The great Amalfi Coast divide: Videos show tourists crammed onto buses and inching down streets in Italian holiday hotspot... while the rich and famous dodge crowds on superyachts
Dramatic footage from Italy 's Amalfi Coast shows tourists packed onto sweltering buses, struggling for space to breathe, while others battle through jammed streets, relentless queues, and suffocating crowds.
But, while the suffocating crowds have been inescapable for most, a handful of A-listers have managed to dodge the tourist crush by retreating to luxury super-yachts.
Photos of celebrities basking in the sun on private boats or partying the night away in exclusive locations stand in stark contrast to the unbearable scenes faced by everyday holiday makers.
Earlier this month several famous faces were spotted escaping the packed streets of Capri to join Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez aboard the billionaire's mega-yacht.
Now, disappointed sunseekers have taken to social media to warn others not to be fooled by the picture-perfect Instagram posts, revealing a far less glamorous reality.
A tourist on a train from Naples to Sorrento filmed a packed carriage and complained the crowding was so 'crazy' she was told 'elbows up' to make more room.
@cruising_aimee
Naples to Sorrento train this morning. This is probably normal but still it was crazy. #cruiselife #traveltiktok #travelvlog #travelcreator #italy #naples #sorrento #italytrains
♬ original sound - Cruising Aimee 🛳️❤️🤷🏼♀️
Meanwhile, another holidaymaker took a video of seemingly endless queues for transport on the Amalfi coast, with many passengers having to stand shoulder-to-shoulder for the entire journey.
It comes as Europe's most famous holiday hotspots are busier than ever - despite anti-tourism protests taking place across the continent.
Earlier this month, images showed swarms of holidaymakers packed together 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 colourful facades of houses - Brits 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 - adored by influencers for its breathtaking sunsets and views across the Mediterranean - show thousands of people inching along narrow streets with barely enough room to pass each other.
It came as Europe struggles to cope with a surge in tourism - with some areas being forced to introduce special measures in an attempt to combat the problem.
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 travelled 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.
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.'
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 crack down on overcrowding.
Portofino has banned walking barefoot, 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, travellers 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 £22 and £433.
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Inside the Italian island celebs are choosing over St Tropez - and it's also home to Princess Diana's favourite hotel
There's a glamorous Italian island that celebrities are flocking to instead of other dreamy locations like St Tropez and Monaco. Sardinia has become the destination of choice for A-listers and the ultra-wealthy. With spectacular beaches, crystal clear waters and a rich history, it's no wonder the Mediterranean island is attracting stars - desperate to tie the knot. Last summer, Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and his now wife, Lauren Sanchez, soaked up the sun in Sardinia, after sailing around aboard Bezos' Koru superyacht. They were accompanied by Leonardo DiCaprio, his girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, as well as Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom. Sardinia is where on-off couple Tom Brady and Irina Shayk first met too, reportedly 'clicking' at the lavish $13 million wedding of billionaire Joe Nahmad in May 2023. Tom and Irina partied alongside famous faces like tennis pros Serena and Venus Williams, designer Tommy Hilfiger, and actor Leonardo DiCaprio It's also been said at President Joe Biden's daughter Ashley Biden was in attendance, as well as Prince William and Kate Middleton, according to a local news outlet. The ceremony took place in a structure built at the foot of Monte Moro. It began in the afternoon and went on until 'late at night,' the publication reported. It was followed by a celebration at the glamorous Hotel Cala di Volpe in the coastal area of Costa Smeralda - where rooms cost a whopping $3,924 a night - the following day. Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson and Ramona Agruma also tied the knot in Sardinia last September too, in an intimate ceremony surrounded by their nearest and dearest. As for other stars visiting the island, Paris Hilton went on a luxurious yachting trip to Sardinia with her children in June. And last year, British actress Gemma Arterton was spotted enjoying a local beach. Now, Jennifer Lopez is confirmed to be jetting there this summer. The American singer and songwriter will be performing at Cala di Volpe's annual August Gala. The Gala Night is a highlight of the season, with Mariah Carey headlining last year, and Imagine Dragons the year before the. But that's not the starriest part of the hotel, located near Pontili e Gavitelli and Costa Smeralda. With spectacular beaches, crystal clear waters and a rich history, it's no wonder the Mediterranean island is attracting stars The property featured in the James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me, as Bond (Sir Roger Moore) and Soviet agent Triple-X Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) were seen walking through the hotel The property featured in the James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me, as Bond (Sir Roger Moore) and Soviet agent Triple-X Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) were seen walking through the hotel. Other A-list guests who've frequented the venue include Beyonce, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom and Justin Bieber. Princess Diana visited Cala di Volpe too, and reportedly said it was her favourite hotel. The royal stayed in the mega suite, which now costs $40,000 (£30k) per night, with Dodi Al-Fayed during their last holiday together back in 1997. In keeping with the glamorous island and its guests, Dolce & Gabbana partnered with DG Resort to transform Cala di Volpe this summer.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
A trip to this isolated North Atlantic nation is the perfect cure for overtourism
'Please, Sir, we like to keep our grass alive. Stay on the road if you can,' called the passing local from his car. A tourist had stepped onto a meadow, above the tiny Faroese village of Boeur, to capture the perfect shot of the jagged sea stacks beyond. The tourist hopped back onto the road and the meadow was spared. The local waved, smiled, and drove on. Life continued. It was a moment that would encapsulate our five days in the Faroe Islands. The archipelago, adrift between Iceland, Norway and Scotland, seemed so remote that visiting it was like stumbling upon an ancient secret. Despite being only a two-hour flight from London, these 18 volcanic islands remain a mystery to most back home in the UK. That anonymity, however, is at risk of fading. As overtourism crowds Europe's mainland, this Danish outpost is bracing for a record number of visitors. But for the time being, on a cliff edge with the wind howling around you, the Faroe Islands still feel like the end of the earth. A map of the : Exploring the region without a car is near impossible: the archipelago is connected by a web of 23 tunnels, four of which run beneath the sea. It's a feat of engineering that nearby Shetland is now dreaming of replicating. This is a nation where connectivity isn't about making tourism easy; it's about keeping people rooted in a place where tradition, family, and the ocean remain central to daily life. Some of the islands have a grand total of just 30 residents. Just a short drive from Boeur lies one of the Faroes' most photographed landmarks: Mulafossur waterfall. It takes barely 20 minutes to reach from the airport, yet standing there feels like discovering a hidden gem. There are no crowds jostling for the perfect selfie, no TikTok stars hoping for their next viral video, no souvenir stalls selling magnets. Your only real concerns here are running out of camera memory and stepping in sheep droppings. On one journey, our taxi driver Magnus, a cheery local from Torshavn, summed it up. 'You still know everyone here,' he told us with a shrug. 'You go into town, see a familiar face, chat, then walk thirty seconds and meet another. 'We are nowhere near overrun. We welcome visitors – it keeps me busy, but not too busy. I'm happy.' Yet despite Magnus's confidence, the islands are not blind to the risk of too many visitors. Back in 2019, the government launched its ' Closed for Maintenance ' scheme, shutting down the most popular sites each April to everyone except 'voluntourists' who help to repair footpaths and protect fragile landscapes. How long this delicate balance holds – on just 540 square miles of wild Atlantic land – remains to be seen. For our five days, we based ourselves in the capital, Torshavn, joining its population of just 14,000. Life here is deeply traditional, rooted in fishing, farming, and, more controversially, seasonal whale and dolphin hunts. But modernity trickles in. In a cosy Torshavn cafe, we met Alex, a cheery Brit who moved here to play professional handball. 'I absolutely love it,' he told us as he set down our open sandwiches. 'You see the same faces every day, but that's not a bad thing when everyone's so friendly.' And handball life? 'Honestly, it's like Love Island,' he laughed. 'Everyone knows each other's gossip. It's a very small world.' For his team, the longest away day is a 45-minute drive. Beyond its natural beauty and the national love for handball, the Faroe Islands hold a political identity as distinctive as its landscapes. Since 1948, it has operated as an autonomous territory within the Danish kingdom. It has its own parliament – the Loegting – and its own language. Talk of full independence has surfaced over the years, especially as Greenland – another Danish territory – has drawn international attention under the shadow of Donald Trump. But here, such ambitions seem muted. 