Is overtourism in Europe changing the way we travel?

It starts with that photo we’ve all seen — maybe even taken ourselves. A sea of people in front of St. Mark’s Basilica. The caldera view in Santorini framed by phones. Crowds shuffling up to the Eiffel Tower or Dubrovnik’s city walls under the midday sun. Crazy lines waiting to see the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Overtourism in Europe has become almost a summer ritual. The images come, we sigh, and still — we go. Because who doesn’t want to see those places at least once?

Yet lately, something feels different. There’s a quiet shift — not just in the headlines, but in the way travelers talk to each other. I’ve noticed more questions floating around travel forums, group chats, and even airport gates:

“Will it be too crowded this time of year?”, “Is it fair to visit Venice if the locals are asking tourists to stay away?”, “Can I experience Santorini without adding to the chaos?”, "Will they spray me in the face with their water guns in Barcelona?"

They’re small questions, but maybe that’s where change begins. Because overtourism isn’t only about numbers — it’s about awareness. And awareness, once it starts, is hard to unsee.

As someone who loves travel but studies communication, I keep asking myself: how much does the way we talk about tourism influence what we actually do? When cities launch campaigns like “Respect the City” or “Enjoy, Don’t Destroy”, some travelers genuinely try to adapt. Others scroll past. Maybe the message comes too late, or maybe it feels like a rulebook rather than an invitation.

Overtourism in Europe (and other parts of the world)

Still — the conversation is growing.

And nowhere is it more visible than in one tiny Alpine village that suddenly became world-famous: Hallstatt, Austria. You’ve probably seen it — a mirror-like lake, pastel houses, a mountain backdrop that looks too cinematic to be real. When I visited, I tried to see beyond the postcard. The stillness before the buses. The handwritten signs asking for quiet. The mix of pride and fatigue in locals’ eyes. Hallstatt is now a symbol of overtourism in Europe — but also a reminder that places aren’t just destinations. They’re homes, ecosystems, stories in motion.

This isn’t a lecture or a list of rules. It’s an open note. A start. A question. Maybe understanding how we talk about tourism — the language, the tone, the everyday choices — is the first step to changing how we travel.

But I’d really love to hear from you, too.

Have you ever felt a place tip from peaceful to packed?

Do you notice when destinations try to manage their crowds, or when locals push back?

Maybe you’ve found your own ways to travel lighter — visiting off-season, staying longer, supporting smaller businesses.

Share your thoughts, stories, even your photos of places that made you stop and think.

How do you see overtourism in Europe — and what does “travelling responsibly” mean to you? Write me!