{"id":1829,"date":"2026-06-06T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/?p=1829"},"modified":"2026-05-25T10:32:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T10:32:51","slug":"avoid-overtourism-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/destinations\/avoid-overtourism-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Avoid Overtourism This Summer (10 Places We Went Instead)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1829\" class=\"elementor elementor-1829\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7adcd5a2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7adcd5a2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ceeced0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ceeced0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p><style>\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Hide Astra default post title + meta for this post \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.single-post .entry-title,\n.single-post .entry-meta,\n.single-post .ast-post-format-meta,\n.single-post .post-meta { display:none !important; }\n.single-post .entry-content { padding-top:0 !important; margin-top:0 !important; }\n.single-post .ast-article-single { padding-top:0 !important; }\n.ast-separate-container .ast-article-post,\n.ast-separate-container .ast-article-single { padding:0 !important; box-shadow:none !important; border-radius:0 !important; }\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Design tokens \u2500\u2500 *\/\n:root{\n  --htfg:#2D5A3D;--htfgl:#3A7250;--htfgd:#1a3d28;\n  --htfau:#C8A45A;--htfaul:#E8D5A0;--htfaup:#F6EED9;\n  --htfow:#F8F7F4;--htfg1:#F2F1EE;--htfg2:#E5E3DE;\n  --htfg4:#A8A49C;--htfg6:#6B6860;--htfg8:#2C2A26;--htfbk:#1A1917;\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 HERO \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.htf-hero{position:relative;background:linear-gradient(180deg,var(--htfow) 0%,#fff 100%);padding:72px 20px 56px;overflow:hidden;}\n.htf-hero::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;top:0;right:-120px;width:420px;height:420px;background:radial-gradient(circle at center,var(--htfaup) 0%,transparent 70%);z-index:0;}\n.htf-hero::after{content:\"\";position:absolute;bottom:-80px;left:-100px;width:380px;height:380px;background:radial-gradient(circle at center,rgba(45,90,61,.08) 0%,transparent 70%);z-index:0;}\n.htf-hero-inner{max-width:820px;margin:0 auto;position:relative;z-index:2;}\n.htf-breadcrumb{font-size:12px;color:var(--htfg4);letter-spacing:1.5px;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:600;margin-bottom:24px;}\n.htf-breadcrumb a{color:var(--htfg4);text-decoration:none;}\n.htf-category{display:inline-block;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfau);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:20px;padding:6px 14px;border:1px solid var(--htfau);border-radius:2px;}\n.htf-hero h1{font-family:'Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:52px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.1;letter-spacing:-1px;color:var(--htfbk);margin-bottom:24px;}\n.htf-hero h1 em{color:var(--htfg);font-style:italic;}\n.htf-hero-deck{font-size:18px;color:var(--htfg6);line-height:1.7;font-weight:300;max-width:680px;margin-bottom:36px;}\n.htf-hero-meta{display:flex;gap:32px;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap;padding-top:28px;border-top:1px solid var(--htfg2);font-size:13px;color:var(--htfg6);}\n.htf-meta-author{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;}\n.htf-avatar{width:44px;height:44px;border-radius:50%;background:linear-gradient(135deg,var(--htfg),var(--htfgd));display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;color:#fff;font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-weight:500;font-size:16px;}\n.htf-hero-meta strong{color:var(--htfbk);font-weight:600;display:block;font-size:14px;}\n.htf-dot{color:var(--htfg4);}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 HERO IMAGE \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.htf-hero-img{max-width:1140px;margin:0 auto 72px;padding:0 20px;}\n.htf-hero-img-inner{aspect-ratio:21\/9;border-radius:8px;overflow:hidden;background:linear-gradient(160deg,#0d2018 0%,#1a3d28 40%,#2D5A3D 100%);position:relative;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}\n.htf-hero-img-inner::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;inset:0;background:radial-gradient(ellipse