Filenews 9 June 2025
Tourism in Europe is expected to fluctuate at record levels in 2025, with several countries facing overtourism problems setting new strict rules. Five years after tourist inactivity due to Covid restrictions, visitor numbers to some popular destinations have returned or risen above the levels seen in 2019.
According to the website in.gr this increase in the number of travellers has brought about a plethora of negative side effects, from overpricing residents in historic centers to the destruction of natural ecosystems. We all remember the images from Spain last summer, where Barcelona residents sprayed unsuspecting visitors with water guns, while tens of thousands gathered on beaches in Mallorca and the Canary Islands holding placards reading "Your luxury, our misery" and "The Canary Islands have a limit".
Some destinations are now proceeding to improve tourism management and limit the excessive number of visitors with bans on cruise ships and short-term holiday rentals, with reservation and ticketing systems for popular attractions, as well as rules and fines to encourage prudent behaviour. European destinations are a solid holiday choice for many travellers around the world, and Euronews has documented all the taxes, restrictions and bans in place in the most popular countries for 2025.
Destinations across Spain are under enormous pressure from mass tourism, so it's no surprise that the ban is particularly extensive.
The region of Catalonia looks set to raise the tourist tax to €15 per night under new legislation signed in February. This will be double the existing fee. Barcelona, the region's most popular destination, has raised the municipal tourist tax to €6.75 per night for guests staying in five-star hotels. In 2023, Barcelona reduced the number of daily cruise ship arrivals at its main port from 10 to seven, and has announced plans to eliminate short-term rentals by 2030.
Italy was not left behind
Italy, according to Euronews, is considering raising the tourist tax to €25 per night for guests staying in its top hotels. From the current ceiling of €5 per night, the increased fee will help fund services such as waste collection in deprived areas.
Portofino, a small seaside town on the Italian Riviera, has cracked down on the influx of visitors posing for selfies, blocking paths and roads. The city has established no-wait zones. Anyone caught wandering the waterfront for a long time between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. risks a fine of €270.
The archaeological site of Pompeii has established a maximum of 20,000 daily visitors. Visitors are advised to purchase tickets in advance online to avoid long queues. Italy's capital has introduced a visitor cap for the Colosseum set at 3,000 visitors at a time. Rome has also banned people without a T-shirt on the street, eating junk food near attractions, and placing love padlocks on bridges.
Traveling around Europe in 2025 will require more planning as more popular cities introduce new tourism taxes and stricter restrictions on visitors. According to Euronews, these measures are designed to manage tourist flows and reduce the impact of mass tourism.
Venice – fee for day visitors From 2025 January 16, Venice will impose a mandatory tax on day tourists, ranging from €3 to €10, depending on the season and the number of tourists. The tax does not apply to visitors who book an overnight stay in the city, as they already pay the city's accommodation tax.
Valencia – tourism tax from December From December 2025, Valencia will introduce a tourism tax ranging from €0,5 to €2 per night, depending on the accommodation category chosen. The funds collected will be used to develop sustainable tourism projects.
Tourist groups are restricted in Barcelona Barcelona authorities have tightened rules for visiting tourist groups, introducing advance registration and the mandatory use of radio systems for guides, in an effort to reduce noise and preserve the authenticity of the city's old town.
Amsterdam – fighting antisocial behaviour Amsterdam has introduced stricter rules on drinking alcohol in public spaces and restrictions on visitor traffic in the city's most popular areas, targeting young tourists whose behaviour often disturbs locals.
Santorini limits tourist flows The Greek island of Santorini has imposed a strict limit on the number of cruise ship visitors allowed on the island at any one time, a measure aimed at protecting the island's infrastructure and natural landscape.
Dubrovnik restrictions for Game of Thrones fans Dubrovnik has implemented tourist flow monitoring systems and is limiting the number of visitors in the old town, which became particularly popular thanks to the TV series "Game of Thrones." This measure is intended to prevent overcrowding and protect the city from the negative effects of mass tourism.
Edinburgh – planned tourism tax Edinburgh is also preparing to introduce a tourist tax to improve the city's infrastructure. No specific dates or rates have been announced yet, but the city government emphasizes the need for this tax as the number of visitors increases.
Before planning a vacation in Europe, it is advisable to check in advance the latest restrictions and taxes in each city you visit to ensure a smooth vacation and free of unpleasant surprises.