'We're happy,' one local shrugged when asked about the prospect of breaking away completely. 'Why would we want to change all of this?' For now, the Faroe Islands remain a diamond of a getaway: the perfect find for anyone looking for a few days off the beaten path. Rich's itinerary for a five-day visit to the Faroe Islands Day one Arrive at Vagar airport. Before heading to Torshavn, drive to the scenic village of Gasadalur, home to the iconic Mulafossur waterfall. Make a brief stop at Boeur before heading to your hotel. After checking in, explore the old town of Torshavn, including the old parliament over the harbour. The city has shops where you can buy local handmade clothing. The wool design store, Gudrun & Gudrun, has gained world-renowned status in recent years, and its clothing has been featured on catwalks across the globe. Day two An early start saw us drive from Torshavn to Hvannasund in the north. From here, we took a ferry out to the tiny island of Fugloy, where we met several of its 30 residents. On the island we had lunch at cafe Kalalon. Calling ahead is recommended. We then took the ferry back to Hvannasund in the afternoon. On the drive back, we stopped at several different villages, and in the evening we visited the local Oy brewery for beers and street food. Day three We drove to Funningur and then on to Gjogv for a stroll in the village, before moving on to Eidi to see the much-Instagrammed football pitch (now a campsite). That evening we booked a supper club – a way to eat with the locals and quiz them on what it's really like to live the true Faroe life. We were hosted by Oli & Anna at their home in Velbastad. Day four We spent the day exploring the region by car before visiting a floating sauna in the nearby village of Runavik. In the evening, we visited the Faroe Islands National Museum on the outskirts of Torshavn. Day five We went shopping in Torshavn before taking a deliberately long drive to the airport for more photo opportunities. How to do it Rich flew to the Faroe Islands on Atlantic Airways. London Gatwick to Vagar runs twice weekly until 31 August, with prices starting from £120 one way. Visit for further information. Where to stay We were guests of the Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands. The hotel is located five minutes from Torshavn's historic old centre, the port, and the Faroe Islands National Museum. Prices start at £97 a night including breakfast.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
The mountain retreat - upholding an Italian tradition
The wheels on Josh Doig's plane had barely kissed Italian tarmac before he was whisked off to the Alps for a lung-pumping, leg-burning pre-season training camp with his new team-mates."They said to me if you sign, you can go home, pack a bag, come back," laughs the Scotsman, reflecting on his arrival at Hellas Verona in July 2022. "I was expecting to be drip fed into it."But literally I signed, then two hours [drive] straight up to the mountains, not speaking the language - it was terrifying, but after a few days I loved it."The ritiro pre-campionato - translated as pre-season retreat - is something of an Italian have long swapped hot and humid summers for fresh mountain air and picturesque surroundings in the north of the country, spending weeks preparing for the new season at high-altitude camps."You have almost six weeks off with your family and then 17 days away," adds left-back Doig, now with Sassuolo in Serie A and speaking from his fourth such retreat, this one in the quiet Alpine village of Ronzone."When you're in the mountains it's just head down and work hard. You feel dead on your feet every day but it is good because you know you are getting something out of it."It is a shock to the system but it gets you right back in the swing of things with your fitness and the football way of mind."While many clubs, particularly those in the Premier League, now opt for lucrative global tours, the 'ritiro' remains relatively unscathed heritage in Serie A."Every player has grown up with this kind of tradition," explains Genoa sporting director Marco Ottolini. "Maybe we have more mountains than other nations!"This summer, only AC Milan ventured outside Europe, playing in Hong Kong and Australia, with several clubs setting up retreats at their own training bases and 12 still making a trip to the slopes. Antonio Conte's Napoli are even doing it twice."You have better air, oxygen," says Gokhan Inler, technical director at Udinese, who have made a short hop across the border to Austria. "You are more controlled with food and sleep. It helps build the group, new players come in faster." Italian disciplinarian Fabio Capello recreated a similar retreat with England before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, grilling