at 30% 40%,rgba(200,164,90,.22) 0%,transparent 55%),radial-gradient(ellipse at 80% 70%,rgba(200,164,90,.12) 0%,transparent 50%);}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 2-COL LAYOUT \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.htf-wrap{max-width:1140px;margin:0 auto;padding:0 20px 80px;display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) 320px;gap:72px;}\n.htf-body{max-width:720px;font-size:17px;line-height:1.8;color:var(--htfg8);}\n.htf-body p{margin-bottom:24px;}\n.htf-body h2{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;color:var(--htfbk);margin:56px 0 20px;line-height:1.2;letter-spacing:-.3px;position:relative;padding-left:20px;}\n.htf-body h2::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;left:0;top:12px;bottom:12px;width:4px;background:var(--htfau);border-radius:2px;}\n.htf-body h3{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:22px;font-weight:500;color:var(--htfbk);margin:32px 0 12px;}\n.htf-body ul,.htf-body ol{margin:0 0 24px 22px;font-size:17px;}\n.htf-body li{margin-bottom:10px;padding-left:6px;}\n.htf-body li::marker{color:var(--htfau);}\n.htf-body a{color:var(--htfg);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--htfaul);text-underline-offset:4px;font-weight:500;}\n.htf-tldr{background:var(--htfow);border-left:4px solid var(--htfau);padding:28px 32px;margin:32px 0 40px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;}\n.htf-tldr-label{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfau);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:8px;}\n.htf-tldr p{margin:0;font-size:16px;line-height:1.75;}\n.htf-toc{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--htfg2);padding:28px 32px;margin:40px 0;border-radius:6px;}\n.htf-toc-label{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfg);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:14px;}\n.htf-toc ol{margin:0;list-style:none;padding:0;counter-reset:toc;}\n.htf-toc li{counter-increment:toc;padding:6px 0;border-bottom:1px dashed var(--htfg1);font-size:15px;}\n.htf-toc li:last-child{border-bottom:none;}\n.htf-toc li::before{content:counter(toc,decimal-leading-zero);color:var(--htfau);font-weight:700;margin-right:14px;font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;}\n.htf-toc a{color:var(--htfg8);text-decoration:none;}\n.htf-nl{background:var(--htfg);color:#fff;border-radius:8px;padding:44px 36px;margin:56px 0;text-align:center;position:relative;overflow:hidden;}\n.htf-nl-label{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfaul);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:14px;position:relative;}\n.htf-nl h3{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:28px;font-weight:400;margin-bottom:12px;color:#fff;line-height:1.2;position:relative;}\n.htf-nl p{font-size:15px;color:rgba(255,255,255,.8);max-width:420px;margin:0 auto 24px;font-weight:300;position:relative;}\n.htf-nl form{display:flex;gap:10px;max-width:420px;margin:0 auto;position:relative;}\n.htf-nl input{flex:1;padding:14px 18px;border:1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,.25);border-radius:4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,.1);color:#fff;font-size:14px;font-family:inherit;outline:none;}\n.htf-nl button{padding:14px 24px;border-radius:4px;background:var(--htfau);color:var(--htfbk);font-size:14px;font-weight:600;border:none;cursor:pointer;font-family:inherit;white-space:nowrap;}\n.htf-related{background:var(--htfow);border:1px solid var(--htfg2);border-radius:8px;padding:32px 36px;margin:48px 0;}\n.htf-related-label{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfg);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:12px;}\n.htf-related h4{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:20px;font-weight:400;color:var(--htfbk);margin:0 0 10px;}\n.htf-related p{font-size:15px;color:var(--htfg6);margin:0 0 18px;}\n.htf-related a.htf-btn{display:inline-block;padding:12px 24px;background:var(--htfg);color:#fff;border-radius:4px;font-size:14px;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;letter-spacing:.3px;}\n.htf-faq{margin-top:48px;}\n.htf-faq details{border-bottom:1px solid var(--htfg2);padding:18px 0;}\n.htf-faq summary{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:18px;color:var(--htfbk);cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;font-weight:500;}\n.htf-faq summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none;}\n.htf-faq summary::after{content:\"+\";color:var(--htfau);font-size:22px;font-weight:300;transition:transform .2s;}\n.htf-faq details[open] summary::after{transform:rotate(45deg);}\n.htf-faq p{margin-top:14px;font-size:15.5px;color:var(--htfg6);line-height:1.7;}\n.htf-bio{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--htfg2);border-radius:8px;padding:32px 36px;margin-top:64px;display:flex;gap:24px;align-items:flex-start;}\n.htf-bio-avatar{width:72px;height:72px;border-radius:50%;background:linear-gradient(135deg,var(--htfg),var(--htfgd));display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;color:#fff;font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:24px;font-weight:500;flex-shrink:0;}\n.htf-bio-text h4{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:500;color:var(--htfbk);margin:0 0 6px;}\n.htf-bio-text p{font-size:14px;color:var(--htfg6);line-height:1.7;margin:0;}\n.htf-sidebar-card{background:var(--htfow);border:1px solid var(--htfg2);border-radius:6px;padding:28px 24px;margin-bottom:32px;}\n.htf-sidebar-label{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfg);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:16px;}\n.htf-sidebar-card ul{margin:0;padding:0;list-style:none;}\n.htf-sidebar-card li{padding:8px 0;border-bottom:1px dashed var(--htfg1);font-size:14px;color:var(--htfg8);}\n.htf-sidebar-card li:last-child{border-bottom:none;}\n.htf-sidebar-card li::before{content:\"\\2192\";color:var(--htfau);margin-right:10px;}\n.htf-sidebar-card a{color:var(--htfg8);text-decoration:none;}\n.htf-photo-ph{background:#F8F7F4;border:1px dashed #C8A45A;border-radius:6px;padding:40px 20px;text-align:center;margin:36px 0;font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;font-size:14px;color:#A8A49C;letter-spacing:.5px;}\n@media(max-width:900px){\n  .htf-hero h1{font-size:36px;}\n  .htf-wrap{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:40px;}\n  .htf-sidebar{display:none;}\n  .htf-nl form{flex-direction:column;}\n  .htf-bio{flex-direction:column;}\n}\n<\/style><\/p>\n<div class=\"htf-hero\">\n<div class=\"htf-hero-inner\"><nav class=\"htf-breadcrumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hungrytravelfamily.com\/\">Home<\/a> \u203a <a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/destinations\/\">Destinations<\/a> \u203a How to Avoid Overtourism This Summer<\/nav>\n<div class=\"htf-category\">Destinations<\/div>\n<h1>How to <em>Avoid Overtourism<\/em> This Summer<br \/>(10 Places We Went Instead)<\/h1>\n<p class=\"htf-hero-deck\">The crowds at Europe\u2019s top summer spots are real \u2014 we\u2019ve stood in them. Here\u2019s where we went instead, and why every one of those alternatives was worth it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"htf-hero-meta\">\n<div class=\"htf-meta-author\">\n<div class=\"htf-avatar\">J&amp;A<\/div>\n<div><strong>Joona &amp; Alla<\/strong>Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland \u2014 April 2026<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<span class=\"htf-dot\">\u2022<\/span>10 min read<span class=\"htf-dot\">\u2022<\/span>21 countries visited<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3554 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/leonhard_niederwimmer-tram-8352473_640.jpg\" alt=\"Tourism Hungrytravelfamily\" width=\"419\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/leonhard_niederwimmer-tram-8352473_640.jpg 419w, https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/leonhard_niederwimmer-tram-8352473_640-196x300.jpg 196w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 419px) 100vw, 419px\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-wrap\">\n<div class=\"htf-body\">\n<div class=\"htf-tldr\">\n<div class=\"htf-tldr-label\">Short answer<\/div>\n<p>To avoid overtourism this summer, skip the obvious bucket-list cities and head to their lesser-known neighbours instead. We\u2019ve visited 21 countries and identified 10 underrated alternatives \u2014 from the Finnish archipelago to Faroe Island valleys \u2014 where you\u2019ll find the same beauty with a fraction of the crowds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-toc\">\n<div class=\"htf-toc-label\">In this guide<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#s1\">Why overtourism is worse than ever in summer 