Where in Europe are the most tourists: top 10 cities

Europe impresses with the number of interesting places to go on vacation – sunny beaches, ski resorts, architectural wonders. And this has played a cruel joke on some cities, as there are now more tourists than locals.

According to the Express, a recent study has identified the cities where this ratio is most unfavorable. Tourists here have begun to create inconveniences for the townspeople. And the first place in the list was taken by a rather unexpected destination.

Tallinn, Estonia

The Estonian capital is not considered a European must-see, although those who have visited Tallinn speak of it with admiration. Some tourists call the beautiful old town one of the best in Europe. Tallinn also boasts a unique culture, where northern and eastern European traditions are mixed. Be that as it may, according to researchers, there are currently 10 tourists for every resident in Tallinn.

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin ranks in the top ten, with 11 tourists for every resident. Temple Bar is one of the most crowded places in the city, attracting about 3.5 million visitors annually. And the Guinness Storehouse is another famous Dublin landmark where you can always see a whole crowd. However, those who have already been there say that the staff does everything to avoid queues, and so far, they are doing well.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

As one of the most popular tourist cities in Europe, Amsterdam receives 12 tourists for every inhabitant. This overheats the city's housing market and overcrowds local neighborhoods. Amsterdam is especially popular with bar crawlers. That's why the city launched a program to persuade young men aged 18-35 to give up this idea. In addition, Amsterdam has introduced one of the highest tourist taxes in the world, which may scare away travelers in the future.

Heraklion, Greece

Crete is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean. Although it has some incredible remote beaches, such as Balos, the island's capital, Heraklion, remains the center of tourist attention. There are 13 tourists per local. The city's archaeological sites are the main attraction, but those looking for tranquility can find quieter spots elsewhere on the island, especially in the west.

Florence, Italy

This romantic Italian city hosts as many as 13 tourists for every inhabitant. Florence is home to several undisputed cultural treasures, including Michelangelo's famous statue of David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and Brunelleschi's dome. It is popular with tourists from all over the world. However, excessive tourism has already begun to lead to the closure of some establishments in the city, as they cannot cope with the influx of guests.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik is another European city that has suffered from overtourism: there are 16 tourists for every resident. The city was once considered an unexpected tourist destination. But now, the capital of Iceland, home to about 140,000 people, receives about two million visitors annually. It is beginning to take measures to combat tourism, reinstating the tourist tax in January after suspending it during the pandemic.

Rhodes, Greece

The second Greek island on the list proves the attractiveness of Mediterranean beach vacations. Rhodes is even more popular than Crete among tourists. It receives 21 tourists per capita, but is facing a crisis that affects both the local population and visitors. Forest fires in 2023 led to the largest evacuation of the island in Greek history. A surge in tourism is overloading the infrastructure and causing significant pollution.

Bruges, Belgium

In the Belgian city of Bruges, there are 21 tourists for every inhabitant, which makes the city seem very crowded during the peak summer season and around Christmas. Some locals are disappointed with the large number of visitors. And city officials urge visitors to come in the low season to see Bruges in a quiet and peaceful way. In 2023, more than 8.3 million people visited Bruges, but the city has taken measures to combat excessive tourism, including a ban on new hotels in the historic center and issuing new permits for the construction of holiday homes throughout the city.

Venice, Italy

The famous Italian city receives 21 tourists for every inhabitant, so it's no surprise that it ranked second on the list. Venice has already imposed restrictions with its day-trip tax and ban on cruise ships entering its lagoon. However, this still hasn't solved the problem. It is so serious that UNESCO has included Venice in the list of endangered cities. As for the local population, since the 1950s, only 50,000 of the 170,000 residents have remained here. The outflow has primarily affected lower and middle-income residents, young people, and people who rent housing.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is recognized as the most crowded vacation destination in Europe. For every resident, there are as many as 36 tourists. Known as the historic coastal pearl of Croatia, it suffers from a huge influx of visitors. The old town, surrounded by its famous walls, is the liveliest part of the city and it is becoming more expensive as its popularity grows. This means that Croatian residents were forced to leave Dubrovnik due to the significant rise in the cost of living.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.