The tourist hotspots to AVOID in 2025 – with Mallorca, Venice, Barcelona and Bali among the experts’ list

After a summer of protests in Europe’s most popular holiday destinations against mass tourism and a growing concern about the erosion of natural environments, several places that were once considered desirable travel locations have been listed as places to avoid when booking a trip away.

Fodor’s Travels’ ‘No List 2025’ consists of ‘highly sought-after tourist spots (that) are collapsing under the weight of their own prominence’ and experiencing problems including overcrowding and environmental stress.

Destinations on this list include an island paradise turned ‘plastic apocalypse’, a driving route in Scotland and places in Europe where locals don’t want you.

These are the 15 places you should avoid in 2025.

Bali

The idyllic Indonesian island known for its beautiful beaches and lush landscapes has been highlighted as a top destination to avoid this year.

Fodor’s says: ‘Rapid, unchecked development fueled by overtourism is encroaching on Bali’s natural habitats, eroding its environmental and cultural heritage and creating a ‘plastic apocalypse’.

Barcelona

The Spanish city known for its sunshine, thriving nightlife and stunning and unique architecture has become so oversaturated with tourists that locals have had enough.

Over the summer, locals were seen spraying unsuspecting visitors as they dined, while tens of thousands of protesters gathered in the city center demanding that tourists get out.

Fodor’s guide explains that visitors are arriving in such numbers that they are ‘clogging up neighbourhoods’ and ‘changing the fabric of society’, adding that ‘a good tourism management strategy should make immediate improvements in the lives of local residents.’

Because of this, it is best to avoid Barcelona this year, it says.

Venice

The Italian ‘floating city’ attracts masses of tourism every year thanks to its picturesque winding canals and striking architecture.

Just like Barcelona, ​​locals don’t want tourists there.

Meanwhile, local authorities have taken measures to limit the number of visitors by introducing a tourist tax.

So it might be worth rethinking your trip to Venice this year.

Tokyo

The Japanese capital has become overwhelmed with tourists, with Fodor’s pointing out that the term ‘tourism pollution’ is increasingly being used by local media.

One of the major problems this has caused is an increase in domestic travel prices, as tourists stay in business hotels which then increase their prices.

Kyoto

Another Japanese tourist hotspot, Kyoto has become one of the world’s most sought-after travel destinations thanks to its vast array of Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, palaces and gardens – some of which have become UNESCO heritage sites.

But as the guide points out, it is not possible to ‘easily’ walk into Kyoto’s ‘must-sees’, such as Arashiyama, Kiyomizudera and Fushimi Inari, as they are ‘overwhelmed by crowds’.

Majorca

Another Spanish destination that has earned a place on Fodor’s ‘no’ list is the sunny and picturesque island of Mallorca.

Thanks to its beautiful beaches, warm temperatures and a vibrant nightlife, the Mediterranean island has become particularly popular with British and German tourists.

But the pressure on local livelihoods is such that sentiment is increasingly anti-tourist.

Over the summer, anti-tourism protesters staged a series of protests demanding stricter regulations to control the influx of “low-quality” tourists flocking to the Spanish island.

In one particular case, 100 protesters, armed with banners and placards, stormed a popular party beach and told tourists to ‘go home’ while beachgoers soaked up the sun.

Koh Samui

Koh Samui in Thailand has long suffered from over-tourism,’ says Fodor’s, ‘but when the new season of The White Lotus begins in 2025, many fear what will become of the island.

‘Experts are concerned that the increased traffic will exacerbate existing problems on the island. There is currently 200,000 tonnes of waste in a landfill out of sight of tourist sites and luxury villas, as well as rapid, often unregulated, new development on the mountain face.’

Mount Everest

“Everest, known locally as Sagarmatha, Chomolungma or Qomolangma, is a sacred mountain for the Sherpa community, but over-tourism is adversely affecting local communities,” says Fodor’s.

‘It also degrades the environment and ruins travellers’ experiences.’

Agrigento, Sicily

The city is preparing to be the Italian Capital of Culture in 2025, which will likely mean an increase in the number of visitors, the guide says.

However, it notes that the area “faces a serious water crisis that could be further exacerbated by increased tourism, irrevocably damaging its most precious cultural treasures and punishing its permanent residents”.

Scotland North Coast 500

A surprising destination on the no-list is a driving route in Scotland, which has become extremely popular over the years.

It threatened the natural environment as a result, and became a nuisance to the local communities living around it.

‘Camping in tents or mobile homes is one of the most popular ways for tourists to experience the NC500, but a lack of adequate facilities, including campsites, toilets and designated chemical waste areas, is causing problems along the route.

‘Wild camping on beaches, in lay-bys and even on private property is common, and residents report finding burn marks, litter, discarded grills and even human excrement in their wake,’ says the guide.