Tourism Protests Are Expected in Major European Cities This Weekend
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by Condé Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission.
Getty Images
Across Europe's most popular destinations this weekend, the weather forecast says cloudy with a chance of water guns.
Coordinated anti-tourism demonstrations, which recently have taken the form of crowds of locals spraying tourists with water pistols, are scheduled to happen on Sunday, June 15, in cities such as Barcelona, Ibiza, and Palma in Spain, as well as elsewhere in Europe, including Venice, Palermo, Lisbon, and other cities.
'Tourists have been warned of potential disruptions caused by activist groups preparing a large-scale protest for June 15th,' says Pablo Calvo, Spain Manager for travel operator Tours For You. 'The demonstration, organized by the Southern European Network Against Touristification (SET), will focus on major Spanish destinations, such as the Canary Islands (Lanzarote and Tenerife) and the Balearic Islands (Barcelona and Mallorca)."
The protests are a continuation of a movement that first gained momentum in summer 2024 in Barcelona and the Canary Islands, as locals demanded action from politicians to limit mass tourism's impact on housing, jobs, and daily life. Spain, and Barcelona in particular, remain ground zero for the movement. Here's everything to know if you have an upcoming trip planned to one of the impacted destinations.
Jump to
When and where are the protests?
What are the protests about?
Should travelers be concerned?
Travel alerts and advice
How to be a responsible traveler
In Barcelona, the protests are scheduled to start at noon on June 15 at the city's Jardinets de Gràcia.
Additional cities in Spain that are planning to participate include Donostia-San Sebastian, where demonstrations will begin at 12 p.m. at the clock at La Concha beach; Granada, where protests will start at 11 a.m. at the Mirador de San Nicolas; Palma, where demonstrations are scheduled for 6 p.m. at Placa d'Espanya; and Ibiza, where protests will start at 6 p.m. at Portal de Ses Taules and follow the Plaça de la Constitució, ending in the Plaza de sa Graduada at 9 p.m., according to local news site Periodico de Ibiza.
Protests are also expected to take place on June 15 in major cities throughout Europe, including Venice and Lisbon. Specific plans have not yet been released to the public, but parks, public squares, or popular tourist sites are likely gathering places.
The protests aim to highlight the 'growing concern over the uncontrolled growth of tourism and its negative effects on local communities,' Calvo says, including rising housing costs, overcrowding, and the treatment of the industry's hospitality workers.
Lluís Diago, a worker at Barcelona's famous Park Güell, said in a statement many of the jobs in the city's tourism sector are 'plagued by subcontracting and undignified and unsafe working conditions.'
Improving working conditions and the housing market is a core focus of the coordinated demonstrations on June 15. The protests are fighting against "injustice from the economic model [tourism] sets,' said a spokesperson from the Assembly of Neighborhoods for Tourist De-Growth. In Barcelona, locals are pushing the city's politicians to reform policies like stopping a proposed expansion to Barcelona's El Prat Airport, tightening restrictions on Airbnbs and other short-term rentals, and placing limits on cruise ship arrivals.
The message of the demonstrations may be geared toward politicians, but tourists could still be caught in the watery crossfire. 'We don't think there will be aggressive behaviors against tourists, so no fear for travelers," says Bruno Gomes, who works for We Hate Tourism tours in Lisbon, which aims to help visitors experience the city in a deeper way beyond its biggest tourist attractions.
Although the demonstrations may sound overwhelming, there's 'no reason for fear, no need to cancel trips,' says Condé Nast Traveler travel specialist Murielle Blanchard, a consultant with Black Pearl Luxury Services.
'My suggestion is to talk to the [hotel] concierge and find out the route of the demonstration,' Blanchard says, adding that she has advised her clients to stay away from major sightseeing spots in affected cities on the day of the protests. 'It is better not to be in the middle of it. They have used water guns in the past, but I am not sure it will be the same this time."
Similar protests against overtourism occurred in Spain across major destinations like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, and the Canary Islands this May. Before those protests, the US Embassy and Consulate in Spain and Andorra sent an alert to travelers advising them to avoid the gatherings.
The embassy also advised US travelers to:
Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests
Be aware of your surroundings
Follow the instructions of authorities and signs regarding closures and detours
Monitor local media for updates
Keep a low profile
The same advice can be applied to the upcoming June 15 protests.
Tourists can also make strides to be more responsible and intentional about the way they travel. According to Gomes, more travelers are being led by social media to the same spots with hopes of recreating the content they see in viral posts and videos. This only exacerbates overcrowding issues and stress on destinations' infrastructures.
