Brit living in Spain shares reality of streets after months of tourism protests
Since April 2024, locals across Spain have been demonstrating against the issue of over-tourism all over the country – especially in major cities such as Barcelona and Malaga, along with popular holiday islands including the Canaries and Majorca.
Demonstrations continued in 2025 as tourist season kicked off once again – with Spanish locals arguing that their communities are being gutted by skyrocketing rents, disappearing housing stock, and the unstoppable growth of short-term rental properties. This sparked numerous protests in key tourist destinations, including Alicante and Barcelona. Some locals were even seen yelling at holidaymakers and spraying them with water pistols.
This has resulted in fewer tourists flocking to Spain – but people have begun filming the deserted streets of once-thriving cities and holiday spots, including Barcelona's city centre.
British woman Laura, who has called Spain home for two and a half years, turned to social media to post footage of the abandoned city.
"Day one of recording how quiet Barcelona is now the tourists don't feel welcome. The businesses must be feeling it," she captioned her video.
Laura revealed the location was El Born in the centre of Barcelona. She explained that the video had been taken at 2pm on Wednesday, 13 August.
The area of El Born is often regarded as one of the more fashionable quarters of the city. It boasts winding medieval lanes filled with high-end boutiques, the renowned Picasso museum and daytime cafés.
Once a bustling hub for cocktail bars and samba dancing, the area is now eerily quiet following recent protests. Laura's footage highlights the deserted streets that were once filled with thriving shops, cafes and restaurants.
Shockingly, only a handful of people can be seen wandering the expansive street. Even at lunchtime, restaurant tables remain largely unoccupied.
Laura continued to document the ghost town throughout the day, capturing footage at 5pm and 9pm, times when the streets would typically be teeming with locals and tourists.
In her final assessment, she lamented: "The streets are so quiet now. These businesses last year used to wake me up in the morning. One has just recently been renovated."
Her video sparked a flurry of comments from concerned viewers. While some dismissed the situation as insignificant, others expressed worry over the potential economic impact.
One critic commented: "Girl, it's quiet because it's 2pm." To this, Laura replied: "That's even worse if they are not in work and also not supporting their local businesses what the locals were filling up so much. This city doesn't stop. They will work all day and alternate shifts."
Another commenter warned: "The way their economy is gonna crash all because of hatred."
This sentiment was echoed by another viewer, who added: "The way they will be able to afford their own city again after that happens."
Meanwhile, another individual commented: "To be honest, Barcelona residents have a right to be mad and I understand their frustration, but it's focused at the wrong people.
"Airbnb and the government are the culprits. Tourism is important in every economy, there just has to be regulation on the capitalists who exploit it for profit at the cost of the local population."
And a further person chimed in: "I wont go to Spain until I feel I will be welcome. The protests really put me off."
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