10 More European Cities RUINED by Overtourism (and where to go instead)

Summary

In this video, travel vlogger Mark discusses the impact of over-tourism on various European cities, highlighting the difference between crowded and over-touristed locations. He emphasizes the importance of spreading tourism to lesser-known destinations to alleviate the strain on popular spots. Mark shares personal experiences, such as living in Lisbon and observing its transformation, and suggests alternative places to visit during peak tourist seasons. He also touches on the economic benefits of tourism and encourages viewers to explore more of a country's regions beyond the over-touristed areas.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The video discusses the impact of over-tourism on various European cities and encourages travelers to explore alternative destinations.
• 🏙️ Over-tourism is distinguished from regular crowdedness, focusing on cities where it affects infrastructure, local life, and economy.
• 🚶‍♂️ The host, Mark, acknowledges the irony of a travel vlogger discussing over-tourism and explains his current location in Brazil as a choice to showcase less crowded places.
• 🏡 Over-tourism leads to issues like inflated accommodation prices, making it difficult for locals to afford living in popular tourist areas.
• 🛣️ In cities like Lisbon, over-tourism has resulted in traffic congestion, with Tuk Tuks adding to the problem.
• 🍦 Restrictions are being considered in places like Florence to manage over-tourism, including laws against eating ice cream while walking.
• 🏖️ Mykonos, a Greek island, experiences overcrowding in the summer, affecting local businesses and the overall tourist experience.
• 🏰 The small town of Hallstatt, Austria, became overly popular due to its depiction in movies and its picturesque setting, leading to an influx of tourists.
• 🏰 Toledo, Spain, is a popular day trip destination from Madrid, experiencing overcrowding on weekends due to its historical and religious significance.
• 🏞️ Over-tourism is not limited to cities; natural sites like those in Iceland also suffer from overcrowding, especially during the peak summer season.
• 🏰 Edinburgh and Munich are examples of larger cities that can handle large tourist volumes but still experience overcrowding in certain areas or during specific events.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is the impact of over-tourism in various European cities and how it affects local communities, infrastructure, and the overall experience for both tourists and residents.

Why is the speaker discussing European cities while being in Brazil?

The speaker is in Brazil to highlight that there are alternative travel destinations that are less impacted by over-tourism, thus encouraging travelers to explore less crowded places like Ouro Preto in Brazil.

What is the difference between over-tourism and being crowded at certain times?

Over-tourism refers to a sustained and overwhelming influx of tourists that negatively impacts local infrastructure, economy, and quality of life, beyond just being crowded at peak seasons or times of the day.

Why does the speaker mention his PhD and time spent in Lisbon?

The speaker mentions his PhD and time in Lisbon to provide personal experience and credibility to his observations about the transformation and over-tourism issues the city has faced over the years.

What is the issue with Tuk Tuks in Lisbon according to the script?

The issue with Tuk Tuks in Lisbon is that while they are popular among tourists for navigating the hilly terrain, they contribute to traffic congestion, which is a problem exacerbated by over-tourism.

Why does the speaker suggest visiting Lisbon during the shoulder season?

The speaker suggests visiting Lisbon during the shoulder season to avoid the peak tourist crowds and to have a more enjoyable and less overwhelming experience.

What is the situation with over-tourism in Florence, Italy as described in the script?

Florence is so overrun with tourists that the city is contemplating laws against certain behaviors like eating ice cream while walking, to manage the overwhelming number of visitors.

Why is Mykonos mentioned as an example of over-tourism in Greece?

Mykonos is mentioned as it becomes overwhelmed with tourists during the summer, leading to issues like overcrowding and the impact on local businesses and residents, which is a common characteristic of over-tourism.

What is the impact of over-tourism on small towns like Hallstatt, Austria?

Over-tourism impacts small towns like Hallstatt by overwhelming the local infrastructure and community, leading to measures such as blocking views to control tourist numbers, which can detract from the visitor experience and local quality of life.

How does the speaker suggest dealing with over-tourism in cities like Toledo, Spain?

