There are fewer tourists in Dubrovnik, but it is still the most crowded city in Europe

Now, there are 27.5 tourists per resident in Dubrovnik, compared to 36 a few years ago.

In the summer of 2023, the Croatian resort of Dubrovnik was recognized as the most tourist-filled city in Europe, with 36 tourists per local resident.

On this wave, the authorities in Dubrovnik began to implement measures to curb excessive tourism. Among other things, they banned the use of wheeled suitcases in the Old Town due to the noise they produce.

At the same time, social media and specialized press regularly reported that huge crowds in Dubrovnik were ruining the city’s image and preventing people from fully enjoying it.

Dubrovnik is still the most tourist-filled city in Europe, but not as much anymore

It seems that all of the above has had the desired effect for the locals – according to a recent study by the Holidu platform, Dubrovnik is still the most tourist-filled European city, but there are still a few fewer visitors.

According to the latest estimates, there are 27.42 tourists per local resident in Dubrovnik, while a previous study by the same Holidu estimated the city’s overcrowding at 36 tourists per local resident.

“This gem of the Adriatic has become overcrowded with visitors, transforming from a peaceful coastal retreat into a bustling metropolis. Once renowned for its architectural splendor and historical charm, the city has now become synonymous with excessive tourism. The “Game of Thrones” effect has only exacerbated the problem, turning its cobblestone streets into congested highways and its iconic walls into selfie-taking destinations. But don’t worry, you can avoid the peak crowds and enjoy the beauty of Dubrovnik if you book your trip for September or October,” the authors of the ranking note.

The 10 Most Tourist-Filled Cities in Europe

In total, the study evaluated 36 popular tourist cities in Europe. However, there have been several changes in the top 10 compared to the previous analysis.

For example, Venice, Italy, which is actively fighting against excessive tourism, fell from second place to third, while the Greek island of Rhodes rose from fourth to second.

At the same time, the Belgian Bruges and the Estonian Tallinn dropped out of the top 10, with 14th and 21st places instead of 3rd and 10th previously. Instead, the Portuguese cities of Lisbon and Porto entered the top 10.

Here is the full list of the top ten:

1. Dubrovnik, Croatia (27.42 tourists per local resident).
2. Rhodes, Greece (26.33).
3. Venice, Italy (21,26).
4. Heraklion, Greece (18.43).
5. Florence, Italy (13.81).
6. Reykjavik, Iceland (12.10).
7. Amsterdam, Netherlands (12.09).
8. Lisbon, Portugal (11,14).
9. Porto, Portugal (10.55).
10. Dublin, Ireland (9.07).

The bottom of the list is Hamburg, Germany, where there are 1.05 tourists per local resident.