'We are traveling more and more with strict agendas and to-do lists,' Gomes says. 'We know all about everything because of Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok, stripping away from us what traveling should be.' Instead, travelers can strive to get off the beaten path, and venture beyond the tourist hotspots. Other helpful actions travelers can take include scheduling trips for the off season, traveling in smaller groups, hiring local guides, and supporting small businesses.
These are issues that can be solved on an individual level, one tourist at a time. 'Explore, and engage with locals to give you a true feeling of what life and culture are in each city,' recommends Gomes. 'Go deeper. The biggest responsibility of overtourism is from politicians and greedy businesses, but we all have a responsibility too. If we consume and choose better, know where and to whom your money is going, we will in fact change things.'
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
The Latest Travel News and Advice
Want to be the first to know? Sign up to our newsletters for travel inspiration and tips
Stop Counting the Countries You Visit
How Safe Is Flying Today? 5 Things Experts Want Travelers to Know
The Best Places to See the Northern Lights Worldwide

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Speak a new language before your suitcase hits the carousel
Discover startups, services, products and more from our partner StackCommerce. New York Post edits this content, and may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links. TL;DR: Get lifetime access to Babbel's expertly designed lessons in 14 languages for $129.99 (reg. $599)—on desktop or mobile, online or offline—with StackSocial's exclusive code LEARN40. Whether you're ordering dinner in Rome or asking for directions on the 7 train in Queens, knowing a second (or third) language can make life a whole lot smoother. With this exclusive offer from StackSocial, you can get lifetime access to Babbel—the language learning platform trusted by millions worldwide. You'll get access to all 14 languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, and even Norwegian, with over 10,000 hours of content designed by linguists. These lessons aren't filled with silly vocab you'll never use—they're built around real-life conversations like ordering food, chatting with locals, or navigating airports without pulling out Google Translate. Lessons are bite-sized (10–15 minutes) and sync seamlessly across your devices. Whether you're grinding on your desktop or squeezing in a few phrases on your phone before takeoff, Babbel was made to fit into your schedule. No Wi-Fi? No problem. Simply download your lessons and take them with you on the go. With built-in speech recognition technology and an AI conversation partner, Babbel helps you actually speak the language, not just memorize it. And if you're the kind of person who starts learning with full enthusiasm but forgets by week two (we see you), Babbel's personalized review system has your back. It tracks what you've learned and refreshes it at just the right time, so lessons actually stick. Whether you're brushing up on your high school Spanish or diving into German before your big summer trip, Babbel adapts to you, not the other way around. So if you're serious about learning, this is your passport to real progress. Use StackSocial's exclusive code, LEARN40, at checkout through June 30 to unlock the full, lifetime Babbel experience for just $129.99 (reg. $599). StackSocial prices subject to change.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Airbnb blames hotels for ‘overtourism' in Europe
Airbnb has blamed the hotel industry for 'overtourism' in Europe, after regional governments launched crackdowns on holiday rentals. Theo Yedinsky, the Airbnb vice president for public policy, hit back at criticism from furious residents and regulators that the company is causing overcrowding in holiday hotspots. He claimed the rentals group was the victim of 'scapegoating' by local authorities, like in Spain, where large anti-tourism protests have become commonplace. Mr Yedinksy said it was the hotel industry that was driving overtourism, rather than Airbnb rentals. 'We end up getting a lot of the blame, especially in city centres, but the reality is overtourism is really driven by hotels. It is totally unfair,' Mr Yedinsky told the Financial Times. Airbnb and other short-term lettings like have been criticised for turning cities into places where locals can no longer afford to live because apartments are rented to tourists. In Venice, for instance, with an acute lack of affordable public housing, many families have moved to the mainland where rents are cheaper. Anti-tourism demonstrations have been commonplace in Europe in recent years, with about 10,000 people marching in Palma, Majorca last May against overtourism. Similar protests have occurred in Barcelona, Santa Cruz and the Canary Islands. This weekend is set to see another huge wave of anti-tourism protests all over Spain, with marches set to take place in Barcelona, Majorca, Granada, Ibiza and Minorca, as well as in Lisbon and Venice. These protests have seen angry locals spraying tourists with water guns and congregating on the street, with as many as 20,000 coming out to express anger at councils and local governments' management of mass tourism. In response, the Spanish government called for the removal of nearly 66,000 Airbnb properties across six regions of the country in May, claiming they breach regulations for tourist accommodation. Airbnb listings have been partly blamed for swallowing up the housing stock in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. Barcelona aims to eliminate 10,000 of its short term lets by the end of 2028. 