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s2\">Our method: finding the quieter twin<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s3\">10 places we went instead (quick reference)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s4\">Practical tips for avoiding crowds on the ground<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s5\">The real cost of overtourism \u2014 and why it matters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s6\">Mistakes we made chasing quiet destinations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s7\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s8\">A final word from Rovaniemi<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"s1\">Why overtourism is worse than ever in summer 2026<\/h2>\n<p>We flew into Amsterdam last July and walked straight into a crowd so dense we couldn\u2019t see the canal. We drove the Ring of Kerry in Ireland and sat in traffic for forty minutes behind a convoy of tour coaches. We queued an hour at the base of the Eiffel Tower in heat that felt closer to 40\u00b0C. Every one of those moments was a lesson.<\/p>\n<p>Summer 2026 is shaping up to be harder. Post-pandemic revenge travel hasn\u2019t slowed \u2014 it\u2019s compounded. Budget airlines have added capacity. Short-haul prices are at historic lows. And social media keeps funnelling millions toward the same ten Instagram spots. Cities from Barcelona to Lisbon are introducing visitor caps, surcharges, and cruise-ship bans because their residents can no longer live normally.<\/p>\n<h3>The numbers behind the problem<\/h3>\n<p>Tourism in Europe\u2019s ten most-visited cities grew an average of 22% between 2023 and 2025. Venice now charges a day-visitor fee. Amsterdam has banned new tourist shops in the centre. The Amalfi Coast closes roads to non-resident cars on peak weekends. These aren\u2019t quirks \u2014 they\u2019re signals that the system is at breaking point.<\/p>\n<p>From Rovaniemi, we watch this from a slightly different angle. Lapland gets crowds too \u2014 mostly in winter, during aurora and Santa season. We\u2019ve learned that <strong>the best experiences almost always happen just one step off the beaten track<\/strong>. That principle applies across all of Europe.<\/p>\n<div class=\"htf-photo-ph\" data-slot=\"2\" data-slug=\"avoid-overtourism-summer\" data-keywords=\"crowded tourist street, busy city square, tourist queue, europe summer crowds, amsterdam canal crowd\">[ Photo placeholder \u2014 a busy overtouristed European destination contrasting with a quiet alternative, 1600\u00d71000 ]<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"s2\">Our method: finding the quieter twin<\/h2>\n<p>Every massively popular destination has a quieter twin \u2014 a place with comparable scenery, food, and culture, but without the coach parties. Finding it usually takes about fifteen minutes of research. Here\u2019s our process.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 1: Identify what draws people to the original<\/h3>\n<p>Is it coastline? Architecture? Food? Nature? Once you know the underlying draw, you can find other places that offer the same thing. Everyone flocks to Lofoten for dramatic fjord scenery. But Vester\u00e5len \u2014 just north \u2014 has equally spectacular landscapes with a tenth of the visitors. Identify the category, then look sideways.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 2: Look at the lesser-known neighbours<\/h3>\n<p>Crowds cluster at the most-photographed spot. The village ten kilometres away, the island one ferry hop further, the valley one valley over \u2014 these almost always reward the extra effort. In Portugal, everyone piles into Sintra. But \u00d3bidos, a perfectly preserved medieval walled town an hour north of Lisbon, is equally beautiful and you can actually walk its streets without being shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 3: Shift your timing<\/h3>\n<p>Even within a popular destination, crowds concentrate at predictable hours. Helsinki\u2019s Suomenlinna fortress is crammed at noon on a Saturday but serene at 8am on a weekday. Timing is the cheapest intervention of all. Arrive first, leave before noon, and you\u2019ll see a completely different side of even the busiest places.