The speaker suggests that to deal with over-tourism in cities like Toledo, which becomes crowded with day-trippers, one could visit during the week or explore other less crowded towns and cultural sites in the region.

What is the speaker's view on the role of tourism in local economies?

The speaker views tourism as a vital part of many local economies, but emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to ensure that over-tourism does not lead to negative consequences for the community and infrastructure.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Exploring Over-Tourism in Europe

In this paragraph, Mark introduces the topic of over-tourism in Europe, emphasizing the impact it has on cities beyond just being crowded during peak seasons. He differentiates between over-tourism and typical seasonal crowds, focusing on the long-term effects on infrastructure, local life, and the overall experience for both residents and tourists. Mark, currently in Ouro Preto, Brazil, uses the setting to highlight the irony of a travel vlogger discussing over-tourism and suggests alternative destinations to crowded areas, promoting responsible travel and supporting local economies.

05:01

🏰 Over-Tourism in Historic Cities

Mark discusses the specific challenges faced by cities like Lisbon, Florence, and Mykonos due to over-tourism. He shares personal experiences and observations, such as the transformation of Lisbon over the years and the impact on local housing due to Airbnb. He suggests visiting during off-peak times or exploring lesser-known destinations to mitigate the effects of over-tourism. The paragraph also touches on the need for tourists to be aware of their impact and consider how their travel choices can support local communities and economies.

10:01

🏞️ Balancing Tourism with Local Life

In this paragraph, Mark continues the conversation about over-tourism, focusing on smaller towns and natural sites. He mentions Hallstatt, Austria, as an example of a small town overwhelmed by tourists and the measures taken to protect the local experience. He also addresses the seasonal challenges faced by destinations like Mallorca and the Canary Islands, suggesting that tourists explore less crowded areas or visit during less busy times. Mark emphasizes the importance of spreading tourism to less visited areas to support local economies and reduce the strain on popular destinations.

Keywords

💡Over Tourism

Over tourism refers to the phenomenon where an excessive number of tourists visit a particular destination, leading to negative impacts on the local environment, culture, and infrastructure. In the video, the host discusses how certain cities in Europe are experiencing the strain of over tourism, affecting local life and the overall quality of the tourist experience. Examples include Lisbon, where the influx of tourists has led to transportation issues and increased accommodation prices, making it unaffordable for locals.

💡Transportation Impact

The transportation impact of over tourism is highlighted in the video as a significant issue in cities like Lisbon, where locals struggle to use public transportation due to the sheer number of tourists. This keyword underscores the video's theme by illustrating how over tourism can disrupt the daily lives of residents and affect the functionality of a city's infrastructure.

💡Accommodation

Accommodation is a key concept in the video, as it is directly affected by over tourism. The host mentions how the rise of Airbnb and other short-term rental services has led to increased accommodation prices, pricing out local residents in favor of tourists. This is particularly evident in Lisbon, where the host has personal experience of friends being unable to afford living downtown due to the influx of tourists and rental services.

💡Cultural Impact

The cultural impact of over tourism is discussed in the context of cities like Florence, where local laws are being considered to restrict certain behaviors, such as eating ice cream on the streets, due to the overwhelming number of tourists. This keyword is crucial to the video's message, as it shows how the preservation of local culture can be threatened by the sheer volume of visitors.

💡Infrastructure

Infrastructure refers to the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society, and in the video, it is mentioned as being negatively affected by over tourism. The host uses the example of Tuk Tuks in Lisbon, which, while convenient for tourists, contribute to traffic congestion and strain the city's infrastructure.

💡Local Economies

Local economies are discussed in the video as both beneficiaries and victims of tourism. While tourism can provide a significant boost to local economies, over tourism can lead to inflation and a shift in economic activity away from local residents, as seen in the case of Lisbon where Airbnb has made housing unaffordable for locals.

💡Alternative Destinations

The concept of alternative destinations is introduced by the host as a solution to over tourism. By promoting less crowded places like Ouro Preto in Brazil, the video encourages travelers to spread out and support a wider range of local economies and cultures, thereby reducing the strain on over touristed areas.

