Liverpool recently became the latest UK city to introduce a “tourist tax”. It will charge visitors £2 a night from June. The city is following Manchester’s lead, where an overnight stay has been subject to a £1 City Visitor Charge since 2023.

Overtourism is a problem for cities all over Europe, most visibly in Venice (which has banned large cruise ships from its centre since 2021) and Barcelona, where the first major “tourists go home” protests took place back in 2017.

If you’re looking for a European city to stay this summer but don’t want to fall foul of tourist taxes or tetchy locals, you’re in luck.

Keep reading for your guide to four overcrowded destinations to avoid and the beautiful locations to visit instead.

1. Avoid Barcelona’s tourist tax and head to Girona instead

More than 30 million tourists head to the capital of the Catalan region each year. You’ll find the world-famous architecture of the celebrated (and possibly soon-to-be-sainted) Antoni Gaudí as well as stunning art, incredible cuisine, and a vibrant nightlife.

Since 2017, though, there has been growing discontent among Barcelona natives and overcrowding, especially around the main tourist sites, is a problem. You might sidestep these issues by heading to Girona instead.

Just 40 minutes northeast of Barcelona by train, you’ll have room to breathe as you traverse the tightly packed streets of Barri Vell, the city’s walled Old Quarter. When you’ve finished marvelling at the medieval architecture, check out the Roman remains of the Força Vella fortress and then take a stroll along the banks of the river Onyar.

Be sure to visit the impressive Museum of Cinema too.

2. Croatia has multiple hidden gems without the Game of Thrones crowds

Back in February, you might have read our article ‘5 holiday locations perfect for film and TV buffs’ in which we wrote about the beauty of Dubrovnik.

This beautiful walled city has much to offer, but in recent years, the cruise ship and Game of Thrones crowds have started to take their toll. In fact, in 2016, Unesco warned Dubrovnik that its World Heritage status was at risk.

Thankfully, Croatia is full of beautiful cities to visit.

You might try Split, for example. As Croatia’s second city, you’ll find crowds here too (it is also featured in Game of Thrones), but outside of peak times, you should be able to enjoy Diocletian’s Palace or climb the nearby Marjan Hill in relative peace.

Or opt for Croatia’s own mini-Dubrovnik. The town of Ston is situated on Croatia’s Peljesac peninsula and features walkable medieval walls similar to those of Dubrovnik.

3. Venice’s canals are world-famous and overcrowded, but Treviso’s beautiful waterways are worth a visit too

Back in 2019, rising water levels and overtourism contributed to flooding across Venice and led to significant infrastructure damage, too.

Since then, and alongside the ban on large cruise ships, the #EnjoyRespectVenezia campaign has led to other crackdowns on things like loitering on bridges, sitting in shop doorways and littering.

If you intend to visit Venice, try to do so respectfully, but also consider travelling outside of peak seasons, while also being wary that these times of year also coincide with the highest chance of flooding.

The beautiful canals of Treviso make it an obvious swap for Venice’s crowded streets and waterways.

You’ll find the same medieval walls and beautiful archways to shaded palazzo as, as well as the churches, cafes, and bars that offer the best of Italian culture. Visit the Piazza dei Signori, the Isola della Pescheria (or “fish market island”), and the Gothic Cathedral of San Pietro, or head out of town to the nearby Prosecco wine region.

4. Portugal’s capital is beautiful, but you’ll find far fewer crowds in Faro

As far as European capital cities go, Lisbon was once a sea of relative calm compared to the maelstrom of Paris, Berlin, and Rome. But that is no longer the case.

At the height of the tourist season, you’ll find a bustling but incredibly busy city with tourists cramming public transport and queuing around the block at its main attractions.

The Old Town of Faro, meanwhile, is situated in the Algarve, but far from that region’s main resorts and hotspots.

Here, you’ll find largely pedestrianised cobbled streets and surrounded by medieval walls with entrance into the area through one of its three 13th-century gates. Expect beautiful churches and the café culture of Lisbon without the crowds, and there are beautiful sun-drenched beaches too.