Europe’s Overtourism Crisis: From Vatican City to Malta

Throngs of travelers line up daily to enter St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Rome, a vivid symbol of Europe’s escalating overtourism challenge.

Iconic landmarks like the Louvre in Paris, the Trevi Fountain in Rome, and islands such as Santorini and the Canary Islands, alongside cities like Barcelona, Venice, Dubrovnik, and Bruges, face growing overcrowding each year. The surge in visitors brings noise, strained services, soaring housing costs, and traffic congestion, disrupting local life. In cities like Barcelona and Valencia, protests have escalated, with locals using water guns to express frustration. Anti-tourism movements are even influencing local elections.

Understanding the Overtourism Crisis

The fear of an “overtourism crisis” in Europe is palpable as record traveler numbers in 2025 strain environmental, social, and economic resources. According to Eurostat, the EU recorded 452.4 million overnight stays in tourist accommodations in Q1 2025. Globally, Europe welcomed 747 million international visitors last year, outpacing all other regions, per the U.N.’s World Tourism Barometer.

France, the top destination, hosted 100 million visitors, while Spain saw nearly 94 million—almost double its population. Visiting Europe’s iconic sites has become a grueling experience, with long queues and crowded selfie spots. The Independent notes, “Europe, the world’s museum, is transforming its charming streets into congested thoroughfares, sparking resident backlash.”

Cruise ships exacerbate the issue, bringing thousands to already saturated destinations like Venice, Santorini, and the Balearic Islands, leaving significant ecological damage with minimal economic benefit. Foreign visitors accounted for 45.6% of Q1 2025 overnight stays, with smaller nations like Malta (91.2%), Cyprus (85.7%), and Luxembourg (80.4%) seeing the highest foreign visitor ratios.

Vatican City: The Epicenter of Overtourism

Vatican City, the world’s smallest state at 0.44 square kilometers, tops the overtourism rankings with 6.8 million annual visitors against just 882 residents—a staggering 7,710 tourists per local. Daily visitor counts can reach 25,000, with ticket lines snaking around the Vatican Museums. A Tripadvisor reviewer lamented, “Thousands are rushed through, with little chance to admire masterpieces.”

Andorra and San Marino: Small States, Big Crowds

The Principality of Andorra, spanning 468 square kilometers, ranks second with 9.6 million tourists annually against 85,000 residents, yielding 118 tourists per local. Known for ski resorts and tax-free shopping, its tourism-driven economy thrives in the Pyrenees’ stunning landscapes.

San Marino, a 60-square-kilometer microstate and UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracts 2 million tourists yearly to its medieval town and fortresses, equating to 60 tourists per its 33,600 residents. Despite this, it’s often listed among Europe’s least-visited countries.

Monaco and Malta: Luxury and Overload

Monaco, a 2.08-square-kilometer principality, draws 340,000 tourists annually to its casinos and coastline, ranking eighth in overtourism. With 39,000 residents, it remains a luxury haven but feels the strain. Malta, with 3.5 million tourists against 563,443 residents (6.32 tourists per local), faces severe pressure, particularly at Comino’s Crystal Blue Lagoon, where 10,000 daily visitors threaten its fragile ecosystem. The Malta Business Weekly projects 4.1 million tourists in 2025, a 54% increase since 2019.