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IN BRIEF
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Iconic and highly publicized, Venice, Santorini, and Barcelona are now seeking to reconcile the welcome of travelers with the preservation of the daily lives of residents. Between access taxes, quotas, restrictions on cruises, and the regulation of tourist rentals, these cities are testing tools to contain overtourism. This descriptive overview details their new rules, their real effectiveness, and offers avenues for traveling differently, from choosing times to gentler alternatives in France.
Fueled by viral images of exceptional heritage and postcard-like settings, these destinations are facing a massive influx of visitors. In the collective imagination, they now embody crowded spaces, with saturated alleys and overwhelmed squares. To restore balance between residents, visitors, and heritage, each is implementing targeted measures, more or less stringent depending on traveler profiles.
Venice, the Serenissima under pressure
Known for its canals, its carnival, and its delicate historic center, Venice welcomes nearly 20 million tourists annually. The city established in 2024 a contribution for access for day visitors entering the old town between 8:30 AM and 4 PM: a QR code for 5 euros, raised to 10 euros for late reservations. Initially tested on 29 summer days, the measure is extended to 55 days in 2025. Exempt are travelers staying at least one night, children under 14 years old, and students.
The constraint mainly targets pleasure boaters landing for a few hours. In the same spirit, since 2021, large cruise ships (more than 180 m or 25,000 tons) are kept away from the historic center. Other measures complement the arsenal: groups limited to 25 people and prohibition of loudspeakers during guided tours, to calm public spaces. However, no cap has been set on the number of QR codes sold, and the impact on attendance remains measured, even though the city garnered approximately 2.4 million euros in 2024 from this system.
Santorini and Mykonos, calibrating island influx
With its immaculate buildings and turquoise waters, Santorini attracts nearly 3.4 million visitors each year and sees about 500 weddings of foreigners taking place there. On an island barely 18 km by 12 km and home to 15,500 residents, the pressure is intense. From July 1, 2025, an environmental tax of 20 euros applies to cruise passengers landing in Santorini as well as Mykonos. Meanwhile, the daily flow is capped at 8,000 people allowed to dock, compared to about 17,000 previously, to avoid “traffic jams” in the ports.
The mayor of the island, Nikos Zorzos, advocates for no additional beds to be allowed, whether in hotels or in Airbnb-type rentals, and aims to spread out the season beyond summer. The goal: to prioritize quality of welcome and resource preservation, rather than a volume race.
Barcelona, urban laboratory against overtourism
The second most visited city in Spain, Barcelona reached an average of approximately 170,000 visitors per day in 2024. Residents denounce the pressure on housing, rising rents, and disturbances. In response, the socialist municipality decided to stop renewing licenses for tourist rentals and plans to ban Airbnb and its equivalents by late 2028, affecting around 10,000 accommodations and a desire to convert them into residential.
The city is also investing 44 million euros until 2027 to better facilitate flows. In certain neighborhoods, bus route signs have been removed from Google Maps to preserve services for locals and lessen pressure. On the financial side, the tourist tax was raised in 2025: from 4 euros to 8 euros per night, and up to 11.40 euros or even 15 euros in 4 and 5-star hotels, one of the highest in Europe.
What these measures change for travelers
In Venice, day visitors now must book their QR code in advance and target the allowed time slot. Traveling in smaller groups and without loudspeakers has become the norm. In the Greek islands, cruise passengers are charged an eco-contribution and face a daily cap on arrivals. In Barcelona, accommodation needs to be booked earlier: the short-term rental supply is contracting and tourist taxes weigh more heavily in budgets.
For families, adopting a more balanced pace and better-structured days helps enjoy the cities while avoiding peaks. Concrete markers and organizational tips are gathered here: find a balanced rhythm on vacation with children. And by favoring longer stays with fewer trips, one also limits the overall travel footprint: inspirations and good addresses in this guide to family vacations in France.
Inspiring alternatives for gentler tourism
To escape the crowds and rediscover the pleasure of wandering, small medieval towns offer inspiring breaks, especially conducive to creativity and encounters. To explore on a slow getaway: medieval towns, creative refuges.
Another avenue is territories where international pressure has recently eased. The Ardèche, for example, has seen a decrease in foreign visitors, opening a window for more serene experiences in nature and in characterful villages: visitation trends in Ardèche.
Finally, relying on travel partners rooted in France facilitates the preparation of responsible itineraries, off the beaten paths, and encourages more virtuous practices: selection and advice here: French travel partners.
Guidelines for sustainable balance
Tools are diversifying: access taxes, daily quotas, reducing ships, and regulating tourist rentals. Their success depends on planning, truly binding caps, reinvestment of revenues into public services, and consultation with residents. For travelers, traveling off-season, staying longer, prioritizing certified accommodations, respecting local regulations, and spreading visits throughout the day are all actions that relieve pressure while enriching the experience.
