How to avoid huge tourist overcrowded destinations?

[latawiec]

In early June this year we had a Mediterranean Sea cruise. It started from Rome in Italy.

We arrived a couple of days earlier in Rome to revisit again places that we enjoyed on many our previous visits.

But we found that although it was start of June the Eternal City was awfully overcrowded, difficult to walk or enjoy.

In addition many places were closed due to renovations.

Barcelona in Spain was similar, although we had very nice memories from our last visit 11 years ago.

Now it is horribly crowded, dirty and without water in fountains.
As we had 4 nights in Barcelona, we get an organized tour to Girona and Dali Muzeum that we really enjoyed.

However, we found also unpleasant to visit overcrowded Napoli in Italy.

In the end I like to admit that a lot of places that we enjoyed over all Europe on many previous travels are not any more enjoyable particularly in summer vacation season.

My learning is to avoid all famous places and cities in Europe during summer.

Would like to hear in this thread on similar experiences related to locations on other continents.

Attached are 2 photos of the Plaza de Catalunya in Barcelona from 2013 & 2024.

 

[Dr Ralph]

'How to avoid huge tourist overcrowded destinations?'

Stay at home.

 

[MARTINE]

If at all possible - we travel May or Sept/Oct in Europe unless social/family events dictate otherwise
Had all July in Scandanavia,Portugal and Switzerland
Not the most busy places but crowded enough.
Snapped this in Oslo

 

[latawiec]

'How to avoid huge tourist overcrowded destinations?'

Stay at home.

.... maybe a good answer but not a good advice

However, there are other seasons with less tourists to visit the Eternal City of Rome or Barcelona...

Also there are many more less famous location that might be pleasant to visit even in summer ....

 

[VPS]

.... maybe a good answer but not a good advice

However, there are other seasons with less tourists to visit the Eternal City of Rome or Barcelona...

Also there are many more less famous location that might be pleasant to visit even in summer ....

friend in Rome in March and said it was wall to wall people

 

[RB]

We try to avoid places that are expecting multiple cruise boats in on the days we will be there

 

[jrfsp]

It’s only a matter of time till many of these cities place caps on visitor numbers, cruise ships, airbnbs etc - many of which have already started

 

[offshore171]

May or Sept/Oct in Europe

Yes agree with this.

The other thing, is to broaden the options to less overtouristed alternative towns and cities.

There's lots of YouTube videos about less travelled hidden gems in Europe.

Ignore the clickbait headline, but this is a good example, that suggests alternatives

 

[Human]

Our last 3 visits to Europe have been in December-January, April and September-October.

December-January was fantastic for seeing the Northern Lights and for visiting some of the great galleries and museums without the huge crowds (they're indoors anyway so who cares about the cold weather?).

Our April and September visits have given us the best of all worlds: fewer crowds but still lovely weather (verging on warm weather) and great evenings due to Daylight Saving time.

I cannot possibly imagine why I'd want to go during Summer.

 

[Cloud9]

friend in Rome in March and said it was wall to wall people

In my younger days, I was a classicist with a particular interest in middle Republic viticulture. Spent a good many weeks across all seasons of the year in Rome.

Can't think of a single time of year I'd have ever called it "quieter".

 

[p--and--t]

It’s only a matter of time till many of these cities place caps on visitor numbers, cruise ships, airbnbs etc - many of which have already started

Yep cruise ship.restrictions in Dubrovnik.

It was getting rediculous with passengers way outnumbering locals on a daily basis in high season.

 

[MARTINE]

In my younger days, I was a classicist with a particular interest in middle Republic viticulture. Spent a good many weeks across all seasons of the year in Rome.

Can't think of a single time of year I'd have ever called it "quieter".

I have a photo of me sitting at Trevi fountain in 1988 with one other tourist - and noone else

 

[Pushka]

We try to avoid places that are expecting multiple cruise boats in on the days we will be there

Santorini comes to mind and previously, Venice.

 

[MARTINE]

Santorini comes to mind and previously, Venice.

Yes
First Q to ask concierge - what are the days the cruise ships come in - we then so something else. Recently Taormina/Bergen dramatically different when they are not there

 

[VPS]

In my younger days, I was a classicist with a particular interest in middle Republic viticulture. Spent a good many weeks across all seasons of the year in Rome.

Can't think of a single time of year I'd have ever called it "quieter".

I tried to tell my friend that but she was adamant it was just because it was near easter

 

[offshore171]

Yes
First Q to ask concierge - what are the days the cruise ships come in - we then so something else. Recently Taormina/Bergen dramatically different when they are not there

We did something similar for this trip to Bermuda. They publish the cruise ship schedule about 6 months in advance, so you can pick a week with fewer ships.

Some of the attractions get swamped when the ships are in port, and completely serene when they are absent. Makes a huge difference.

 

[clifford]

I have a photo of me sitting at Trevi fountain in 1988 with one other tourist - and noone else

Times have changed. Here's a photo of Trevi from Easter 2024.

I was also in Albania (Durres and Tirana) around the same time and there were few visitors let alone crowds. And I was in Malta in July and while there were a lot of visitors, the place was not overwhelmed. It was quite comfortable. However, later in July, I was in Bratislava and was surprised to see huge crowds everywhere in the city, with many Brits swilling lager at the outdoor cafes and making a nuisance of themselves.

 

[RooFlyer]

I shouldn't have read this thread. I always travel shoulder season to Europe but next 2 times to France will be in June (but before their school hols, at least).

 

[CaptJCool]

Times have changed. Here's a photo of Trevi from Easter 2024.

I was also in Albania (Durres and Tirana) around the same time and there were few visitors let alone crowds. And I was in Malta in July and while there were a lot of visitors, the place was not overwhelmed. It was quite comfortable. However, later in July, I was in Bratislava and was surprised to see huge crowds everywhere in the city, with many Brits swilling lager at the outdoor cafes and making a nuisance of themselves.

View attachment 406551

Was crowded in August 2024 too

My son made an interesting obvervation that Rome in protecting its ancient civilisation has no space nor place for modernisation…

So the crowd will always go even if it’s untidy and unclean

 

[Cloud9]

Was crowded in August 2024 tooView attachment 406575

My son made an interesting obvervation that Rome in protecting its ancient civilisation has no space nor place for modernisation…

So the crowd will always go even if it’s untidy and unclean

If it was clean and tidy, it wouldn't be Italy...