5 overcrowded European cities to avoid – and alternatives to visit instead

Summer is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning more people are heading for Europe to make the most of the continent in the glorious weather. There’s nothing wrong with that, but when considering your last-minute getaway during high season, we want to encourage you to think outside the box.

Many ‘bucket list’ cities are under increased threat from mass tourism, causing upset among residents, damage to important heritage sites, and generally making a destination feel inauthentic and unappealing to both visitors and locals.

Recently, travel tech company Holidu conducted research to identify the most overcrowded places in Europe. Here, we’ve selected five of the best-known cities from its top 20 list, and have suggested alternative and unspoilt metropolitans you should try visiting instead.

Piazza Raffaele De Ferrari in Genova (Shutterstock)

This won’t come as a surprise, but Venice has been feeling the strain of overtourism for many years. During high season, around 100,000 people can tread its picturesque canal bridges and narrow cobbled alleys every day, causing overcrowding, polluted waters, and residents to feel pushed out of their homes. But in recent years, the city has put its foot down and introduced measures to fight the issue. As well as banning cruise ships after UNESCO warned the ‘City of Canals’ of the damage caused by hordes of passengers, Venice became the first in the world to introduce an entry fee for day-trippers, ensuring those who don’t stay overnight are still contributing to its economy.

Perched on the opposite coastline to Venice, Genova is Liguria’s capital and the gateway to the Riviera, but remains a seriously underrated destination. As one of Italy’s busiest ports for centuries and the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, it’s no surprise that it has a rich maritime history. Porto Antico, which has now been redesigned as pedestrianised cultural hub, has been active since the fifth century BC, and the Lanterna di Genova is the city’s 800-year-old lighthouse – the fifth tallest in the world. Head through medieval streets (similar to Venice’s) to the Old Town and you’ll uncover several UNESCO-listed gems, with fine examples of medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic architecture. Pick up a farinata before you leave: Genova’s much-loved chickpea crepe is still made with a recipe originating from the Roman times.

Beautiful canal views can be soaked up in Utrecht (Shutterstock)

The Netherlands’ capital is another destination known for its on-going battle with tourists, with more than 20 million people visiting before the pandemic in 2019. Its canals are not only lined with narrow Dutch Baroque buildings, but also an abundance of partygoers. Amsterdam has gained a reputation for its nightlife – something this charming, historic destination wants to distance itself far from. In recent years, it’s began to crack down on nuisance behaviour with a ‘Stay Away’ campaign, deterring revellers by banning activities such as street drinking, alcohol sales after 4pm and smoking cannabis outside its red-light district. It has also placed limits on the construction of new hotels, and certain districts are not allowed to offer short-term holiday lets.

The fourth largest city in the Netherlands lies less than an hour’s drive south-east from the capital, and is often referred to as ‘Amsterdam in miniature’. You can still get your dose of tree-lined canals and medieval architecture in Utrecht, and its array of fascinating museums are guaranteed to entertain any visitor, from the Miffy Museum dedicated to Dutch author and illustrator Dick Bruna, to the Centraal Museum displaying historic artwork and artefacts relating to the city’s history. Unmissable things to do include coffee-shop hopping, market mooching (try Lapjesmarkt on Saturdays) and exploring the main square of Domplein to see the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, Domtoren. Like Amsterdam, it’s also a bike-friendly city.

Onyar River runs through Girona (Shutterstock)

Madrid may be the capital, but Barcelona is the city which really has it all. Its laid-back vibe attracted an estimated 32-million visitors per year before covid, all pouring in to see its Gothic cathedrals, Modernisme architecture and golden-sand beaches. But the amount of visitors is causing mass crowding everywhere you go, from La Rambla street to the Boqueria market. The coastal city is another big one for cruise ship visitors, who stop off for a mere few hours and leave again without giving anything back. The city is hoping to cap the amount of cruise ships to just three a day, or 200,000 cruise ship visitors per month.

Long living in the shadow of Barcelona, Girona has emerged from behind its Catalan neighbour and is now coming into its own. Often known locally as the ‘City of 1,000 sieges’ – due to the Iberians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Napoleon all fighting over it in years gone by – Girona is home to a wealth of historic sites that tell the tale of its storied history, including the medieval streets of Barri Vell, the cathedral of Girona, and its well-preserved Jewish quarter. Better yet, it’s only a hop, skip and a jump away from the beaches of Costa Brava and some of the Pyrenees best hiking trails, so there’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy its surrounding nature. Art lovers should also consider a trip to the Salvador Dali House-Museum in Portlligat, just over an hour’s drive away (or a two hour train journey).

Old town and Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in Brno (Shutterstock)

Prague has been declared the new face of overtourism in the past decade. The majority of visitors arrive in summer, but there’s also a surge during the festive season, when traditional Christmas markets adorn the historic square. It might still be clawing its visitor numbers back up since 2019 (pre-pandemic), but recent years have seen the city change its tourism strategy to encourage travellers to explore greater Prague, dispersing them away from the city’s main, overcrowded attractions, including its historic Old Town and medieval Charles Bridge. Similarly to Amsterdam, it’s become known for its cheap beer and nightlife – sadly, an attractive quality for stag parties and hen dos.

We’re still puzzled over why Brno is under the radar – but we’re also delighted. The second largest city in Czechia is bursting with history, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a vibrant bar scene – where Czech wine as much loved as Czech beer. Špilberk Castle, the Old Town Hall, Villa Tugendhat, and the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul are some of its main sites – yet receive a tiny proportion of tourists compared to Prague’s attractions. It’s also a good base for exploring the South Moravia region, where you can spend days castle spotting and wine tasting in the countryside.

The old Byzantine fortress overlooking the city of Thessaloniki (Shutterstock)

Always wanted to see the Acropolis? Although it’s one of the world’s most stunningly preserved archaeological sites, the queue of hundreds of people leading up to the ancient monument can make the experience a lot less pleasant, with an estimated 16,000 people lining up every day to get a glimpse. UNESCO have recognised this and have even expressed their dissatisfaction with the large crowds and the lack of site management. Furthermore, residents in the city are being forced to leave as more owners are wanting to transform their properties into short-term holiday lets.

Greek mainland’s second-largest city is often bypassed by tourists, but Thessaloniki shouldn’t be overlooked, especially for its cultural importance. It has 15 UNESCO-listed monuments, including the Walls of Thessaloniki, churches, monasteries and Byzantine baths. It also has various well-preserved archaeological sites such as the Ancient Agora, the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda. Dive further into the past at the city’s 30-plus museums, its main ones being the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Byzantine Culture, and for those into their sport, the Olympic Museum. You can escape to a more natural landscape right next to the city too: Axios Delta National Park is one of the most important ecosystems in Greece, home to flamingos, wild horses and wading birds.