<\/p>\n<section class=\"htf-related\">\n<div class=\"htf-related-label\">Related reading<\/div>\n<h4>How to Plan a Multi-Country Nordic Trip in Summer 2026<\/h4>\n<p>If the Nordics are on your radar, our route guide covers all five countries we\u2019ve travelled across \u2014 with the quieter stops built in from the start.<\/p>\n<a class=\"htf-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/nordic\/multi-country-nordic-trip-2026\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/section>\n<h2 id=\"s3\">10 places we went instead (and why they worked)<\/h2>\n<p>These aren\u2019t random recommendations. Every single one is somewhere we\u2019ve visited ourselves \u2014 walked the streets, eaten the food, slept the nights. Here\u2019s our quick-reference list of the ten best overtourism alternatives across Europe, based on our own 21-country experience:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Instead of Santorini \u2192 Milos, Greece.<\/strong> Same volcanic Aegean scenery, far fewer cruise ships. We spent four days here and felt genuinely off-grid.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Instead of Amsterdam \u2192 Ghent, Belgium.<\/strong> Medieval canals, world-class restaurants, and no pedalo blocking your view. We\u2019ve been twice and would go again tomorrow.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Instead of the Amalfi Coast \u2192 Gargano Peninsula, Italy.<\/strong> Turquoise water, white cliffs, and roads you can actually navigate without a wing mirror sacrifice.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Instead of Reykjav\u00edk \u2192 Ak\u00fareyri, Iceland.<\/strong> Iceland\u2019s northern capital gives you the quirky art scene and geothermal pools without the tour-bus convoys.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Instead of Copenhagen \u2192 Aarhus, Denmark.<\/strong> Denmark\u2019s second city has exceptional food, the ARoS art museum, and a brand-new James Turrell sky installation opening June 2026.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Instead of Stockholm \u2192 Gothenburg, Sweden.<\/strong> Canals, seafood straight off the boats at Fisketorget, and a pace of life that lets you breathe.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Instead of Lisbon \u2192 Porto, Portugal.<\/strong> We prefer Porto anyway. The wine cellars, the Douro, the azulejo tiles \u2014 and still manageable crowds by Lisbon standards.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Instead of Lofoten \u2192 Vester\u00e5len, Norway.<\/strong> Whale-watching capital of Norway, equally dramatic coastal scenery, half the visitors. One of the best drives we\u2019ve done.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Instead of Rome in July \u2192 Rome in June before schools break.<\/strong> Same city, temperatures 6\u00b0C lower, queues cut in half. Timing can substitute for destination change.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Instead of Rovaniemi in winter \u2192 Rovaniemi in summer.<\/strong> We live here, so we\u2019re biased \u2014 but midnight-sun Rovaniemi is extraordinary, and summer crowds are a fraction of December\u2019s.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<!-- NEWSLETTER KIT -->\n<div class=\"htf-nl-kit\"><style>\n.htf-nl-kit{margin:48px auto;max-width:760px;padding:60px 32px;background:linear-gradient(160deg,#2D5A3D 0%,#1a3d28 100%);border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 12px 32px rgba(0,0,0,0.18);text-align:center;}\n.htf-nl-kit .htf-nl-eyebrow{font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-size:13px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:4px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#C8A45A;margin:0 0 18px;}\n.htf-nl-kit h3{font-family:'Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:36px;font-weight:700;line-height:1.15;color:#fff;margin:0 0 16px;}\n.htf-nl-kit p.htf-nl-sub{font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:1.65;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.85);margin:0 auto 28px;max-width:520px;}\n.htf-nl-kit .formkit-form,.htf-nl-kit .seva-form{background:transparent !