about other destinations. Explore off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as rural Romania or off-the-beaten-path locations like Lille, could become more popular as green tourism becomes more prominent.

Europe’s tourism map is visibly changing. While popular spots are plagued by overtourism and most quiet spots remain to be explored, both tourists and policymakers are confronted with the following key challenge: How to balance preservation and discovery.