'I think the mayor of Barcelona needs to look at the construction of hotels, he needs to look at hotels in general . . . and they need to build more housing,' Mr Yedinksy said in response. 'They are scapegoating Airbnb. They are attacking a fraction of the problem and then wondering why it's not getting better,' he added. Spain received 94 million tourists in 2024, and Airbnb reported 500,000 listings in Spain in 2021 alone. Locals report that these huge levels of tourism have perpetuated housing crises, making it harder to buy and rent in cities like Barcelona and Lisbon. Councils have responded with increased regulations and city-planning schemes, with Barcelona recently announcing €30 million to revamp the tourist hotspot area of Ciutat Vella to improve services for locals such as housing and cultural spaces. Experts say that although hotels are still the most popular choice for tourists, Airbnb brings tourism to residential areas of cities, which can cause more discontent due to noise and over-crowded services usually reserved for locals. Studies on the effects of increased Airbnb lettings concluded that the rise in the short-term letting listed online have effects similar to gentrification, by increasing the value of neighbourhoods. Airbnb income was $2.65 billion in 2024, a massive 44% drop from 2023, reflecting the possible effect of tighter regulations and renters' anger with the company. Additionally, the company took a massive hit during the pandemic, with bookings down 85% at Covid-19's peak. However, Mr Yedinsky seems optimistic about the future, saying, 'this company will continue to be successful'. The company is reportedly aiming for 1 billion guests by 2028. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.


Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
Solo Traveler Gets Last Laugh After Family Tries to Ruin Her Evening: 'Stormed Out'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A solo traveler got the last laugh following a "passive aggressive" altercation with a family at a resort in Tenerife, Spain. The traveler, aka nurseB89 on Reddit, explained that she opted for an all-inclusive hotel on the island to avoid dining alone in unfamiliar places. Immediate Objection The hotel's club-style seating arrangement grouped guests at shared tables of eight, which led to them being placed with a family of five during dinner. The original poster (OP) wrote that she was already enjoying a glass of wine when the family joined their table. The mother immediately objected, saying, "we do not wish to expose our children to women drinking alcohol." The traveler replied that they were welcome to switch tables if it was an issue, but she would not be changing her plans. Stock image: Woman in a bathrobe standing near a window in a bathroom. Stock image: Woman in a bathrobe standing near a window in a bathroom. iStock / Getty Images Plus While the OP was away getting food, her wine vanished. When she returned, a waiter explained that the family had falsely claimed she was underage and sneaking away from her parents. After checking her wristband, the waiter apologized and returned with a fresh glass. Rather than back down, the traveler leaned into the moment. She asked the waiter to bring her the entire wine bottle and a couple of vodka shots. As she downed one, the family arrived back at the table—and stormed out. 'Better they check!' In reply to an invitation to comment from Newsweek via Reddit, user nurseB89 said she has not seen the family around the hotel since their exchange. "Regretted the vodka today as I actually don't drink that much, or done shots since university days! I often get ID'd for alcohol and it [is] better they check!" The OP noted that, "a lot people have posted on the post about different religions [and] cultures, but they appeared to be a typical British family." Gender and Judgment at the Dinner Table After the family left the restaurant "storming out," as the traveler put it, others at the resort offered support to the woman. Staff and guests expressed disbelief that anyone would take offense at someone drinking legally in a place that caters to adults. Many Reddit critics shared their incredulity, amid more than 1,800 comments within 24 hours, such as the person who remarked: "What family goes to an all inclusive in Tenerife and doesn't expect to see women drinking alcohol! "They will have to blindfold the children." Another individual made a point: "It's just WOMEN drinking alcohol. What the heck is that about? It's clearly not an issue with alcohol as much as it is with women. Sheesh." Solo Travelers Face Uninvited Scrutiny Some folks online drew connections between the OP's experience and broader issues faced by women traveling alone. Two Newsweek articles highlight how solo travelers often report facing criticism, or placing unfair limits on themselves. Newsweek reported how one solo traveler saw her trip turn romantic after meeting another traveler and their relationship "clicked instantly." However, the traveler shared her story telling others, "don't make the same mistake." Another woman said she budgeted "too hard" during her solo vacation that it limited her ability to enjoy it. Newsweek reported that the traveler went to Sri Lanka and found she had prepared more money than she needed. Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work, and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek. To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, click here.