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;padding:0 !important;max-width:520px;margin:0 auto;}\n.htf-nl-kit .formkit-header,.htf-nl-kit .formkit-subheader{display:none !important;}\n.htf-nl-kit .formkit-fields,.htf-nl-kit .seva-fields{display:flex !important;flex-direction:row !important;flex-wrap:nowrap !important;align-items:stretch !important;gap:8px !important;margin:0 !important;padding:0 !important;list-style:none !important;width:100% !important;}\n.htf-nl-kit .formkit-field{flex:1 1 auto !important;min-width:0 !important;margin:0 !important;width:auto !important;}\n.htf-nl-kit input.formkit-input,.htf-nl-kit input[type=\"email\"],.htf-nl-kit input[type=\"text\"]{width:100% !important;height:46px !important;padding:0 16px !important;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.1) !important;border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.25) !important;border-radius:4px !important;color:#fff !important;font-family:Inter,sans-serif !important;font-size:14px !important;font-weight:400 !important;outline:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;box-sizing:border-box !important;transition:border-color .2s,background .2s !important;}\n.htf-nl-kit input::placeholder{color:rgba(255,255,255,0.6) !important;}\n.htf-nl-kit input:focus{outline:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;border-color:#C8A45A !important;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.15) !important;}\n.htf-nl-kit button.formkit-submit{flex:0 0 auto !important;width:auto !important;height:46px !important;padding:0 22px !important;background:#C8A45A !important;color:#1A1917 !important;font-family:Inter,sans-serif !important;font-size:14px !important;font-weight:600 !important;letter-spacing:0.5px !important;border:1px solid #C8A45A !important;border-radius:4px !important;cursor:pointer !important;white-space:nowrap !important;outline:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;line-height:1 !important;transition:background .2s,border-color .2s !important;}\n.htf-nl-kit button.formkit-submit:hover,.htf-nl-kit button.formkit-submit:focus{background:#E8D5A0 !important;border-color:#E8D5A0 !important;outline:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;}\n.htf-nl-kit button.formkit-submit > span{color:#1A1917 !important;font-weight:600 !important;letter-spacing:0.5px !important;}\n.htf-nl-kit .formkit-powered-by-convertkit-container,.htf-nl-kit .formkit-guarantee{display:none !important;}\n.htf-nl-kit .formkit-alert{margin-top:10px !important;font-family:Inter,sans-serif !important;font-size:13px !important;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.85) !important;list-style:none !important;padding:0 !important;}\n.htf-nl-kit .formkit-alert-success{color:#E8D5A0 !important;}\n@media (max-width:520px){.htf-nl-kit{padding:48px 24px;}.htf-nl-kit h3{font-size:28px;}.htf-nl-kit .formkit-fields{flex-direction:column !important;}.htf-nl-kit button.formkit-submit{width:100% !important;}}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"htf-nl-eyebrow\">Letters from Rovaniemi<\/div>\n<h3>Get our best travel tips in your inbox<\/h3>\n<p class=\"htf-nl-sub\">Monthly stories from Rovaniemi \u2014 Arctic tips, packing lists, and the places we keep coming back to.<\/p>\n<script async data-uid=\"af0fbe56d9\" src=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.kit.com\/af0fbe56d9\/index.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<!-- \/NEWSLETTER KIT --><\/div>\n<aside class=\"htf-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"htf-sidebar-card\">\n<div class=\"htf-sidebar-label\">Quick alternatives<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Ghent instead of Amsterdam<\/li>\n<li>Ak\u00fareyri instead of Reykjav\u00edk<\/li>\n<li>Aarhus instead of Copenhagen<\/li>\n<li>Porto instead of Lisbon<\/li>\n<li>Vester\u00e5len instead of Lofoten<\/li>\n<li>Rovaniemi in summer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-sidebar-card\">\n<div class=\"htf-sidebar-label\">Countries we\u2019ve visited<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Finland \u2014 home base<\/li>\n<li>Norway, Sweden, Denmark<\/li>\n<li>Iceland, Faroe Islands<\/li>\n<li>Estonia, Latvia, Poland<\/li>\n<li>Belgium, Netherlands<\/li>\n<li>Ireland, Portugal, Italy<\/li>\n<li>France, Germany, Hungary<\/li>\n<li>Greece, Singapore &amp; more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What does overtourism actually mean?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Overtourism refers to a situation where visitor numbers exceed what a destination's infrastructure, environment, or community can sustainably support. Signs include degraded resident quality of life, environmental damage, and a significantly worse visitor experience due to crowds.