The tourist spots you should AVOID in 2025: Mallorca, Venice, Barcelona and Bali on the experts’ list

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

Fodor’s Travels ‘No List 2025’ comprises ‘highly coveted tourist spots (that) are collapsing under the weight of their own prominence’ and facing problems including overpopulation and environmental stress.’

Destinations on this list include an island paradise that has become a “plastic apocalypse”, a driving route in Scotland and places in Europe where the locals don’t want you.

These are the 15 places Fodor’s says you should avoid in 2025.

bali

The idyllic Indonesian island known for its stunning beaches and lush landscapes has been highlighted as one of the top destinations to avoid this year.

Fodor’s says: “Rapid, unbridled 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, famous for its sunshine, thriving nightlife and stunning, unique architecture, is so saturated with tourists that locals have had enough.

Over the summer, locals were seen spraying unsuspecting visitors while dining, while tens of thousands of protesters gathered in the city center demanding tourists leave.

Fodor’s guide explains that visitors are arriving in such numbers that they are “clogging neighborhoods” and “disrupting the very fabric of society,” adding that “a good tourism management strategy should generate immediate improvements in the lives of the locals.”

Therefore, it is better to avoid Barcelona this year, he says.

Venice

The Italian “floating city” attracts large numbers of tourists every year thanks to its picturesque winding canals and striking architecture.

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

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

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

Tokyo

The Japanese capital has been overrun by tourists, and Fodor’s notes that local media are increasingly using the term “tourist pollution.”

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

Kyoto

Kyoto, another Japanese tourist hotspot, has become one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world thanks to its wide variety of Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, palaces and gardens, some of which have become UNESCO heritage sites.

But as a guide notes, it is not possible to “walk comfortably” through 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 stunning beaches, warm temperatures and lively 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 held a series of demonstrations 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 signs stormed a popular party beach and told tourists to “go home” while sunbathers sunbathed.

Ko Samui

Koh Samui, Thailand, has long suffered from overtourism,” says Fodor’s, “but when the new season of The White Lotus premieres in 2025, many fear for what will become of the island.

‘Experts fear that 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 new developments, often unregulated, on the mountainside.’

Mount Everest

“Everest, known locally as Sagarmatha, Chomolungma or Qomolangma, is a sacred mountain to the Sherpa community, but overtourism is negatively affecting local communities,” says Fodor’s.

“It is also degrading the environment and ruining the traveler experience.”

Agrigento, Sicily

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

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

North Coast of Scotland 500

A surprising destination on the banned list is a driving tour through Scotland, which has become very popular over the years.

As a result, it has threatened the natural environment and become a nuisance to the local communities living around it.

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

“Camping on beaches, rest areas and even on private property is common, and residents report finding burn marks from campfires, trash, disposable grills and even human feces in their wake,” the guide says.