Travelling to a lesser visited destination — instead of one fighting overtourism — will not only help locals, it will likely give you a better holiday, too.
From overcrowded streets in Venice to soaring house prices in Barcelona and Lisbon, the negative consequences of booming visitor numbers have become clear for a number of destinations.
It’s led to protests against tourist numbers in some cities and resorts. In response, some governments and local councils have introduced measures to thin crowds and curb the effects of overtourism on local people, from doubling tourist taxes to dress codes, short term let bans to day tripper fees.
Read on to find out which destinations are currently suffering from the effects of overtourism, and our suggestions for alternatives that are not only more welcoming to tourists, but often cheaper and more peaceful, too.
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Don’t go to: Barcelona
There have been regular protests in Barcelona against overtourism, and its impact on life in the city.
Things reached a crescendo in July, with public demonstrationswidespread protest graffiti telling tourists: “go home” and some protesters squirting tourists with water guns
Since then, some regions in Spain, such as Alicante, Barcelona and Madrid have announced bans on short term lets to alleviate pressure on a strained housing market, and new rules and regulation including nationwide registration for tourists when checking into hotels.
Some areas also raised tourist taxes. For example, Catalonia — the region that is home to Barcelona and Girona — doubled its tourist taxes. Visitors will now pay up to €7 per night depending on their accommodation, on top of the regional capital’s surcharge of €4 per night.
Barcelona also announced a ban on short term lets, such as those listed on airbnb and Booking.com, that will be introduced between 2028 and 2029.
Instead, go to: Valencia
One of Spain’s oldest cities, Valencia, not only beat Barcelona in our survey of best seaside and beach towns in the Mediterranean, but beat everywhere else too. Visitors awarded it five stars for its attractiveness, tourist attractions, friendliness and value for money. It was also rated safer than Barcelona.
You can swap out browsing Barcelona’s La Bouqueria for Valencia’s staggering Mercado Central, the Gothic Quarter for Valencia’s own gothic Cathedral, and Gaudí-spotting for plenty more art nouveau courtesy of Demetrio Ribes Marco and Francisco Mora Berenguer.
And if the beaches are what tempts you towards Barcelona, you’ll be pleased to hear Valencia scored full marks for its golden coastline.
Don’t go to: Lisbon
Thanks to its technicolour tiled streets, booming culinary scene and proximity to the beaches of Costa de Caparica, Lisbon has become a globally beloved destination for sunny city-break holidays.
But with exploding numbers of tourists — and the proliferation of unpopular tuk-tuks that appear with them — the city is suffering from overcrowding and soaring house prices that leave local people behind. Like Barcelona, Lisbon has seen protests against overtourism, and has doubled its tourist taxes.
Instead, go to: Setúbal
Just an 8 minute ferry ride from Lisbon, across the Tagus river, you’ll arrive in Setúbal — Lisbon’s calmer, but equally charming cousin.
Enjoy a more peaceful stay in the quietly buzzing towns of Cacilhas or old town Almada, which are even closer to the Costa de Caparica coastline than Lisbon. You’ll also find plenty of top notch restaurants, bars and pubs. Walk up to the Cristo Rei monument (inspired by Rio’s famed Christ the Redeemer statue, and usually only spotted from afar in Lisbon), or 40 minute drive to the heavenly Galapos beaches, which rival those of the Caribbean.
If you’re missing Lisbon, you can also easily take a day trip to the city and neighboring beauty spots like Sintra and Caiscais, without staying overnight in the city itself. Just take a ferry ride into the centre of Lisbon, or take a taxi across the iconic red bridge — a photograph opportunity in itself.
Read more about the best city breaks in Europe according to Which? Members
Don’t go to: Amsterdam
While in practice, Amsterdam still welcomes responsible and respectful British tourists with open arms, there’s evidence of ever-dwindling patience. One such example was the city’s 2023 anti-tourism campaign, with a simple message to young British men visiting the country to ‘go wild’: “stay away.”
Amsterdam has also significantly raised its tourist taxes, from 7% to 12.5%. That works out as €21.80 per night for an average room rate of €175 per person. The fee for those arriving for overnight stays by river or sea will go up from €14 to €14.50 per person. This is charged to the company operating the cruise or ferry, but is usually passed onto the passenger.
Instead, go to: Rotterdam
Instead of staying on the Eurostar until Amsterdam, jump off a little early in Rotterdam.
