Europe's vacation hell: Streets fill with tourists in Italy and Greece
Images show swarms of holidaymakers packed shoulder-to-shoulder and forming huge queues waiting for trains and buses in some of the most beautiful destinations in Italy and Greece.
In the Italian village of Varenna - famed for its tiny streets and colorful facades of houses - people have complained of crowds so dense they were barely able to reach down to take their phones out of their pockets.
Meanwhile, footage from the Greek island of Santorini shows thousands of people inching along narrow streets with barely enough room to pass each other.
It comes as Europe struggles to cope with a recent surge in tourism - with some areas being forced to introduce special measures in an attempt to combat the problem.
Disappointed sunseekers have taken to social media to share how their dream holiday didn't quite match reality.
A holidaymaker in Lake Como, Italy, posted a video warning others what to expect, showing packed coastal pathways and an hour long line for the ferry.
The clip is captioned: 'Lake Como in June is so amazing, the views are stunning, but so many people and waiting times.'
Another visitor likened the experience to 'the tourist Hunger Games' alongside a seemingly endless line of people.
Meanwhile, a tourist in Portofino, a small coastal town on the Italian Riviera in Liguria, revealed how even areas which are meant to be quiet have been swarmed by holidaymakers.
She wrote across a TikTok video of a crowded beach: 'You traveled to a "secret beach" in Portofino, except it definitely isn't secret anymore.'
The caption read: 'Expectation vs Reality in Portofino! Literally took one look at the crowds and left'.
Another TikToker posted a clip of a busy street in Portofino and simply wrote: 'Watching Portofino get flooded with tourists.'
A third posted an image showing the scenic views she expected in the town, before revealing the overcrowded reality.
@thesorcis
We recommend staying in Portofino and then exploring the town when all the boats of tourists leave 🙏🏽 #portofino #instavsreality #tourits #crowded #italy #holiday #cheers
♬ original sound - Blade of Eleonora☪️
A woman visiting Positano, on Italy's Amalfi Coast, was also left disappointed by her experience.
She said: 'Social media lied. I've been dreaming of going to Positano on Italy's Amalfi Coast for years.
'And while it is definitely a very beautiful town, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting.
'I was expecting all of the stairs, but I wasn't expecting the magnitude of the crowds and the lineups.
'Positano has become a travel destination where you need to have every moment of your itinerary planned out in advance, and book reservations for pretty much everything.
'Otherwise, it will all be booked up before you even touch down in Italy.'
@herenowwherenext
Expectation vs REALITY in Portofino!! Literally took one look at the crowds and left 😅😅 #expectationvreality #portofino #expectationvsreality #portofinoitaly #italytravel #italia #travel #travelreality
♬ original sound - william springfield
Not so secret: A tourist in Portofino, a small coastal town on the Italian Riviera in Liguria, revealed how even areas which are meant to be quiet have been swarmed by holidaymakers
@vickirutwind
Social media lied 😳 🇮🇹 I've been dreaming of going to Positano on Italy's Amalfi Coast for years. And while it is definitely a very very very beautiful town, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. ✈️ I was expecting all of the stairs, but I wasn't expecting the magnitude of the crowds and the lineups. 📝 Positano has become a travel destination where you need to have every moment of your itinerary planned out in advance, and book reservations for pretty much everything. Otherwise, it will all be booked up before you even touch down in Italy. And while that might be your travel style, I really like having an opportunity to explore and be spontaneous. 💴 I also think if you want some of the magical experiences you are seeing on social media, you have to pay a major premium to stay at the super luxury hotels, and dine at the most expensive restaurants with reservations booked way in advance. 🌎 In the end, I did still have a nice time in Positano because it's a beautiful town, the main beach has a nice beach club, and we had some nice meals. But for now, it's not one of my favorite travel destinations. I'm on the fence about whether I'll return. Have you been to Positano? And if you have, what did you think about it? #positano #positanoitaly #amalficoast #travelitaly #instagramvsreality #italytravel
♬ original sound - william springfield
Meanwhile, in Greece, overcrowding is also frustrating sunseekers.
One woman revealed how much the island of Santorini has changed since her last visit two years ago, before the tourism surge became so severe.
She posted a picture of a packed street, writing, 'Santorini! When we stayed here in 2022, we scoffed at the people who came off the cruise ships.
'This time, we were those people! Santorini in summer is no joke. The heat, the crowds, the lines. No magic this time. Just sweat, nausea and swollen feet.
'Don't be deceived by the smiling faces.'
Some areas have introduced special measures in an attempt to crackdown on overcrowding.
Portofino has banned picnics and drinking booze on the streets among a swathe of other prohibitions.
Tourists risk being fined for carrying out a variety of actions typically enjoyed abroad.
From July 15, travelers in Portofino will no longer be able to walk through the town barefoot, in swimwear, or topless - or sit in the piazza in such attire.
Consuming alcohol on public streets has also been prohibited, with only restaurants, bars, and designated areas left to booze in.
Begging, sitting, or lying on the streets, walls, sidewalks, and parks has also been banned along with having picnics.
The new ordinance, signed by Mayor Matteo Viacava, will take effect during the summer season and temporarily expire on September 30.
Anyone who is caught violating the regulations before then will be subject to a fine of between $30 and $580.
The goal of the latest crackdown is to protect the 'peace and quiet of residents and tourists' in the exclusive coastal resort which brings in up to 100,000 tourists during peak season - despite the town only having a population of 400.
The municipality had already attempted to combat troublesome tourists in 2023.
During that period, stopping at particularly popular viewpoints across the picturesque town was prohibited.
Santorini has also introduced new rules and measures to manage the influx of tourists.
These include a tourist tax, restrictions on access and parking, and a proposed 'saturation law' limiting daily visitor numbers.
Meanwhile, Spain's Balearic Islands have stopped using influencers to promote holiday hotspots and warned that 'selfie tourism' is ruining the region's most beautiful beaches.
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