One of most enduring travel trends of the last few years is continuing apace across Europe with the introduction of tourist entry fees in Venice and a reservation process to visit ancient sites across Greece, including the Acropolis—both aimed to reduce overcrowding and overtourism.
Alongside the climate crisis, the issue of overtourism has blighted several of Europe's most famous sites in recent years.
France launched a campaign to combat over-tourism at key national sites over the summer, such as at Mont Saint Michel in the north, warning people how crowded the busiest places are, and suggesting they go elsewhere. In the south, likewise, it has introduced a reservation system in its Mediterranean national park of limestone creeks and cliffs, the Calanques, where visits are limited to 400 people per day, as opposed to the 2,500 that some Calanques were getting during the summer period.
As Italy’s Via dell’Amore walking path reopens in summer 2024 through the hills of Tuscany (the self-styled “Path of Love” and the most romantic walk in the world) it will limit access by allowing only guided tours round the 75 miles of trails that wind around the five villages that make up the Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In Greece, CNN reported that a new trial has started limiting visitors to the Acropolis at 20,000 per day, using a booking system that will protect the 5th century site from visitors all choosing to turn up at the same time (early morning) and overstay their welcome (visits will be enforced on an hourly basis). From April 2024, other sites across Greece will also use the same booking system, accounting for 90% of tourist footfall across the archipelago and Greek mainland.
Venice has a long history of issues with the many cruise ships that visit each year, blocking the canals and causing environmental damage. However, it's the amount of tourists that disembark daily—in summer 2021, the figure was about 80,000 per day—but don't spend enough money in the restaurants and shops but block the ancient streets that cause consternation for the locals and planners.
Venice was planning to start charging daytrippers in January 2023 but city planners came across lots of obstacles because of the inherent difficulty in managing an entry fee for an entire city that was dependent on turnstiles. In the new plans, visitors not spending the night in Venice will register and pay online on 30 of the busiest days of the year and download a QR code to their phone that will be checked by officials, as reported in The Times. The fee is expected to be about $5 and will start in 2024.
The news about Venice comes the same week as one small Cornish town saw its population double overnight as 1,000 visitors arrived on
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Vaughan Mabee is a mad genius. I mean this as the highest compliment. The New Zealand chef asks helicopter pilots to drop him off in the middle of nowhere so he can forage, hunt and cook. He researches the molecular structure of animal proteins. He shoots deer and pheasants from his back porch and serves them to guests. He cooks with the creativity, assurance and technique of someone who spent decades in the kitchens of Noma and Martin Berasategui. He sleeps about two hours a night.
While you might expect to come into contact with germs when flying in close quarters on a plane with hundreds of people, it’s fair to assume that being exposed to blood, vomit, and diarrhoea is not something most people are prepared for.
In Lonely Plan-It, we take you step by step through how we planned some of the most complicated travel adventures. Here, Craig McLachlan explains how to make the most out of your biking adventure to this South Pacific paradise’s deep south.
Some bars in Corfu, a popular tourist destination in Greece, saved patrons' unfinished drinks and then re-sold them to tourists as shots, Greek authorities said.
Greece is home to over 6,000 islands, of which more than 200 are inhabited. Formed into six main island clusters, the Cyclades, Ionian, Saronic Gulf, Sporades, Northeast Aegean, and Dodecanese Islands, each has its own distinctive character and culture. There’s also one significant stand-alone: Crete. Traveling within each island group is generally more accessible than inter-archipelago trips, but that is possible if you have time and money to spend. The beauty of the country — its white-walled cliffside villages, ancient ruins, and stunning blue water — is no secret. Come summer the beaches of Mykonos and the sunset bars at Santorini are jam-packed. However, there are ways around jostling for a spot on the sand. Traveling to one of the lesser knowns islands, visiting during a shoulder season, or booking one of the epic stays suggested here, will greatly enhance your experience. From whitewashed villas adorned with vibrant bougainvillea, suites with private pools looking over Santorini, to cave Airbnbs with breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea, here’s some of the best places to stay in Greece.
In the picturesque town of Chessy, under 20 miles east of the center of the French capital, is Disneyland Paris. The park has two main areas: Disneyland Park, where classic Disney characters come to life over 40 attractions divided into five thematic areas; and Walt Disney Studios, a tribute to movie magic and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks. Although it’s only a 40 minute train ride from the Paris, if you’re traveling with kids, or if you’re a big kid yourself and want to have an immersive Disney experience, opting for accommodation nearby means less travel time and more Disney magic. There’s a great selection of Airbnb Disneyland Paris properties minutes from the park’s gates. They offer a comfortable home from home, where you can unwind after a thrilling day. And as Disney can make for an expensive vacation, you cook your meals in a fully equipped kitchen, saving you a significant amount on dining expenses. These are some of the top Airbnbs from well-equipped apartments to family-friendly homes.
“Home sales to Americans in Europe keep growing”; “The number of Americans living in European countries is increasing”; “Americans relocating to Europe is a trend.”