During the summer months, many places in Europe are bursting at the seams once again. Holidu has listed the hotspots – and the number one spot is surprising.

Mass tourism leads to more and more problems in many cities. This has recently resulted in increasingly frequent protests, especially in Spanish holiday resorts. Rigorous measures are intended to provide relief there, as well as in Italy. However, the most tourists per inhabitant are found elsewhere. This conclusion was reached by the holiday home portal “Holidu” using data from the market research company “Euromonitor International.”

The number of arriving tourists in 2023 was compared with the population of the city. Interestingly, not all listed cities are as obvious as one might expect.

5th place: Florence (Italy) With 14 tourists for each of the over 360,000 inhabitants, Florence records an immense overload of visitors. The Ponte Vecchio, once a quaint bridge, has turned into a chaotic gauntlet of selfie-seekers. The Cathedral is often swallowed up by an endless sea of tourists. To counteract this, Florence has been charging a tourist tax between 4.50 and 8 euros per night since April 2023, depending on the category of accommodation. Children under 12 are exempt from this tax, and the fee is payable for an uninterrupted stay of up to 7 nights.

4th place: Heraklion (Greece) With a dizzying number of 18 tourists per inhabitant, the Greek port city is struggling with the challenges of mass tourism. What was once a charming gateway to the island’s stunning beaches and ancient ruins has turned into a bustling commercial hub. Heraklion recorded a total of 3.6 million arrivals last year.

3rd place: Venice (Italy) With an overwhelming number of 21 tourists per inhabitant, Venice claims the unfortunate bronze medal in Europe’s competition of the most overcrowded cities. This unique floating city suffers under the weight of its popularity. From 2025, the city plans to charge entrance fees of up to 10 euros to manage “overtourism.”

2nd place: Rhodes (Greece) Rhodes is the second most overcrowded travel destination on this list. With 26 tourists per inhabitant, the island falls victim to its own popularity. The charming cobblestone streets have turned into busy tourist corridors, while the many beaches are overrun by sun worshippers.

1st place: Dubrovnik (Croatia) Dubrovnik has developed into an absolute tourist magnet over the past few years. Here, there are an incredible 27 tourists per inhabitant. The “Game of Thrones” effect (Dubrovnik was partly used as a filming location for the cult series) has only exacerbated the problem, turning the cobblestone streets into congested thoroughfares and the iconic walls into selfie backdrops.