the squad away from friends and family in the small village of Irdning, tucked away in the Austrian Italian football journalist Daniele Verri explains, would use the remote camps to control their players' behaviour or stop them partying in pre-season."Fans wouldn't even know where their clubs would go," adds Verri. "Now you get full houses."Over time, the culture has changed - as well as open training sessions for fans, most clubs allow players' families to visit, the camps have become shorter and there are more team-building activities. Genoa's players, for example, have spent time rafting and on mountain walks."In the past it was much longer," explains Ottolini from Genoa's base at Moena, in Val di Fassa, where they spent 11 days."There were clubs that stayed in the mountains for three weeks and for me that was something that was damaging the mental health of the players. Now you have to manage the breaks, give some free time to do different activities."Training methods have evolved too, of course."When I was younger it was more mountain runs, up and downs, more physical, 1,000m runs back and forth," says former Switzerland midfielder Inler, who spent eight seasons in Serie A with Udinese and Napoli."Then slowly it changed. Some coaches, like Rafael Benitez, liked to run but on the pitch with a ball."Now on the pitch you can do everything - more people, more scientific materials, you can check more data. Before you had GPS, but basic things, now you see sprints, distance, all these things to fine-tune the body." For Patrick Vieira's Genoa, a typical day - when there are no friendlies - consists of a morning and afternoon session, around which the players can use the spa and swimming pool, or do some recovery work with the physio."Patrick has brought a lot of self-consciousness and he transmits this kind of charisma, this calmness in the right way that is good for everybody," says Ottolini."Patrick is very organised, he gives the right breaks to the players and then in that hour when there is training he wants their full concentration, their full focus."At Sassuolo's camp, it has also been daily double sessions under Italian World Cup-winning left-back Fabio Grosso."It is full on," explains Doig. "We always do running or gym in the morning and always ball work in the afternoon. The gaffer is good with that."Now it is getting more tactical. Tactics, games in the afternoon - it gives you something to look forward to after the hard session in the morning."Of course, there is still always time for golf. "There is a beautiful course, Dolomiti Golf Course, five minutes' drive away," smiles Doig. "Whenever we get an afternoon off, we're straight there for like five hours." 'It's an event' - why Napoli have two camps As well as friendlies and open training sessions, clubs lay on events for visiting fans - Genoa boss Vieira spoke in the square at nearby Alpine resort Canazei and players took part in a table football tournament."It is traditional for the supporters," adds Ottolini. "They like to come with families to watch games and training, to stay a bit closer to the team compared to what they can do during the season."So popular are the retreats among Napoli fans, they have put on two this summer."In the 1980s, all Italian teams went to the mountains - fresh air, to build team spirit. It was really just between team-mates," says Naples-based journalist Vincenzo Credendino."Now the retreat of Napoli is an event. They train during the day and then in the night there is always an event."One night cinema, another night the presentation of the team, another there is Conte with his staff answering questions from people, another with four players, a disco night - it's a holiday village, really!" But there is also an economic incentive for side spent 11 days in Dimaro Folgarida, in Trentino's Val di Sole, before heading for two weeks in Castel di Sangro, in the Apennine Mountains in Abruzzo."For the regions, it is good to have Napoli because Napoli bring a lot of fans who go to hotels, restaurants, they kayak, mountain bike," explains Credendino."It's a lot of money - it's like a real business for the regions for Trentino and Abruzzo. They pay Napoli to come but they earn much more."Verri adds: "For a mountain resort looking for visibility, it can mean a lot to host a top club's pre-season training camp. It attracts publicity and above all fans, lots of fans."That is why it can be worth attracting teams for the retreat with sponsorships, free accommodation and various benefits."It begs the question - would clubs consider ditching the traditional retreats for more lucrative overseas options in future?"For the player it is hard," says Inler of that option. "After a long season, you go to a tour and it is a big fatigue, especially mentally. Smaller clubs, you are here in Europe, then it is less fatigue."If you are higher, if you are a better player, everybody wants something from you, the club needs to promote you, needs to promote the club - the higher you go the more you have to do."