It’s just 40 minutes from Amsterdam, meaning you can still get your fix of the capital city’s quaint bridges and narrow canal houses. But Rotterdam offers plenty in its own right; there are Rembrandt’s in its impressive art galleries, and striking architecture too. Like the mirror-clad Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen museum and the Erasmus Bridge – nicknamed ‘the Swan’ because of its graceful bow-shaped design.
Or, if you’re happy to visit a different country altogether, consider Krakow as your wild-card. Which? Members have rated this city as a top destination for four years running, awarding it five stars for its food and drink and cultural sights. Gawp at the magnificent alchemy of Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic architecture — and spend far less money while you’re at it (the average hotel rate is £113, compared to Amsterdam’s £170
Krakow too gets a lot of tourists, but this tends to be in the summer months, and it’s much quieter the rest of the year. ).
Don’t go to: Venice
Venice made global headlines last year when it introduced a world first day tripper fee, charged to visitors who enter the city at peak times without staying the night. In 2024, this was on 29 days between April-July, for visitors between 8.30am and 4pm. Tourists are expected to pay the fee online, or in exceptional circumstances on arrival at certain arrival points.
The fee was aimed at thinning crowds during peak times in the city, but reports show it had little impact on tourist numbers, with city councillor Giovanni Andrea Martini claiming the number of tourists had actually grown.
Perhaps that’s why the city of Venice has announced that the fee will be doubled in 2025, from €5 to €10. The city has also introduced other rules for tourists and tour guides, such as bans on sitting down to eat while on bridges, on megaphones, and on groups of over 25, with fines of between €25 and €500.
Instead, go to: Chioggia
Head to the furthest island from Venice, Chioggia. . It offers a similar experience to Venice, with plenty of winding canal rides in store for its visitors. But this sleepier fishing town is less commercial, less busy and has a yawning 10km stretch of beach.
Otherwise, consider Verona, for plenty of Venetian architecture and waterside romance — plus interesting literary history. It’s 90 minutes from Venice if you can’t resist visiting for a day trip and don’t mind paying the tourist tax.
Don’t go to: the busiest resorts in Canary Islands
Like Barcelona Barcelona, many of the busiest Canary Island resorts saw complaints of overcrowding, protests, and rules introduced to combat rowdy behaviour from tourists.
For example, the popular town of Mogán in Gran Canaria has rules in place and fines for anyone hanging clothes over balconies, appearing partially nude or wearing swimwear in public away from beaches, and drinking alcohol in the street.
Mogán also became the first local council in Spain to introduce a tourist tax. It is a relatively small fee of 15 cents per night — but reflects the area’s concerns about keeping tourism sustainable.
Instead, go to: Cape Verde
Sometimes dubbed ‘the new Canaries’, Cape Verde is made up of 10 volcanic islands (one of which is uninhabited), off the coast of Senegal. It has been independent from neighboring Portugal since 1975. It’s hotter than the Canaries, but benefits from the cool Atlantic breeze — and isn’t currently overwhelmed with tourists. New flight routes were launched in 2025, so it’s now possible to fly direct from London, Manchester and Birmingham.
Or, if you’re keen to keep your trip in the Canary Islands, try La Gomera, voted the best island for peace and quiet in our survey of the best Canary Island resorts.
Don’t do: Scotland’s North Coast 500 road trip
This Scottish circular roadtrip that starts at Inverness Castle launched in 2015, and quickly gained fame as one of Britain’s greatest road trips. But the bucket list route, also known as the NC500 received criticism from some locals in some towns along the route, with complaints of irresponsible camping, congestion and speeding.
In 2022, the council of Applecross was even considering withdrawing from the route altogether. Though Applecross remains part of the official route, in September 2024 a section of the NC500 trail through Applecross was closed for eight weeks for construction, leaving some disappointed road-trippers cancelling their trips, or diverting onto alternative routes.
Bosses of the North Coast 500 (the company that markets the route) later introduced a visitor pledge to combat negative impacts on local people’s livelihoods.
Instead, do: Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
As a result of a significant drop in visitors since the pandemic, Ireland has re-emerged as a haven for a peaceful getaway, earning it a spot on our list of top destinations for 2025.
Launched at a similar time to the NC500, Ireland’s own The Wild Atlantic Way has spent the past decade maturing. Stretching from the northerly Inishowen Peninsula down Kinsale, County Cork, in the south, it now offers top coastal restaurants and luxurious stays to match its lush scenery.
It’s a bigger undertaking, at triple the length of the NC500, but you’re likely to have more of the road to yourself — and with lower tourist numbers, possibly a friendlier reception on the way down, too.
