'Four most overcrowded places in Europe I won't return to - no matter how beautiful'
Europe's top holiday spots are becoming unbearably crowded during peak season, warns a travel expert, with Italy's most popular attractions among the worst offenders. World-renowned destinations like Barcelona have even hiked up their tourist taxes in an attempt to curb visitor numbers.
Research by Holidu reveals that Dubrovnik takes the crown as the world's most overcrowded tourist hotspot, boasting 30 visitors for every local resident. But which other locations are bursting at the seams come summertime?
Speaking previously to Express.co.uk, Sara Rodriguez, a seasoned traveller and blogger at Madrid Travelling, revealed four places she found overwhelmingly busy.
Positano, Italy
Considered a gem of southern Italy's Amalfi Coast, the picturesque landscape in Positano is nothing short of iconic. Colourful buildings are perched on cliffs that overlook the Mediterranean, giving Positano its name as the 'vertical village'.
Despite its reputation as one of the most picturesque seaside villages on the coastline, Sara described the atmosphere as far too "hectic". She elaborated: "While undeniably beautiful with its colourful buildings and seaside views, the narrow streets were packed shoulder to shoulder with other sightseers."
She added: "The atmosphere felt more hectic than idyllic, and prices were inflated for tourists. I left feeling like I never got to experience the real Positano beyond the chaotic surface."
Paris, France
The 'City of Love' is one of Europe's most sought-after destinations, but Sara is just one of many visitors who are left less than impressed by the iconic French city.
She detailed: "The congested boulevards of Paris and the never-ending lineups at attractions like the Eiffel Towe r and Louvre strained my patience. I didn't really enjoy the atmosphere as much as I was waiting to take shots."
TripAdvisor reviewers are in agreement, with one Louvre Museum visitor stating: "The art is crazy, but the queues are insane. Two hours to access the museum and then you can barely walk due to the quantity of tourists. They should regulate this."
Excessive tourism has been widespread this year, with the Olympics and Paralympics taking place in the city. This occurs despite Paris City Hall's decision to triple the tourist tax by 200 per cent for 2024.
The move was implemented to assist Île-de-France Mobilités, which oversees public transport, including the metro and bus services, in managing the increased passenger numbers anticipated for the international sporting spectacle.
Mykonos, Greece
The busy tourist period in Mykonos is generally from Greek Easter (April) to the end of October, with peak season from mid-July to late August. During this time, the island attracts visitors of all ages.
Holidaymakers fork out top prices for accommodation on the picturesque Greek isle, which costs considerably more than neighbouring spots such as Syros. However, the masses prove disappointing, according to Sara.
She explained: "When I finally went to the Greek island, I thought it would be a tranquil haven. Even while it was breathtakingly gorgeous, I felt that partygoers and inebriated vacationers overshadowed it. The restaurants were expensive and the beaches were noisy."
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is renowned for its lively culture, fascinating heritage and stunning waterways, with the 17th-century canal network having developed into one of the most distinctive cityscapes globally. That said, its hordes of visitors make it incredibly busy considering the city is only an eighth of the size of London.
In addition to overnight stays, Amsterdam welcomed 15.1 million day visitors last year, with approximately 60 percent of them coming from within the Netherlands, according to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
Sara's own experience was marred by congested streets, claiming: "The city centre was overrun with rowdy bachelor parties riding bikes through crowded streets. The museums were packed, and reservations at restaurants were impossible to get."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC Destination X fans 'work out' winner after spotting 'clue' in episode four
Destination X is currently airing on BBC One and fans are convinced they have worked out who the winner is after a player stormed through the latest episode. BBC One's Destination X returned on Thursday evening (August 7) for another thrilling episode, and fans are certain they've figured out who will be the victor of this new reality show. Presenter Rob Brydon is currently guiding a group of contestants through various European towns, cities, and countries with one goal in mind: they must determine their location using only clues from challenges in each episode. So far, the cast of the BBC reality show has already visited Paris, the romantic French capital, Matterhorn in Switzerland, and Munich in Germany aboard the blacked-out X-bus. The most recent episode saw the players guessing their way to Salzburg, Austria. In the coming weeks, contestants will be booted off the X-bus if they misplace their destination too far on the map when it's time to guess their exact location in the world. Interestingly, returning players can rejoin the gameshow at any point, as evidenced by the arrival of three contestants on Thursday, reports the Manchester Evening News. The last person standing at the end of the series will walk away with a whopping £100k, but viewers are convinced that London taxi driver Daren Parr will scoop the prize pot. During the fourth episode, the players were inundated with clues suggesting they had journeyed to Salzburg from their previous stop in Munich. They listened to Mozart and encountered numerous hints from the film The Sound of Music, which was shot in the area. During one gruelling challenge, Daren steered his four-person squad to victory and they were all awarded immunity from having to identify the location on the map. He also succeeded in persuading several contestants that they were in a different location, and it was newcomer Chloe-Anne who was eliminated after incorrectly guessing the destination was Vienna. Destination X viewers have been quick to tip Daren as the champion following his impressive performance with the clues. Flocking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one person wrote: "We all love Daren don't we. Killing a few myths on cabbies and Millwall supporters as well #DestinationX." A second gushed: "If Daren doesn't win this whole thing, we riot. #DestinationX." A third chimed in: "Daren doesn't want to make the same mistake twice. He's proper game playing now #destinationx." "Really hope Daren wins this or Claire," stated one fan while another added: "#destinationx Daren is definitely the star."