💡Seasonal Tourism

Seasonal tourism is a theme in the video, where the host suggests visiting popular tourist destinations during off-peak seasons to avoid the crowds and reduce the impact of over tourism. This approach can help distribute tourist traffic more evenly throughout the year, providing relief to over touristed areas during peak seasons.

💡Day Trips

Day trips are presented in the video as a way to alleviate over tourism in certain areas. By encouraging tourists to explore nearby towns and cities, the pressure on popular destinations can be reduced. The host uses Toledo, Spain, as an example, suggesting that visiting on weekdays instead of weekends can make a significant difference.

💡Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism is implied throughout the video as the host discusses the negative effects of over tourism and suggests alternatives. This concept refers to the practice of traveling in a way that minimizes the negative impact on the environment, culture, and local communities, and the video promotes this idea by encouraging tourists to be mindful of their choices and consider the impact of their travel.

💡Community Impact

Community impact is a central theme in the video, as the host discusses how over tourism can affect local communities, from pricing out residents to changing the character of neighborhoods. The video emphasizes the importance of considering the well-being of local communities when choosing travel destinations and highlights the need for responsible tourism practices.

Highlights

Mark from vter world discusses the impact of over-tourism in Europe, contrasting it with normal crowding during peak times.

He emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between over-tourism and regular seasonal or daily crowding.

Mark acknowledges the irony of a travel vlogger discussing over-tourism and explains his presence in Brazil.

The video aims to educate travelers about the impact of tourism and offer alternative destinations.

Lisbon is highlighted as a city transformed by tourism, with both economic benefits and challenges like housing affordability.

Florence's struggle with over-tourism is discussed, including potential legal restrictions on tourists' behaviors.

Mykonos, Greece, is cited as an example of an island overwhelmed by tourists, especially during the summer season.

Hallein, Austria, is mentioned as a small town that has become overly popular due to its depiction in movies, causing local strain.

Toledo, Spain, is described as a popular day trip destination that experiences weekend overcrowding.

Mallorca is noted for being a popular beach destination that suffers from overcrowding during peak seasons.

Iceland's natural beauty attracts many tourists, but over-tourism can lead to safety issues on its narrow roads.

Edinburgh is praised for its beauty but acknowledged for being a city where over-tourism is evident.

Munich is discussed as a city that can handle large tourist numbers but can feel overcrowded during peak times.

Prague is noted for its over-tourism, particularly with bachelor parties, and efforts to spread tourists out are mentioned.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to share their thoughts on over-tourism and suggest alternative destinations.

