France Joins Spain, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Netherlands and Other Countries to Implement New Travel Restrictions and Policies to Tackle Overtourism and Maintain Sustainability Across Europe this Year: Everything You Need to Know

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France, along with Spain, Greece, Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, and other European countries, is taking strong action to combat overtourism and ensure the sustainability of its iconic tourist destinations. As the number of visitors to Europe continues to rise, these nations have implemented a range of new policies and travel restrictions aimed at managing crowds, protecting cultural heritage, and maintaining a high quality of life for residents. Measures such as entry fees for popular sites, limits on short-term rentals, and behavioural regulations are being introduced to reduce pressure on both the environment and local communities. France, known for its world-class tourist attractions, is leading these efforts by promoting sustainable tourism practices while addressing housing shortages and overcrowding. With countries across Europe taking similar steps, the goal is clear: to create a more balanced and responsible approach to tourism that benefits both visitors and locals. This article provides an in-depth look at the changes happening across Europe this year, including the specific regulations and their financial impact.

France: Managing Overcrowding and Promoting Sustainable Tourism

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As the world’s most-visited country, France has been grappling with overtourism for years. To address the strains on its historic sites, natural landmarks, and local communities, France has implemented a comprehensive set of regulations designed to manage visitor traffic and promote sustainable tourism. Iconic sites like the Parc National des Calanques and Île de Bréhat have introduced visitor quotas to reduce overcrowding. In the case of the Sugiton coves, access is limited to just 400 visitors per day, a significant reduction from the previous 2,500. Similarly, Porquerolles Island has capped daily visitors at 6,000 to preserve its natural beauty and protect local infrastructure. Additionally, Mont Saint-Michel has made use of real-time social media to manage crowds, encouraging visitors to avoid peak hours. France has also taken steps to regulate cruise tourism by introducing strict limits on the size of cruise ships allowed to dock, especially in Cannes, where only ships with less than 1,000 passengers will be allowed to dock from 2026. The country has also ramped up its focus on reducing short-term rentals through rental caps and tax reforms to alleviate housing pressure in cities like Paris and Marseille. These measures aim to balance tourism growth with environmental preservation and local well-being.

Spain: Balancing Housing and Managing Crowds

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Spain has made bold efforts to address overtourism’s effects while managing the housing shortage, particularly in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville. Several measures have been implemented to control the influx of short-term rentals, such as the phase-out of 10,000 rental licenses in Barcelona by 2028. Similarly, Malaga has implemented a freeze on new holiday rentals in neighborhoods where rentals exceed 8% of residential properties, and Madrid has banned new tourist apartments in its historic center. These actions aim to prioritize housing for residents and combat rising rent prices. In addition to short-term rental regulations, Spain has also enacted public behavior bans to manage the social impacts of tourism. For instance, beaches in Gran Canaria have introduced smoking and music bans, with fines up to €3,000. The Balearic Islands are restricting party boats, happy hours, and alcohol sales in specific hours to minimize disturbances. Fiscal policies have also been introduced, with Barcelona increasing its municipal tourist tax to €4 per night starting in 2025. Cruise passenger restrictions are another important measure, with Barcelona reducing cruise terminals from seven to five by 2030 to prevent overcrowding at port cities. These measures are part of Spain’s long-term commitment to sustainable tourism.

Greece: Preserving Heritage and Managing Crowds

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Greece, home to some of the world’s most famous archaeological sites and islands, has been battling overtourism for years. To preserve its heritage and reduce the impact of mass tourism, Greece has introduced measures such as cruise ship caps and visitor quotas for popular sites. For example, Santorini and Mykonos will charge a €20 fee for cruise passengers starting in 2025 to manage congestion. Santorini has also limited its daily cruise passengers to 8,000, ensuring a more sustainable flow of visitors. The Acropolis has introduced a daily visitor cap of 20,000 to preserve the site’s integrity, with a timed-entry system to regulate the crowd. Greece has also banned high heels at certain archaeological sites to protect delicate structures, imposing fines of up to €900 for violations. Furthermore, Athens will freeze new short-term rental licenses in central areas starting in 2025 to combat the housing shortage. These regulations aim to balance the needs of tourists with the preservation of Greece’s invaluable cultural and natural heritage.