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Four most overcrowded places in Europe I won't return to - no matter how beautiful'
Europe can become incredibly busy during the peak holiday season and according to a travel expert, one of Italy's top attractions is among those that have become too overcrowded Europe's top holiday spots are becoming unbearably crowded during peak season, warns a travel expert, with Italy's most popular attractions among the worst offenders. World-renowned destinations like Barcelona have even hiked up their tourist taxes in an attempt to curb visitor numbers. Research by Holidu reveals that Dubrovnik takes the crown as the world's most overcrowded tourist hotspot, boasting 30 visitors for every local resident. But which other locations are bursting at the seams come summertime? Speaking previously to Sara Rodriguez, a seasoned traveller and blogger at Madrid Travelling, revealed four places she found overwhelmingly busy. Positano, Italy Considered a gem of southern Italy's Amalfi Coast, the picturesque landscape in Positano is nothing short of iconic. Colourful buildings are perched on cliffs that overlook the Mediterranean, giving Positano its name as the 'vertical village'. Despite its reputation as one of the most picturesque seaside villages on the coastline, Sara described the atmosphere as far too "hectic". She elaborated: "While undeniably beautiful with its colourful buildings and seaside views, the narrow streets were packed shoulder to shoulder with other sightseers." She added: "The atmosphere felt more hectic than idyllic, and prices were inflated for tourists. I left feeling like I never got to experience the real Positano beyond the chaotic surface." Paris, France The 'City of Love' is one of Europe's most sought-after destinations, but Sara is just one of many visitors who are left less than impressed by the iconic French city. She detailed: "The congested boulevards of Paris and the never-ending lineups at attractions like the Eiffel Towe r and Louvre strained my patience. I didn't really enjoy the atmosphere as much as I was waiting to take shots." TripAdvisor reviewers are in agreement, with one Louvre Museum visitor stating: "The art is crazy, but the queues are insane. Two hours to access the museum and then you can barely walk due to the quantity of tourists. They should regulate this." Excessive tourism has been widespread this year, with the Olympics and Paralympics taking place in the city. This occurs despite Paris City Hall's decision to triple the tourist tax by 200 per cent for 2024. The move was implemented to assist Île-de-France Mobilités, which oversees public transport, including the metro and bus services, in managing the increased passenger numbers anticipated for the international sporting spectacle. Mykonos, Greece The busy tourist period in Mykonos is generally from Greek Easter (April) to the end of October, with peak season from mid-July to late August. During this time, the island attracts visitors of all ages. Holidaymakers fork out top prices for accommodation on the picturesque Greek isle, which costs considerably more than neighbouring spots such as Syros. However, the masses prove disappointing, according to Sara. She explained: "When I finally went to the Greek island, I thought it would be a tranquil haven. Even while it was breathtakingly gorgeous, I felt that partygoers and inebriated vacationers overshadowed it. The restaurants were expensive and the beaches were noisy." Amsterdam, Netherlands Amsterdam is renowned for its lively culture, fascinating heritage and stunning waterways, with the 17th-century canal network having developed into one of the most distinctive cityscapes globally. That said, its hordes of visitors make it incredibly busy considering the city is only an eighth of the size of London. In addition to overnight stays, Amsterdam welcomed 15.1 million day visitors last year, with approximately 60 percent of them coming from within the Netherlands, according to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. Sara's own experience was marred by congested streets, claiming: "The city centre was overrun with rowdy bachelor parties riding bikes through crowded streets. The museums were packed, and reservations at restaurants were impossible to get."
Time Out
13 hours ago
- Time Out
These are officially Europe's best cities for vintage and second-hand shopping
The scent of leather goods, the sound of vinyl records, the feel of hand-stitched home decor, and the sight of clunky, colourful jewellery – is there anything better? A city's vintage stores aren't only great places to find one-of-a-kind pieces; they're gateways to its past. They shed light on a destination's history of fashion, interests and technology, and it can be ridiculously rewarding when you hit the jackpot of an irreplaceable find. And, of course, they're sustainable – and more of us than ever are choosing to refresh our wardrobe with second-hand finds. To help vintage enthusiasts, global booking platform Omio has rounded up data from the 10 most populated European cities to find the greatest destinations for thrifting on the continent. With over 400 shops to choose from, London has landed at the top of the list. But don't mistake quantity for quality – the UK capital also received the second-lowest review average at 4.46, meaning you'll have to dig through a lot of dirt to find the buried treasure. And often, it is overpriced. But with enough patience, you'll find a priceless piece that will make you feel like you've won the lottery. Paris comes in second. While the French capital has nearly half the number of vintage shops as London with 226 options, that's still a load more than the city in third place, Berlin, which has 165 second-hand shops. Ironically, the cities with the least number of shops proved to have the best success stories. Athens 's 46 vintage shops had the best review average at 4.75, tying with Manchester, holding the title for the least number of vintage shops on the list with only 22. So, ready to rifle? Here's the full list of Europe's best cities for thrifting. These are Europe's 10 best cities for vintage and second-hand shopping 1. London, UK — 409 shops — 4.46 average 2. Paris, France — 226 shops — 4.52 average 3. Berlin, Germany —165 shops — 4.57 average 4. Rome, Italy — 102 shops — 4.45 average 5. Milan, Italy — 101 shops — 4.51 average 6. Barcelona, Spain — 90 shops — 4.64 average 7. Madrid, Spain — 81 shops — 4.60 average 8. Lisbon, Portugal — 54 shops — 4.55 average 9. Athens, Greece — 46 shops — 4.75 average 10. Manchester, UK — 22 shops — 4.75 average Did you see that Tokyo has been named the world's best city for a 'workation '?