Transcripts

hey there fellow Travelers Mark here

with vter world and today we're in Oro

Brazil and no I'm not going to be

talking about actually South America I'm

actually going to be talking about

Europe it's specifically about more

cities that have been impacted by over

tourism in Europe recently we put out a

video about eight cities that were

destroyed by over tourism bit dramatic

in the title I know but how else you get

people to watch videos anymore it's

crazy but the thing is there are cities

that are really impacted by over tourism

and the thing is there is a difference

between over tourism and just crowded at

a certain time of year or a certain time

of day I think that's something we need

to make a difference of what I'm trying

to focus on on cities that really be

impacted whether it's in transportation

whether it's accommodation whether it's

just the so many people I can't handle

it or destroying the infrastructure

that's what I'm trying to focus on in

these videos and I know the irony of a

travel vlogger talking about over

tourism look that's why we're here in

Brazil we want to show other places

around the world that you can go cuz if

crowds aren't your thing come to oo

pretto it's a beautiful Colonial City

you can enjoy and just love about Brazil

best food in Brazil as well and that's

the thing is there's a lot of places you

can go around the world and that's what

I wanted to show here also I'm in Brazil

right now I'm not in Europe so that kind

of impacts where I can film right the

thing is what we try to do in our videos

is educate Travelers so they have a

better idea what to expect when they go

places but also to help give them

options other places they could go if

they don't want to go to over tourism

places so you can learn about places

like here in orto in Brazil or if you

want to go to Chile if you want to go to

China we have all kinds of stuff to kind

of help educate you and give you options

that's what we're trying to do but also

what we try to do is give people

information so they can find a way that

they can make an impact on individuals

in different countries they go to

because we as tourists really can help

out communities we can help individual

owners of businesses we can help out the

local economies when we go because

tourism is a vital part of economies a

lot of countries that are impacted by

over tourism but places that aren't

impacted as well because tourism really

can help places like here in Oro pretu

and therefore it makes it easier for you

to make better uses of your resources

when you do travel so let's get to the

list but I think if I look at cities

that been impacted I know there's one

city that a lot of people mentioned in

the video in the comments and also I've

seen personally for those who didn't

know I did my PhD I'm a doctor I'm

actually Professor Mark Walters um I

actually my PhD in Brazil in Lisbon I

lived there for 5 years my youngest son

was born there and I have seen how this

city has transformed from the early

2000s to the the 2020s and how much more

tourism's gone in there how it has

improved the economy but now it's really

become over touristed in terms of people

can't get on the metro to get to work if

they're downtown sometimes accommodation

we used to live downtown we lived there

we were a family all this kind of stuff

our friends all live downtown they've

all been priced out because the airbnbs

the apartment rentals that are there has

made it unaffordable for normal

Portuguese families and so that over

tourism's really kind of been alive but

I think the one thing that annoys

everybody the most about the over

tourism at lisman are all the Tuk tkes

now the tourists love them because the

hills there it's like here in Oru lots

of hills and if you're a chunky traveler

like me you don't like Hills so those

Tuk tkes are nice but they clog up

traffic as well so that's why Lisbon

really is on that list because it does

get a bit much that's why I'd say if you

want to go don't go in the summertime go

in the shoulder season offseason cuz

Lisbon is great all all year round but

sometimes it can just be overwhelmed

with tourists okay if you want to go to

some other Portuguese cities that are by

there that maybe aren't as crowded you

know they can still enjoy yourself you

can go to Evra and see the bone Chapel

there and the the cathedral and the the

temple that's there you can go to Tomar

I mean there's places nearby that you

can go to get that Portuguese feel

without being overrun okay now Lisbon

was the city that actually was the last

one on my list in my first video but

it's the first one on this next one and

another state that almost made if I

would have that top 10 last time is

Florence Italy okay Florence is so

overrun with tourism that they're

actually making laws against eating ice

cream while you're walking down the

street sitting down and eating having a

picnic kind of stuff like they they're

contemplating restrictions on the

tourists because there's just so many

tourists they can't handle it and that's

one of the things so if you're walking

down the main strip and you know you're

going by the dwo you know you're going

to go go on the bridge you know with all

the shops on it it just gets so packed

it's overwhelmed and for the locals they

can't enjoy the downtown either and so

it can be a bit much and for a lot of

tourists they're almost like I don't is

it worth it to see David with all of

these all these tourists there and for

me all these places are still worth seat

even if it's over touristed but you

might want to think about other times to

go like Florence it's beautiful all year

round if you can go during the week or

if you go you know in the fall or in the

springtime that will take out a lot of