Italy: Strengthening the Rules to Manage Overtourism

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Italy has taken significant steps to address the negative impacts of overtourism in its iconic cities like Venice, Rome, and Florence. As tourism continues to rise, the country is now enforcing mandatory entry fees and advanced booking systems at some of its most popular tourist spots. Venice, known for its delicate canals and rich history, will implement a day-tripper fee during peak times starting in April 2026. For 60 days between April and July, visitors will need to pay an access fee ranging from €5 for early bookings to €10 for last-minute arrivals. Similarly, Rome is introducing a €2 access fee for entering the Trevi Fountain’s basin area starting in February 2026. Verona has followed suit with the introduction of a €12 entry fee to Juliet’s House, ending free access to its iconic courtyard. Meanwhile, Pompeii is limiting its daily visitors to 20,000, using personalized tickets to better manage crowds. Italy has also implemented behavioral bans, including restrictions on self-check-in boxes and loudspeakers in Florence’s historic center, tour group caps in Capri, and selfie-taking in Portofino. These efforts, along with the crackdown on short-term rentals, will help preserve Italy’s heritage while ensuring a more sustainable approach to tourism.

Croatia: Balancing Tourism and Cultural Integrity

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Croatia, known for its stunning coastline and charming historical towns such as Dubrovnik and Split, has introduced a variety of measures to curb the effects of overtourism while preserving its cultural heritage and improving residents’ quality of life. The government has enacted strict behavioral regulations to maintain the integrity of its towns. For instance, in Dubrovnik and Split, fines are imposed for being shirtless or wearing swimwear in public spaces, with penalties ranging from €500 to €600. Alcohol consumption in public places outside licensed areas is also banned, with fines reaching €700 for violators. Additionally, Hvar has introduced noise control laws, limiting noise to 85 decibels to reduce disturbances caused by tourism. Croatia is also addressing the issue of cruise tourism, particularly in Dubrovnik, where the number of cruise ships is limited to two per day, with a mandatory minimum docking time of eight hours. The government has reformed the accommodation sector by reducing the number of tourist beds in private housing and introducing traffic management systems, such as the Park’n’Ride system in Dubrovnik, which will be implemented by 2026. These actions are designed to improve sustainability and reduce overcrowding in popular areas.

Netherlands: Managing Tourist Numbers to Protect Livability

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The Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam, has become a leader in managing overtourism by implementing a series of policies to reduce its environmental impact and preserve local life. To control the growth of the tourism sector, Amsterdam has introduced a “one-in-one-out” policy, meaning no new hotels can open unless an existing one closes. This initiative aims to prevent further strain on the city’s infrastructure and ensure that tourism growth does not outpace local resources. The city has also cut the number of nights for private holiday rentals from 30 to 15 per year in some districts, starting in April 2026. The Netherlands is also addressing cruise tourism by halving the number of river cruise ships and limiting ocean cruise entries to 100 ships per year by 2026. In response to pollution and congestion, Amsterdam has introduced a ban on heavy coaches in the city center, making public transport the preferred mode of travel for tourists. Additionally, the tourist tax has been increased to 12.5% of accommodation costs, which is one of the highest in Europe. These measures are intended to make tourism more sustainable and reduce the pressure on the city.

Conclusion: A Global Shift Toward Sustainable Tourism

In 2026, France joins Spain, Greece, Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, and other European nations in implementing comprehensive travel restrictions and policies aimed at tackling overtourism and ensuring sustainability. These countries are now enforcing stricter entry fees, visitor caps, behavioural bans, and regulations on short-term rentals to preserve their cultural heritage and protect local communities. Measures such as access fees for popular sites, limits on cruise ships, and reductions in the number of tourist apartments reflect a shared commitment to improving the quality of tourism and mitigating overcrowding. Furthermore, policies targeting environmental conservation, such as beach preservation and waste management, highlight the growing focus on eco-friendly travel. With these actions, European governments are taking proactive steps to manage the pressures of mass tourism, promote sustainable practices, and ensure that iconic landmarks and communities remain intact for future generations. As tourism recovers, these initiatives will pave the way for a more balanced, respectful approach to travel, benefiting both residents and visitors across Europe.