With tourist levels returning to pre-pandemic levels, many travellers are hoping to experience new and exciting destinations. From the romantic scenes in Paris to the bustling streets of Mexico City, tourism is booming in many well-known destinations. But with this boom in tourism, many places have found themselves struggling under the environmental and economic impact of ‘over-tourism.’
To help tackle the issue, researchers at TourScanner conducted a study to discover the best destination duplicates of the world’s most over-touristed cities and islands.
Most Over-Touristed Cities
City breaks are popular among many travellers, but which popular cities have the best alternatives that offer a similar vibe without the crowds?
Paris, France
The most over-touristed city in our research is Paris, France, with 86.7 million passengers landing in Paris every year, around 8 tourists to every local. Known for its rich history and iconic landmarks, Paris has become a bucket-list destination for travellers from all over the world. However, with reports of a housing shortage due to the large number of short-term holiday rentals, why not try other famous French cities?
Top of our list, as an alternative to Paris, is Bordeaux, located in south-west France, with 6.4 million travellers in 2023, this is over 80 million fewer tourists than Paris. Similarly to Paris, destination dupe, Bordeaux has a vast range of museums and art galleries, offering a wonderful cultural experience.
Want to discover more fun things to do in Bordeaux? Read our blog on it here.
Madrid, Spain
The capital of Spain is known for its stunning architecture and culinary scene, however, with 60 million passengers arriving at Madrid’s airport in 2023, which is about 9 tourists to every local, it can be quite crowded. Over the Christmas season, Madrid activated a black-level measure to stop popular streets from overcrowding.
Our top alternative is Salamanca, located just 2 hours to the north of the capital, this city saw over 60.2 million fewer passengers in 2023. Salamanca offers a smaller, yet just as beautiful and historic alternative to the Baroque-style streets of Madrid.
Want to find sightseeing tours in Salamanca? Read our blog on it here.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Strolling along the canals of Amsterdam seems like a great way to spend an afternoon, however, with over 61 million passengers arriving in the city in 2023, a whopping 52 tourists to every local, the canals might be a little too over-crowded for a relaxing time.
Why not visit Rotterdam in the Netherlands instead? With almost 59 million fewer travellers landing at this airport in 2023, the Netherlands’ second city is a great alternative. Known for its architecture and cultural diversity, Rotterdam is a great place to see iconic structures such as the Erasmus Bridge.
Want to know what other activities Rotterdam has to offer? Read our blog here.
Barcelona, Spain
Our next over-touristed destination is also located in Spain – the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona. This city sees almost 50 million travellers landing at its airport every year, around 9 tourists to local, and there are reports of locals erecting anti-tourism signs throughout tourist hotspots and cruise ships being limited.
For a less-crowded city break, why not visit Cadiz instead? This city saw 49 million fewer travellers in 2023. Located in south-west Spain, this city offers similar beachy vibes and a rich cultural heritage.
Read our guide about Cadiz here.
Mexico City
The final city on our list is Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, with over 48 million travellers arriving in 2023 and reports of an increase of digital nomads leading to rising house prices. We recommend visiting Guadalajara, Mexico instead, which saw 43 million fewer visitors in 2023. Both cities feature beautiful colonial architecture and have vibrant culinary scenes, with Guadalajara known for its Birria, a spicy meat stew.
Want to know what tours Guadalajara has to offer? Find out here.
Most Over-Touristed Islands
Island breaks are perfect for travellers who want to be close to the beach on holiday. However, popular islands often find themselves inundated with large numbers of tourists.
We’ve discovered the top five alternative islands to try that are similar yet less crowded than popular destinations.
Mallorca, Spain
First on our list is the island of Mallorca in Spain, with over 31 million tourists arriving in 2023. Like Barcelona, Mallorca residents are placing anti-tourism signs at popular beaches to deter tourists from visiting them.
Our top destination dupe is Menorca, a Balearic Island located in the same region of Spain as Mallorca. This island saw 27 million fewer tourists than Mallorca in 2023, and with crystal clear waters and quieter beaches, this could be the perfect Spanish island alternative.
Find out what Menorca has to offer here.
Bali, Indonesia
Our next over-touristed island is Bali, Indonesia, which welcomed over 17 million tourists in 2023. Whilst Bali is one of the most well-known tourist destinations in Indonesia, it isn’t the only beautiful island travellers can experience.
Located a 45-minute flight to the east of Bali sits Lombok, a lesser-known island with just under 2 million tourists a year – almost 16 million less than Bali in 2023. Both tropical paradises are known for their warm hospitality, pristine beaches and outdoor activities for adventure enthusiasts.
Read our blog about fun things to do in Lombok here.
Hawaii, USA
The third island on our list is Hawaii, which had 17.5 million travellers visit in 2023, leading to reports of water shortages and visitors being charged possible climate taxes.
Puerto Rico is our best destination dupe, with almost 12 million fewer tourists arriving on the island.
Similarly to Hawaii, Puerto Rico is a volcanic island with beautiful beaches and tropical climates. Residents of the USA can enter Puerto Rico without a visa, making this an easy island alternative.
Find out what Puerto Rico has to offer here.
Santorini, Greece
Our next island is well-known for its picturesque, blue-topped buildings which light up during the sunset. Whilst Santorini’s blue roofs are unique to the island, the sheer number of tourists trying to capture the sun setting between them might put you off visiting, especially as there are around 180 tourists to every local.
