Crowded summer destinations 2025: Travelers should avoid these hotspots!

Crowded summer destinations 2025: Travelers should avoid these hotspots!

While many European destinations are expecting record numbers of tourists this year, mass tourism is increasingly becoming a problem for the affected regions. City trips continue to be very popular, although many holidaymakers are also discovering camping as an attractive option. Overcrowding in popular tourist destinations, particularly in Mediterranean Europe, has already sparked protests from locals. For example, the people of Mallorca are resisting the negative effects of mass tourism. Italian authorities have taken innovative measures to control crowds, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. According to a current overtourism index, 36 of 77 travel destinations analyzed in Europe are extremely congested between July and September, report colleagues from Echo24.

Overcrowding has particularly affected many southern European countries, where the influx of tourists is particularly high in summer. In Croatia, about 70% of annual tourists come in these months, and 30% in August alone. Dubrovnik, one of the country's most popular cities, has already taken measures to mitigate the impact. This includes a limit of a maximum of two cruise ships per day and temporary closures of footpaths. Holiday rentals could also be restricted in the old town. Montenegro, with 57% of tourists traveling during the summer, in turn struggles with overcrowded places such as the Adriatic coast and Budva.

Overcrowded vacation destinations in focus

Not only Croatia and Montenegro are affected. In Bulgaria, where 57% of tourists travel between July and September, the Black Sea coastal resorts are highly frequented. Traveling to quieter regions such as the Rhodopes or the Balkan Mountains can offer a welcome change. Greece, known for its beautiful islands, is also seeing an increase in visitor numbers, with 56% arriving in the summer. Measures such as caps on visitors and restrictions on cruise ships have already been introduced in Santorini and Mykonos.

Italy is also under pressure with 47% of international travelers coming to Italy in the summer. Overcrowded places like Venice and Rome suffer from problems such as overcrowded accommodation, garbage and high prices for locals. Venice has been charging an entry fee since 2024 to regulate tourist flows. The situation highlights that traveling to crowded holiday destinations not only poses a challenge to infrastructure, but can also diminish the traveler experience.

Tips for travelers

For tourists planning to travel during this summer-stricken time, foundation correction is crucial: informed and proactive travel planning can help avoid stress and find more relaxing alternatives. While some destinations are currently congested, there are plenty of less visited places to explore. Finding relaxation rather than crowds should be a top priority. The comprehensive information about mass travel destinations is useful for making the best decisions and ensuring a positive vacation experience. For more details on crowded destinations, visit Focus.