Europe: a continent steeped in rich tradition, culture, stunning landscapes… and tourists. From the royal palaces of London to the temple ruins of Athens, attractions across the continent have seen visitor number surge this summer, finally bouncing back to pre-2020 levels.
But overtourism can mean inflated prices, increased pollution and damage, and just an overall unpleasant experience for travellers and locals alike. So if you’re looking to beat the crowds in Europe this summer, check out this list of places you might want to avoid.
The study, conducted by luxury travel company, The Thinking Traveller, dug through TripAdvisor reviews of popular tourist attractions across Europe. It zeroed in on the locations with the most and fewest mentions of ‘busy’ and ‘crowded’ in reviews.
Unsurprisingly, the top ten most overcrowded tourist attractions in Europe include iconic castles, historic sites and world-class museums. Edinburgh Castle in Scotland was named the single most overcrowded destination on the continent. Other overcrowded locations on the list were Buckingham Palace, Venice’s Grand Canal, the Louvre in Paris and the Acropolis in Athens. Amidst all that heritage, Siam Park, the spectacular Tenerife water park, also made the list.
Below is the full list of the top ten overcrowded tourist attractions according to TripAdvisor reviews:
- Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh
- Buckingham Palace, London
- Siam Park, Tenerife
- Canal Grande, Venice
- Roman Baths, Bath
- Tower of London, London
- Louvre Museum, Paris
- Acropolis, Athens
- The British Museum, London
- Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Looking for somewhere a little less busy? Here are Europe’s most underrated travel destinations for a break this summer.
Did you see? These European cities are the most overcrowded with tourists right now.
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