the tourists that are here and that's

one of those things you got to think

about with these over touristed places

some of them their cities really survive

on tourism that would help them out

right and so so they need to have the

tourism but they kind of want to have it

hey can we like kind of SP like parse it

out a little bit differently so like

they're not coming all in one month

that's coming over a few months time and

that's why I want to talk about mikos

Greece next on our list now mikos is an

island in Greece that is beautiful to go

to and people go there and this is one

of those ones people feel that the

instagramers is ruined it because they

took all their pictures and all this

stuff and people want to get their mikos

pictures there yes that's why Santorini

Athens mikonos three over touristed

places in Greece that you want to be

aware of and mikos itself is beautiful

but the summertime it gets so

overwhelmed but in the winter time

there's not a lot of surfaces going on

so it's not as much fun to go there then

but you to realize there's a lot of

islands in Greece it's not just mikinos

and sorini we were in cre last summer

when mikinos and sanini were having the

biggest numbers ever aens ever and we're

talking to some of the people working in

cre they're like yeah outside of like

inan at ACO like there's nobody here so

you can go to other islands in Greece

instead of mikos and get a great

experience without the crowds all over

you all the time and the waiting in line

for an instagrammer to take their

picture now let's talk about a small

town that was unfortunately made Super

Famous uh by a movie okay and that is

halot Austria if you're not sure halot

Austria is this beautiful like Lakeside

you know Village in Austria if you ever

watch the old Rick Steve's um you know

TV show he actually has in his intro

there but it was one of the things they

based uh the town from Frozen on and so

people like oh and they finally realize

just how gorgeous this place is because

it's gorgeous but it is a Tiny Town

we're talking like maybe a couple

thousand people I mean it's the small

town and so many tourists come in I mean

at one time they put up a wall to block

the view to stop the tourist from kind

of overtaking the city and it's an

example of one of those towns it's just

a small town it can't handle that number

of tourists and they don't know what to

do they're trying to figure out ways to

do it so if you're thinking about that

maybe go to a city that can handle

tourism or maybe go to you know

Saltsburg which has a lot of tourists

but they can handle inur auster which is

fantastic as well but just know there

are these small towns that's one I'd

like you all to put in the comments what

are some small towns you see get overrun

that just can't handle but they have

something really wonderful to visit cuz

I feel bad putting these cities on the

list because all these places on this

list are fantastic to visit well worth

going to I've been to

them but I also feel for them but I'm

like we had to think about this right um

and that kind of goes into with like hos

gets gets nailed because people come in

for the day and just go another place is

Toledo Spain and too is probably one of

the most popular day trips from Madrid

but it's also the the Catholic capital

of Spain capital Madrid but the Catholic

capital is in in to so it gets a lot of

tourist and I don't necessarily think

it's over touristed itself but I think

it represents those over touristed place

on the weekends so when you're looking

for day trips for places you're going to

go if you're going to be staying

someplace for a week or so don't do your

day trip you know on the weekend when

everybody's going there because that's

when it gets overrun maybe go during the

week so you have smaller crowds so then

the the city can kind of or the town The

Village can really take you in and kind

of show you a better time because that's

one of those things these Villages and

these places they survive on the tourism

and it makes a difference for them but

sometimes it just gets a little too much

and kind of continuing on with our

Spanish theme I think mayorca mayorca

has been popular forever I remember I

used to live in Germany like 20 years

ago and they used to call it like the

zepa bundesland the 17th German State

because so many Germans retired there so

many Germans went there but mayorca

mayorca uh abiza you know the Canary

Islands they're very much in the summer

they're overcrowded fall spring winter

no they're they're fine I mean yeah

there's tourists there but it's not like

the Summer where everybody goes because

it's beach resorts I mean it's like

Florida in the summer in the US

everybody goes down there because that's

where you go for the beaches and myor is

one of those things it really gets kind

of overwhelmed with the number of Party

tourists so if you are going to go there

make sure you go and explore some of the

cultural stuff as well or maybe look at

some of the other beach towns you know

maybe not just go to the Costel so go to

Costa Bravo go other places go to the

North Coast yeah the water's a little

chillier but it's different and it's

still fun and the thing is when we look

at over tourism it's not just about

cities and towns sometimes it's about

nature and there's count like Iceland

Iceland recc itself sometimes does

suffer from over tourism especially in

the summertime but also the nature

around there gets so much because most

people just stay in the southwest corner

by re you know they'll go down and see

the icebergs and they'll go to the

Westman islands and then they'll come

back and they don't explore the entire

other part of the island look if you go

