When looking for a suitable travel destination, some places worth seeing particularly catch people’s eye. However, sometimes there are so many visitors that some holidaymakers can lose their fun. The holiday home portal Holidu has identified the ten largest tourist strongholds in Europe and names periods in which the hustle and bustle there is not quite as lively.
The Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, ranks fifth among the most crowded destinations in Europe. Iceland as a whole is best known for its distinctive landscape. The capital, on the other hand, attracts visitors primarily with its lively nightlife and colorful music festivals. Although Reykjavik has just over 122,000 inhabitants, it is completely overcrowded in the high season in the summer months from June to August. This is due to the particularly mild climate and the good light conditions at this time in the otherwise rather cool north. On the other hand, the months of May and September are ideal if you want to avoid crowds.
Fourth on the list is the Greek island of Rhodes in Greece, home to around 115,000 locals. The classic holiday island offers not only ancient ruins but also breathtaking beaches. This combination gives the island a whopping 20.9 tourists per inhabitant. However, those who arrive in spring in the months of April to May avoid the heavy rush during the main holiday season. However, there are currently devastating forest fires there, and the first airlines are no longer flying to the island.
The Belgian city of Bruges took third place. Actually, only around 118,000 people live here, but according to the survey, there are 21.1 tourists for every inhabitant. The city is particularly crowded from the end of May until almost summer. The medieval architecture there with picturesque canals fascinates young and old alike. Accordingly, the city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The visit is most bearable in the off-season in early May or in September. Then the largest crowds can be circumnavigated.
Most people know that the Italian cult city of Venice is very popular. The narrow streets and especially the iconic gondolas through the canals make Venice a magical place. Due to the high frequency of 21.3 tourists, the place has already come up with something: Since August 2021, the passage of large cruise ships through the city center has been prohibited. In addition, day tourists should pay a fee for entering the city by 2024 at the latest. For the least crowds, Holidu recommends visiting between September and November. In addition, a stay of at least two to three nights should be planned.
However, the most crowded destination in Europe is the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. This seems particularly surprising to those who have not seen the fantasy series “Game of Thrones”. After all, this is one of the main reasons why an incredible 36 tourists per inhabitant flood the place. Fans of the series will quickly recognize that Dubrovnik was primarily used as the setting for King’s Landing. The Lovrijenac fortress served as a backdrop for the red keep. The actually only 41,000 residents are inundated with tourists in the summer months of July and August. The place has long accepted that, there is even a “Game of Thrones” city tour. However, it is advisable for visitors to plan their arrival at the beginning of May or mid-September to mid-October, when there is less crowds.
