New research has revealed which European island is the most crowded with tourists, and it is located in Greece. Overtourism is a topic of conversation that has exploded in recent years. Tourists from the UK have been met with unwelcome atmospheres in various destinations, such as Tenerife and Barcelona, as locals point out the hardships they face as a result of high volumes of visitors. Various protests have taken place in tourist hotspots around the continent.

In some cases, locals have even squirted tourists with water pistols. Some places are more crowded than others as large numbers of people flock to their favourite resorts every year for a summer escape to the sun. But this can have a negative impact on locals, and too many crowds can actually ruin a holiday. If you want to avoid massive crowds on your next summer holiday in Europe, then you will want to stay well away from these places that have been named Europe’s most overcrowded. 

Which? has revealed the destinations in Europe that are the most plagued by huge crowds of tourists, and one Greek island came out on top. The Greek island of Zakynthos, which Brits will also know as Zante, was named the most overcrowded with tourists. 

The island is located in the west of Greece in the Ionian Sea, famous for its scenic beaches, dramatic coastal cliffs, thriving nightlife and affordable resorts. This means that tourists fly there in their droves, something that might actually make it less appealing for those looking for a relaxing getaway. 

In 2023, around six million people stayed on the Greek island overnight. This is a staggering number compared to its actual population, which is just 40,000 people.

This translates to 150 overnight stays for every person who lives there, demonstrating just how many tourists outnumber local residents. A Which? spokesperson said: “Zante does not have the most visitors in absolute terms, but compared to residents, the volume of tourists is huge.

“The results of this level of tourism vary, but broadly it means a holiday there is mostly spent in the company of other tourists while shops, restaurants and cultural experiences will often be aimed (and priced) at tourists rather than locals.”

Meanwhile, one local told Greek news site Neos Kosmos: “It’s becoming harder for residents to live comfortably here year-round.

“Rents are up, traffic is constant in summer, and services are stretched thin. We welcome tourism, but the volume has to be managed.”

The study looked at tourism numbers and ranked which places were overcrowded by comparing these figures to the number of residents. The places with the most tourists per 1,000 people were revealed to be:

1. Zakynthos/Zante (Greece)
2. Istarska Zupanija (Croatia)
3. Fuerteventura (Canary Islands)
4. Lanzarote (Canary Islands)
5. Dodecanese Islands – Kalymnos, Karpathos – Iroiki Nisos Kasos, Kos, Rodos (Greece)
6. Tiroler Oberland (Austria)
7. Pinzgau-Pongau (Austria)
8. Cyclade Island group:  Andros, Thira, Kea, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Syros, Tinos (Greece)
9. Kerkyra, Corfu (Greece)
10. Außerfern (Austria)