I went to Venice for the first time. I loved it, but I won't go back due to the massive crowds.
Joey Hadden
- Tourists flock to Venice, Italy, for its canals and historic architecture, causing overtourism.
- Locals are frustrated by overcrowded streets, environmental damage, and rising living costs.
The reasons tourists travel to Venice, Italy, are obvious. The city known for its canals and historic architecture feels like a fairytale.
Still, an influx of tourists comes each year, overcrowding streets, causing environmental deterioration and higher living costs. After visiting for myself in 2022, I saw the reasons locals are fed up — and two years later, those issues haven't been resolved.
I loved Venice. It's perhaps the most unique destination I've been to, with its boats in place of cars and vibrant buildings.
But seeing the European destination firsthand helped me see how overtourism impacts residents — and how I was part of the problem.
Venice, Italy, is dealing with an overtourism crisis.
In 2024, Venice has welcomed as many as 75,000 tourists per day, BI previously reported. Venice's city center is only home to 50,000 residents.
The more than 1,000-year-old city, made up of 118 small islands, was simply not built to accommodate so many people.
Venice officials have tried to mitigate the problem by charging a tourist tax, banning large cruise ships, and capping visitor groups.
Still, too many people continue to pile into the historic city.
The city's struggle with mass tourism is nothing new.
Venice has been dealing with overtourism for more than a decade.
According to a 2018 report by the European Parliament, tourism in Venice caused air and water pollution, overcrowding, and decreased residents.
Due to environmental and cultural damage, the city was almost listed on UNESCO's danger list in 2021 and 2023.
Back in 2022, I visited and saw the impacts firsthand.
I spent one day exploring Venice during a European train trip through Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland in October 2022.
Even then, it was easy to see how overtourism can spoil a visitor's experience and harm locals' quality of life.
I didn't realize I was part of the problem when I booked accommodation outside the city.
To save money on my trip to Venice, I booked a unique castle stay called Castello di Roncade in a nearby suburb.
After my trip, I learned that daytrippers increase the negative impacts of overtourism since visitors who do not spend the night contribute less to the city's economy.
The first thing I noticed in Venice was the crowds.
The crowds in Venice made my trip stressful, from navigating high-traffic squares to squeezing through narrow alleys with a tour group.
I imagined what it must be like for locals who spend every day surrounded by people on vacation and likely trudge through crowds just to get to work or run errands.
The bridges were especially congested.
Since Venice is comprised of more than 100 islands, there are plenty of bridges between canals — it's known as "the City of Bridges."
However, there are not enough bridges for tens of thousands of tourists.
Each time I crossed one, I felt like I was trying to get to the front of a crowded concert venue.
Packed restaurants and minimal public seating in the afternoon left me without lunch or a spot to rest.
In the middle of the afternoon, I wanted to sit, rest, and have a bite to eat. But the restaurants around me appeared to be at capacity as people stood waiting for tables. And there were only a few benches — all were full.
Eventually, I settled for gelato and sat on a shaded step. Authorities quickly gestured for me to get up. That's when I realized I was being one of those annoying tourists.
I later learned that sitting in some public spaces is an etiquette violation that can result in a fine in parts of Italy, like Rome and Florence.
For dinner, I had an easier time finding a restaurant near the city's entrance where taxis and tour buses drop off visitors.
I spotted the environmental impacts of overtourism in the canals.
Venice has always been a delicate city due to its position over tectonic plates. With weak foundations, the islands are gradually sinking.
Venice regularly experiences floods from October to January. These have gotten worse in recent years due to climate change and higher tides from motor boats and cruise ships, which also increase air pollution.
Venice also experienced a drought with extremely low tides in 2023, another environmental threat linked to the climate crisis.
When the tide is low, the eroded foundations of the walls lining the canals are easy to see.
During a gondola ride, I spotted damage from high tides on homes lining the canal.
I loved the gondola tour (no judgment!). Floating through the canals was relaxing and gave me a different perspective of the city despite the obstructed views by other boats in the water.
But some of these sights evoked a sadness in me. The tides weren't high when I visited, exposing erosion at the bases of homes.
I saw them from inches away and spotted building foundations restored by beams.
Most of the stores I saw were touristy gift shops.
According to a 2019 sustainability study by the University of Venice, the city's retail stores primarily cater to tourists.
Over the years, more ice cream parlors, pizza shops, and gift shops with clothing, sunglasses, and other touristy trinkets have popped up.
Meanwhile, the same study found that minimal grocery stores and essential services have driven some locals out of Venice.
More than anything else in Venice, I was excited to visit Libreria Acqua Alta, a store where books are piled inside of old boats and bathtubs.
I imagined wandering the store aimlessly, as I often do in bookstores.
But as soon as I saw the line to enter, I had a feeling that the experience wouldn't meet my expectations.
Unfortunately, many other tourists had the same idea.
The store was cramped. With so many patrons at once, browsing felt like waiting in line.
Since there were so many other people in front of and behind me (in addition to a line outside), I felt bad about spending too much time browsing in one area. So, ultimately, I didn't spend much time there — maybe 20 minutes.
I imagined how frustrating it must be for locals with a unique bookstore in their neighborhood to share such a space with crowds of tourists.
Although Venice is a one-of-a-kind destination, I ultimately decided it's better off without me.
I'm glad I went to Venice, but I don't plan on returning. After seeing the damage mass tourism causes, I don't want to be a part of it.
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