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which European destinations are worst affected in 2026?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The most overtouristed destinations heading into summer 2026 include Venice, Santorini, Dubrovnik, Barcelona, Amsterdam, the Amalfi Coast, and parts of Lisbon. All have either introduced or are planning visitor restrictions.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is avoiding overtourism just a trend, or does it actually help?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It genuinely helps both for the destinations you skip and the ones you choose instead. Spreading visitor flow to less-visited areas distributes economic benefit more fairly and reduces environmental pressure on fragile sites.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do you find genuinely uncrowded places in Europe?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Start with the quieter twin principle: identify what draws people to a famous place, then search for other destinations offering the same thing. Look at neighbouring countries, second cities, islands one ferry hop further, or villages near major attractions.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Are the Nordic countries less crowded than southern Europe in summer?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Generally yes, especially outside the main gateways. Once you get beyond Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo, visitor numbers drop dramatically. Lapland in summer is particularly quiet with extraordinary midnight sun experiences.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do you need a car to reach quieter alternatives?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It depends on the region. In Scandinavia and Finland, a car opens up significantly more options. In Belgium, Portugal, and much of central Europe, trains and buses get you almost everywhere.\"}}]}<\/script><\/p>\n\n<!-- HTF-RELATED-POSTS-V1 -->\n\n<style>\n.htf-related-wrap{max-width:1100px;margin:-20px auto 30px;padding:0 20px;font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;}\n.htf-related-wrap .htf-related-eyebrow{font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:3px;font-size:12px;color:#C8A45A;font-weight:600;text-align:center;margin:0 0 10px;}\n.htf-related-wrap h2.htf-related-title{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-weight:600;font-size:32px;color:#2D5A3D;text-align:center;margin:0 0 8px;line-height:1.2;}\n.htf-related-wrap .htf-related-sub{font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;font-size:15px;color:#5b6b62;text-align:center;margin:0 0 32px;font-style:italic;}\n.htf-related-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:24px;}\n.htf-related-card{background:#fff;border:1px solid #eee6d8;border-radius:6px;overflow:hidden;transition:transform .25s ease,box-shadow .25s ease;display:flex;flex-direction:column;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;}\n.htf-related-card:hover{transform:translateY(-4px);box-shadow:0 12px 28px rgba(45,90,61,.12);border-color:#C8A45A;}\n.htf-related-thumb{aspect-ratio:16\/10;background:#f3efe4 center\/cover no-repeat;display:block;}\n.htf-related-body{padding:18px 20px 22px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex:1;}\n.htf-related-cat{font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:2px;font-size:10px;color:#C8A45A;font-weight:600;margin-bottom:8px;}\n.htf-related-h{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-weight:600;font-size:18px;line-height:1.35;color:#2D5A3D;margin:0 0 12px;}\n.htf-related-card:hover .htf-related-h{color:#1c3d28;}\n.htf-related-read{margin-top:auto;font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;font-size:13px;font-weight:600;color:#2D5A3D;letter-spacing:.5px;}\n.htf-related-read::after{content:\" \u2192\";color:#C8A45A;transition:transform .2s ease;display:inline-block;}\n.htf-related-card:hover .htf-related-read::after{transform:translateX(4px);}\n.htf-related-skeleton{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#f3efe4 25%,#ede5d2 50%,#f3efe4 75%);background-size:200% 100%;animation:htfshim 1.4s infinite;}\n@keyframes htfshim{0%{background-position:200% 0;}100%{background-position:-200% 0;}}\n@media(max-width:860px){.htf-related-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:18px;}.htf-related-wrap h2.htf-related-title{font-size:26px;}}\n<\/style>\n<section class=\"htf-related-wrap\" id=\"htf-related-posts\" data-htf-current-id=\"1829\">\n  <p class=\"htf-related-eyebrow\">More stories from the Hungrytravelfamily<\/p>\n  <h2 class=\"htf-related-title\">Keep reading<\/h2>\n  <p class=\"htf-related-sub\">You may also like to read these.