The gorgeous island that's the most overcrowded in Europe - packed with tourists

This Greek island is known for its turquoise waters, cliffside views, and postcard-perfect beaches, but it has now earned a more dubious distinction: the most overcrowded holiday resort in Europe. The island of Zakynthos, also known as Zante, has now been crowned the 'capital of overtourism' where tourists outnumber local residents. According to a recent report by Which? Travel, in 2023 alone, over six million overnight tourists descended on the island, a staggering number compared to its local population of just 40,000 residents.

This means that the Ionian jewel sees an astonishing ratio of 150 overnight tourist stays for every local resident. 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."

A local resident living in the main town of the island told Greek news outlet Neos Kosmos: "It's becoming harder for residents to live comfortably here year-round," said one local from the island's main town.

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

And it doesn't look like things are about to change right away. The latest data from Greece's tourism office found that the number of visitors coming to the island rose 7.3% year-on-year.

Zakynthos is famed for its white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, particularly at Navagio Beach, a dramatic cove only accessible by boat and sheltered by cliffs and made iconic by the rusting shipwreck that rests in the middle of it.

Equally popular are the Blue Caves, where sunlight filters through the sea to create glowing blue reflections in the stone arches.

The Which? report also highlights Mallorca as having the highest total number of overnight stays, while Paris ranks as the most densely packed city, with 418,000 overnight stays per square kilometre.

As overtourism and protests against the effects of mass tourism grow across the continent, authorities are exploring ways to slow the surge. Some are imposing visitor limits or tourist taxes, others are cracking down on cruise ships and short-term rental platforms. Cities that have already imposed such taxes include Venice, Amsterdam, Santorini and Mykonos.