Instead, why not visit Milos? With almost 2.7 million fewer travellers landing on the island, this is a good alternative if you’re looking for traditional Cycladic architecture and volcanic landscapes.
Find great boat tours in Milos here.
Mykonos, Greece
The final island on our list is Mykonos, Greece. According to airport tourism figures, 1.7 million tourists landed in 2023. While this is substantial, it doesn’t even show the full scale of over-tourism on the island, as there are reports of hundreds of cruise ships visiting the island each year.
Instead, why not visit Paros, a lesser-travelled island in the Aegean Sea with stunning beaches and memorable Cycladic architecture? Paros sees over a million fewer travellers landing at its airport, which will no doubt ensure a more relaxing holiday.
Discover fun activities to do in Paros here.
Alternative Cities with the Best Cost Savings
Whilst the environmental impacts of over-tourism are one reason to swap holiday spots, rising costs are another reason to swap out popular destinations for hidden gems.
We’ve analysed the average cost for one day in our over-touristed cities and compared this to similar destination dupes to reveal more cost-effective alternatives.
At the top of our list is Las Vegas, USA. Known for the vast number of casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, this city costs an average of £264 per day.
To save £133 per day, why not visit Atlantic City, USA instead? The city’s boardwalk and marina area features a bustling casino scene and vibrant nightlife, but with a more laid-back atmosphere.
The city with the second-best savings is Trieste, Italy. At £92 a day, this is a great alternative to Venice, Italy, which will set you back £213 a day, giving an average daily saving of £122.
Like Venice, Trieste has a strong maritime heritage as the city’s natural harbour has been crucial for trade throughout history. Both cities offer stunning but unique sea views, with Trieste on the Adriatic coast and Venice in the Venice Lagoon.
Find fun things to do in Trieste here.
The third best city for cost-savings (and fewer crowds) is Bordeaux, France, as an alternative to Paris, France, with an average cost-saving of £108. Both cities feature a large number of museums, galleries and theatres, offering a vibrant cultural scene. Plus, they are both known for their culinary delights, with Paris being more well-known for its café culture and Bordeaux for its fine wines.
The fourth-best city for cost-savings is Guadalajara, Mexico, with an average daily saving of £80 compared to Mexico City. In fifth is Oakland, USA, with an average saving of £77 compared to San Francisco.
The remaining five alternatives in our top ten are Charleston, USA, which is £59 cheaper than New Orleans, USA; Salamanca, Spain, which is £54 less than Madrid, Spain; Florianopolis, Brazil, which is £39 less expensive than Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; York, UK, which is £39 cheaper than Edinburgh, UK; and Naples, Italy, which costs £38 less than Rome, Italy.
Alternative Islands with the Best Cost Savings
The island destination with the best cost-savings is San Andres & Providencia, Colombia, with a cost saving of £235 compared to Barbados. Whilst San Andres & Providencia is part of Colombia, it’s actually located in the Caribbean Sea, meaning travellers can get the Caribbean experience for a much lower cost.
The second island on our list is Puerto Rico as an alternative to Hawaii, with an average daily saving of £105. Both these destinations are archipelagos composed of several islands, perfect for adventurous, island-hopping travellers, and are also both tropical climates with rainforests, waterfalls and picturesque beaches.
Moving to colder climates, our third most cost-effective island destination alternative is Norway, which is £74 cheaper per day than Iceland. Both countries feature stunning natural landscapes, with Iceland more well-known for its volcanic landscapes and Norway for its breathtaking Fjords.
Discover what Oslo, Norway has to offer here.
Our fourth most cost-effective alternative is Menorca, Spain, as an alternative to Mallorca, Spain, with a saving of £31 a day.
Finally, in fifth, Paros, Greece, is a cost-effective alternative to Mykonos, Greece, with an average daily saving of £26.
Conclusion
As tourist levels surge back to pre-pandemic levels, the impact of over-tourism at popular destinations becomes more evident.
In this study, we’ve identified alternative destinations that offer similar cultural experiences and natural beauty while alleviating the strain of over-tourism.
From the bustling streets of Paris to the serene canals of Amsterdam, we found that cities like Bordeaux and Rotterdam offer comparable charm with significantly fewer crowds. Similarly, islands such as Menorca and Lombok provide idyllic getaways with pristine beaches and warm hospitality, minus the overwhelming influx of tourists seen in Mallorca and Bali.
But as prices continue to rise, travellers are also looking to make substantial cost savings without sacrificing quality, which is why opting for cheaper destination dupes is the best option.
Whether it’s exploring the vibrant culture of Bordeaux over Paris or basking in the Caribbean charm of San Andres & Providencia instead of Barbados, travellers can stretch their budgets while enjoying similar delights.
Methodology
Desktop research was used to find alternative destinations to places which reported over-tourism according to Responsible Travel. Next, the number of passengers which landed at the main airport of each destination in 2023 was gathered. The alternative and over-touristed destinations with the biggest difference in passenger figures was gathered to give the best destination dupes.
To get the destination with the best cost-savings, the average daily spend of each destination was gathered from Budget Your Trip. From this, the alternative location which had the best savings compared to its original destination was calculated.