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"htf-related-grid\" id=\"htf-related-grid\">\n    <a class=\"htf-related-card\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"htf-related-thumb htf-related-skeleton\"><\/span><div class=\"htf-related-body\"><span class=\"htf-related-cat\">&nbsp;<\/span><h3 class=\"htf-related-h\">Loading\u2026<\/h3><span class=\"htf-related-read\">Read<\/span><\/div><\/a>\n    <a class=\"htf-related-card\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"htf-related-thumb htf-related-skeleton\"><\/span><div class=\"htf-related-body\"><span class=\"htf-related-cat\">&nbsp;<\/span><h3 class=\"htf-related-h\">Loading\u2026<\/h3><span class=\"htf-related-read\">Read<\/span><\/div><\/a>\n    <a class=\"htf-related-card\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"htf-related-thumb htf-related-skeleton\"><\/span><div class=\"htf-related-body\"><span class=\"htf-related-cat\">&nbsp;<\/span><h3 class=\"htf-related-h\">Loading\u2026<\/h3><span class=\"htf-related-read\">Read<\/span><\/div><\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n<script>\n(function(){\n  var root=document.getElementById('htf-related-posts');\n  if(!root) return;\n  var grid=document.getElementById('htf-related-grid');\n  var currentId=parseInt(root.getAttribute('data-htf-current-id'),10)||0;\n  var api='\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts?_embed=wp:featuredmedia,wp:term&per_page=100&_fields=id,link,title,featured_media,_links,_embedded';\n  fetch(api).then(function(r){return r.json();}).then(function(posts){\n    if(!Array.isArray(posts)||!posts.length){root.style.display='none';return;}\n    posts=posts.filter(function(p){return p.id!==currentId && (p._embedded && p._embedded['wp:featuredmedia'] && p._embedded['wp:featuredmedia'][0] && p._embedded['wp:featuredmedia'][0].source_url);});\n    if(posts.length<3){root.style.display='none';return;}\n    \/\/ Shuffle (Fisher-Yates) and take 3\n    for(var i=posts.length-1;i>0;i--){var j=Math.floor(Math.random()*(i+1));var t=posts[i];posts[i]=posts[j];posts[j]=t;}\n    var pick=posts.slice(0,3);\n    grid.innerHTML=pick.map(function(p){\n      var media=p._embedded['wp:featuredmedia'][0];\n      var img=(media.media_details&&media.media_details.sizes&&(media.media_details.sizes.medium_large||media.media_details.sizes.large||media.media_details.sizes.medium))||{source_url:media.source_url};\n      var cat='';\n      try{ var terms=p._embedded['wp:term']; if(terms&&terms[0]&&terms[0][0]) cat=terms[0][0].name||''; }catch(e){}\n      var title=(p.title&&p.title.rendered)||'';\n      return '<a class=\"htf-related-card\" href=\"'+p.link+'\">'+\n             '<span class=\"htf-related-thumb\" style=\"background-image:url(\\''+img.source_url+'\\')\"><\/span>'+\n             '<div class=\"htf-related-body\">'+\n             '<span class=\"htf-related-cat\">'+(cat||'Travel')+'<\/span>'+\n             '<h3 class=\"htf-related-h\">'+title+'<\/h3>'+\n             '<span class=\"htf-related-read\">Read the story<\/span>'+\n             '<\/div><\/a>';\n    }).join('');\n  }).catch(function(){root.style.display='none';});\n})();\n<\/script>\n\n<!-- \/HTF-RELATED-POSTS-V1 -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home \u203a Destinations \u203a How to Avoid Overtourism This Summer Destinations How to Avoid Overtourism This Summer(10 Places We Went [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3554,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[557,560,558,559,159],"class_list":["post-1829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-destinations","tag-avoid-overtourism-summer","tag-europe-summer-2026","tag-overtourism-europe","tag-responsible-travel","tag-summer-travel-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1829"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3558,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1829\/revisions\/3558"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}