on and explore more you really will be

by yourself now the driving on the uh

Eastern part and the Eastern Furs in

Iceland take my word for it it is a

little scary sometimes but the thing is

it's beautiful and you get away from all

the tourists and that's where you see re

just gets overwhelmed and and that you

know South West corner it is one of

those things you got to think about cuz

you'll see with the over tourism in

Iceland there's on Lane roads where

literally tourists will run into each

other because they don't realize you

have to wait for someone else to go so

that's another thing where the over

tourism comes into a safety issue as

well you and if we look at over tourism

there's big cities as well and like I

say big cities a lot of times have a

better chance of kind of taken in the

over tourism where the over tourism is

more of like just overcrowded and I've

got three cities that kind of fall on

this cat ategory one Edinburgh and

Scotland oh my God it is so gorgeous it

is the best like tourist City to see in

Scotland highly recommend it but when

you're there you'll notice when if

you're on the Royal mile if you're

walking around you go to the vintage

stores go to the castle wherever there's

always people around it's always tourist

there's always people there because it's

beautiful all year round and so

sometimes that gets a bit much for some

people and so that's why if you're in

Edinburgh that's where I'm going to say

day trips can make a good ideal for you

or go and explore go to the highlands go

to the ISA Sky Go to plne outside the

ISA Sky Go to Fort William you you go

explore cuz Scotland's really easy to

drive around and explore on your own to

get away from the over tourism in

Edinburgh to kind of spread it out but

where Edinburgh is also suffering is in

accommodation because so many of these

like apartment rental things that that

people can get in the vacation rentals

have taken away places for the local to

say so it's really driven up the price

of accommodation kind of like in Dublin

so that's a thing another city that I

feel is a bit over touristed but no one

ever talks about on their list is Munich

and Munich Germany though it can handle

tons of Tours because they have events

there they have conventions they have

October Fest all kinds of stuff Munich

sometimes can feel a bit overwhelmed

just in the kind of main pedestrian

street and when it when it comes to oh

my god when it comes to watching the

Glock and Spiel you really feel the

entire world collapsing in on you with

everyone there and it can be a bit much

now is it super over tourive no but it's

an overcrowded kind of thing that you

might feel so that's why I say Munich's

great but go explore more of Bavaria go

up into Franco go to bomberg you know go

see that go to Norberg reagens BG

there's all kinds of great day trips

from Munich you can do to kind of get

away from the rounds okay and then

there's one of my favorite cities to go

to and this is one that I don't know if

I'd call it over tourism but I'd say it

over Bachelor partyism is uh Prague and

the Czech Republic and Prague on the

weekends is full of people coming in for

the great beer the great food and the

great prices and it gets overwhelming

and the thing is from the castle up on

the hill that walk down across Charles

bridge which is gorgeous to the Oldtown

Square I mean it is the prettiest walk

honestly probably the prettiest walk in

Europe and you understand why all those

tourist there but it's always big groups

coming through and big groups coming

through and it's one of those places

that it's funny if you walk like

literally two blocks off that route

there's nobody there like prices drop

incredibly for food and accommodation

all kinds of stff just been a few blocks

away from that main like walk over

touristed way and that's where I think

when we talk about over tourism

sometimes it's just like parts of town

that can't handle it versus the entire

city in Prague they're doing a good job

of kind of spreading trying to get

people to spread out more so I got to

give them that but one of their one of

the faults of all these cities it's not

a fault it's the fact that all these

places are fantastic place to visit so

people want to go there but they're

trying to figure out how can we get it

so we have the right amount of people

and that's one thing I'd like to think

about let's have a discussion below a

civil discussion below to talk about

tourism and how how is it you know we

can do a better job of you know getting

out there that's one thing is our videos

we film all around the world literally

hundreds of videos around Central and

South America Caribbean all kinds of we

got stuff from Africa Asia trying to

spread people out to see more place

around the world so if you have these

cities that are over touristed what are

your recommendations for other places to

go to get that byy you know cuz for

Prague if you're getting overwhelmed

Bratislava Slovakia is a nice easier

version of that with a lot less tourists

and honestly people are just as cool but

don't tell the checks that so what

cities did I leave out on my list of

over tours in Europe let us know in the

comments below but also let us know

about other over tours of places around

the world so we can help people know hey

maybe I need to go visit another place

to kind of spread the wealth out because

that's one of the things we like to do

is show these small towns or these

smaller places like Oru pretu and Brazil

to get tourist money to go to more parts

of the world so share your comments

below keep civil people we really

appreciate all the input we've gotten

from everybody and wish you all the best

I'll say bye from here and not

overcrowded but still over

enjoyable Brazil