The romantic canals, ancient cobblestones, and architectural marvels that make European capitals so enchanting are becoming a double-edged sword. European countries hosted an estimated 718 million tourists in 2024, 46 million more than in the preceding year. Behind the glossy brochures and Instagram-worthy facades, a simmering tension has reached breaking point. Residents, once welcoming hosts, now watch helplessly as their neighbourhoods transform into theme parks for tourists, with housing becoming unaffordable and daily life increasingly difficult.
Barcelona: Water Pistols and Rising Rage
Locals unable to walk through Barcelona’s clogged streets sprayed visitors with water guns during the summer of 2025, marking a dramatic escalation in anti-tourism sentiment. Records show that, under Catalá, inspections of tourist apartments have increased by 454 per cent this year alone and that police activity against illegal tourist apartments has risen from 73 reports in 2022 to 449 so far in 2024. The Catalan capital has implemented the most aggressive measures in Europe. Barcelona has announced plans which, it hopes, will eliminate all tourist rentals by 2028. The message from residents is crystal clear through groups like the Assembly of Neighbourhoods for the Decline of Tourism.
City officials are taking unprecedented action beyond just restrictions. In Barcelona, the city council vowed to get rid of all Airbnb-style accommodation by 2028, and in December 2024, they took the first step when the Urban Planning Commission initially approved an amendment for stricter limits that can now be placed on short-term rentals.
Amsterdam: 750 Years Old, But Tired of Tourists
Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary celebration in 2025 comes with a bitter irony. Over the past years, more than 75 measures have been implemented to combat the negative effects of overtourism – from rules to regulate the capacity of B&Bs and vacation rentals to relocating and reducing sea and river cruises and banning coaches in the city centre. Amsterdam implemented one of Europe’s highest tourist taxes in 2024, charging €12.50 per person per night.
The Dutch capital has pioneered some of the most innovative anti-tourist measures in Europe. Amsterdam’s so-called “stay away” online campaign, which it launched in spring 2023 and aimed directly at “wild,” hard-partying British males coming to the city in search of sex and drugs. The city banned buses weighing over 7.5 tons from entering the city centre except those granted special exemptions and increased the tax for cruise ship passengers visiting the city for a day from €8 to €14 per person.
Prague: Stag Parties Under Siege
The Czech capital’s fairytale appearance masks a growing nightmare for residents. Prague saw around 8.1 million visitors in 2024, a 9% rise on 2023, dwarfing its 1.3 million population. Stag dos are a major problem in the UNESCO-listed city centre, and the city council has banned organised late-night pub crawls and is exploring banning ‘silly’ stag party costumes.
Following the lead of cities like London, Dublin, Amsterdam and Paris, the Czech capital announced its plan to limit the amount of short-term tourist accommodation available. Prague’s authorities are hoping that the proposed move will bring down real estate prices – and ensure residents are not forced out by tourists.
Venice: Entry Fees and Floating Protests
Venice has become the poster child for overtourism restrictions. In 2025, the tax is higher and is required for 54 days during the city’s high season.
The city’s measures go beyond just fees. Jeff Bezos’ main wedding reception was moved out of the heart of Venice after demonstrators carrying “Save Venice from Bezos” placards complained that the Amazon boss’s mega-nuptials to Lauren Sanchez were taking over the city. Local residents fear their city is becoming nothing more than an open-air museum for wealthy tourists.
Athens: Climate Fees and Housing Crisis
Greece’s ancient capital is fighting back with both environmental and housing-focused measures. Greece’s capital has also announced its plans to ban new short-term lets, although the move only seems to be temporary at the moment. Just one day after the Budapest decision, Greece’s government has announced it will stop issuing new short-term rental licences in the first, second and third municipal districts in the centre of Athens.
Climate Resilience Tax: Rates range from €1.50 for 1-star hotels to €15 for 5-star accommodations during peak season, incentivising year-round tourism with lower off-season rates. The iconic Acropolis in Athens, for example, now limits daily visitors to approximately 15,000 to protect the ancient site from degradation.
Copenhagen: Rewarding Good Behaviour
Denmark’s capital has taken a surprisingly positive approach to overtourism management. In 2023, the Danish capital saw more than 12 million international overnight stays against a population of around 600,000. Rather than punishing tourists, Copenhagen rewards responsible behaviour through innovative programs.
Under the Copenpay scheme, trialled in 2024, visitors who pick up litter, ride bikes instead of hiring cars or volunteer in urban parks can claim back free ice cream, cheaper museum tickets and other perks.
Budapest: District-by-District Bans
Hungary’s capital has taken a targeted approach to short-term rental restrictions. Budapest residents narrowly voted to ban this form of accommodation – but it won’t come into effect until 1 January 2026. From 2026, the ban will only affect one small part of Budapest, District VI, also known as Terézváros. Budapest had over six million visitors in 2024 – a 24% increase on 2023, with overnight stays reaching 14.7 million.
Despite its relative diminutive size, the ban will likely be felt with some significance as it’s one of the most densely populated areas of the city. Residents in this district fought hardest for the restrictions, citing noise pollution and housing displacement as their primary concerns.
The battle between tourists and locals across these European capitals reveals a fundamental truth about modern travel: the very success of tourism can destroy what makes a place special. Much of the recent backlash from locals is because tourism is coming at the cost of a lower quality of life and spiking housing costs. With an uptick in the number of properties dedicated to hospitality, the market for rentals has shrunk, causing home prices to increase. What do you think about it? Tell us in the comments.