Summer is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere, which means more and more people are heading to Europe to make the most of its beautiful weather. Season, we need to inspire you to think outside the box.
Many cities on the “bucket list” are increasingly threatened by mass tourism, causing unrest among residents, damaging vital heritage sites, and making the destination inauthentic and unattractive to visitors and locals alike.
Recently, the generation company Holidu conducted studies to identify the busiest places in Europe. Here, we select five of the best-known cities from their list of the 20 most sensible and suggest other unknown metropolises that you should visit instead. .
It may not come as a surprise, but Venice has been paying for the strain of overtourism for many years. During the high season, around 100,000 people can walk every day on its picturesque canal bridges and narrow cobblestone streets, causing overcrowding and polluted water. and citizens evicted from their homes. But in recent years, the city has set foot on the ground and taken steps to combat the problem. As well as banning cruise ships after UNESCO warned the “city of canals” of damage caused by hordes of passengers, Venice has become the first in the world to introduce an upfront payment for day trippers, making sure those who don’t stay overnight continue to contribute to its economy.
Located on the opposite coast of Venice, Genoa is the capital of Liguria and the gateway to the Riviera, but it remains a seriously underrated destination. As one of Italy’s busiest ports for centuries and birthplace of Christopher Columbus, it’s no wonder it has a rich maritime history. Porto Antico, which has now been redesigned as a pedestrian cultural center, has been active since the fifth century BC. C. , and the Lanterna di Genova is the 800-year-old lighthouse of the city, the fifth highest in the world. through the medieval streets (similar to Venice) to the old town and you will notice several UNESCO-listed gems, with excellent examples of medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic architecture. Get a farinata before you go: Genoa’s popular chickpea pancake is made with a recipe from Roman times.
The capital of the Netherlands is another destination known for its ongoing war with tourists, with more than 20 million people visiting before the pandemic in 2019. Its canals are not only covered with narrow Dutch baroque buildings, but also with a large number of party-goers. Amsterdam has earned a reputation for its nightlife, everything this captivating historic destination needs to stand out. In recent years, he began cracking down on the destructive habit with a “Stay Away” campaign, deterring partygoers by banning activities such as drinking alcohol on the street, promoting alcohol after four in the afternoon. and hashish in the open air in its red light district. It has also imposed limits on the structure of new hotels and some neighborhoods cannot offer short-term vacation rentals.
The fourth largest city in the Netherlands is less than an hour’s drive southeast of the capital and is sometimes referred to as “Amsterdam in miniature”. You can get your dose of tree-lined canals and medieval architecture in Utrecht, and its array of attractive museums is guaranteed to entertain any visitor, from the Miffy Museum dedicated to Dutch writer and illustrator Dick Bruna, to the Central Museum showcasing ancient art and artifacts similar to the city’s history. Things not to be missed include cafes, markets (try Lapjesmarkt on Saturdays), and exploring the main square of Domplein to see the tallest bell tower in the Netherlands, Domtoren. Like Amsterdam, it’s also a bike-friendly city.
Madrid is possibly the capital, but Barcelona is the city that really has it all. Its laid-back vibe attracted some 32 million visitors a year before covid, all flocking to see its Gothic cathedrals, modernist architecture, and golden-sand beaches. But the number of visitors causes large crowds, from La Rambla street to the Boqueria Market. The coastal town is another wonderful town for cruise passengers, who stay there for a few hours and leave without returning anything. The town hopes to restrict the number of cruise ships to just 3 per day, or 200,000 visitors per month.
Long in the shadow of Barcelona, Girona has emerged from its Catalan neighbor and now makes sense. Often referred to locally as the “city of a thousand squares”, due to the Iberians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Napoleon who fought for it in the afterlife: Girona is home to a wealth of historical sites that tell the story of its history, in addition to the medieval streets of the Barri Vell, Girona Cathedral and its well-preserved Jewish quarter. Best of all, it’s just a stone’s throw away. of the beaches of the Costa Brava and some of the most productive hiking trails in the Pyrenees, so there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the surrounding nature. Art lovers also deserve a holiday at the Salvador Dalí House-Museum in Portlligat, just over an hour’s drive away (or a two-hour exercise ride).
Prague has been declared the new face of overtourism in the last decade. Most visitors arrive in summer, but there is also a strong build-up of the festive season, when classic Christmas markets adorn the historic square. Its guest numbers since 2019 (before the pandemic) are still recovering, however, in recent years, the city has replaced its tourism strategy to inspire travelers to explore Greater Prague, moving them away from the city’s main crowded attractions, adding its historic Old Town and medieval Charles Bridge. . Like Amsterdam, it has become known for its reasonable beer and nightlife; Unfortunately, a quality for bachelor and bachelorette parties.
We still don’t know why Brno is under the radar, but we are also delighted. The second largest city in the Czech Republic is steeped in history, UNESCO World Heritage sites and a lively bar scene, where Czech wine is highly enjoyed. like Czech beer. Špilberk Castle, Old Town Hall, Tugendhat Villa and Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul are some of its main attractions, but they receive a small proportion of tourists compared to Prague’s attractions. It’s also a smart base for exploring the South Moravian region, where you can spend days observing castles and tasting wines in the countryside.
Did you want to see the Acropolis? Despite being one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the world, the line of loads leading to the ancient monument can make the party much less pleasurable, with around 16,000 other people lining up every day to take a look. UNESCO has said this and even expressed its discontent with the giant crowds and lack of control of the site. In addition, the city’s population is forced to leave as more and more homeowners need to convert their homes into short-term vacation rentals.
The time when Greece’s largest city is traversed by tourists, however, Thessaloniki deserves not to be overlooked, especially for its cultural significance. It has 15 monuments declared World Heritage by UNESCO, in addition to the Walls of Thessaloniki, churches, monasteries and Byzantine baths. It also has several well-preserved archaeological sites such as the Ancient Agora, the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda. Delve into the afterlife in more than 30 museums in the city, the main ones being the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Byzantine Culture and, for lovers of their sport, the Olympic Museum. You can also escape to a more natural landscape right next to the city: Axios Delta National Park is one of Greece’s most vital ecosystems, home to flamingos, wild horses and wading birds.