12 Beautiful Places in Portugal Overwhelmed by Overtourism

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Several places in Portugal are overwhelmed by overtourism. Locals have been driven out of Lisbon, and traditional stores and eateries have closed. Meanwhile, residents in Sintra protest tourism to curb overcrowding and reduce the number of traffic jams.

Several places have gained so much popularity that they have fallen victim to their allure. The influx of tourists helps boost local economies and create job opportunities, but it also overruns specific locations, putting pressure on residents, infrastructure, and the pristineness that made them famous.

Below are 12 stunning places in Portugal struggling to keep up with the demand for tourism.

Lisbon

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Residents of Lisbon fear that the city is losing its identity as more and more tourists fill the streets yearly, making the capital one of Portugal’s most overburdened by mass tourism. Almost 19 million tourists visit Lisbon yearly, while the population is approximately 500,000, making it difficult for the city to keep up with the influx of tourists.

According to Euro News, overcrowding in the city has caused long traffic delays and an unsustainable increase in holiday rentals. At times, the traffic is so bad that many locals stay home. Often compared to an amusement park, the city also suffers from despoliation, price increases, and a loss of culture. Sadly, many stores and eateries across the city are now chain franchises.

Sintra

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Approximately 35 minutes drive from Lisbon is Sintra, a breathtaking tourist destination famed for its cool microclimate, stunning architecture, and impressive natural scenery. Unfortunately, like Lisbon, Sintra has fallen victim to its success. Once considered one of Europe’s most beautiful towns, it’s now one of Portugal’s destinations that are drowned in tourist crowds.

Millions of tourists travel to Sintra yearly to explore iconic monuments and attractions like the National Palace of Pena, the National Palace of Sintra, and the Moorish Castle. However, the town can’t keep up. Sintra has become overrun by tourists, making the lives of residents unbearable. Queues are getting longer, noises are getting louder, and the historic center is losing its charm. The government has limited tickets sold to attractions to reduce tourist numbers.

Porto

In Porto, overtourism has become so bad that the government must take several measures to ensure the city maintains its identity and that residents can still live happy lives. For example, the city plans to increase the tourist tax by 50%. Taking things a step further, the government also plans to divide the city into eight blocks to reduce excessive tourist pressure.

Other issues Porto faces due to overtourism include overcrowding, strained public services, and disgruntled locals. Worse yet, many people believe Porto is suffering a housing crisis because of overtourism, as more properties are converted into short-term rentals, leading to fewer houses for locals and increased prices.

Peniche

Peniche is one of the most impacted destinations by heavy tourism in Portugal because the fishing town can’t keep up with the sheer volume of yearly tourists. As such, like Porto, Peniche has decided to implement a new tourist tax to offset the rising influx of tourists.

Tourists must pay a $1.10 (€1.00) tax to stay in Peniche. Overtourism in Peniche strains public services like health care, transport, and water supplies, while residents have to contend that house prices could increase due to the rise in vacation rentals. Unfortunately, many of the area’s best beaches are often overcrowded, especially during surf competitions.

Berlengas Islands

The Berlengas Islands are a Portuguese archipelago situated approximately 6.2 to 10.5 miles (10 to 17 kilometers) off the coast of Peniche. These islands are renowned for their natural beauty, marine life, and rich history, making them a big hit with foreign tourists. Unfortunately, though, the islands’ popularity could be their downfall.

The UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve at the Berlengas Islands risks collapsing due to overtourism. Approximately 1,000 people visit the islands daily, which negatively impacts natural resources and does more harm than good to local biodiversity. Meanwhile, local fishermen have reported damage to the islands and dwindling water supplies. To fight back, authorities have introduced a 550-visitor limit.

Evora

Tourists hoping to visit Evora, the capital of Portugal’s south-central Alentejo region, should be prepared to pay a tourist tax. The local government recently released plans to charge visitors to stay in the city overnight. Evora has decided to implement a new tourist tax because it faces challenges from overtourism.

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The large number of tourists at popular attractions, such as the Historic Centre of Evora, is causing overcrowding. Meanwhile, the influx of tourists is also straining the city’s infrastructure, water supplies, and waste management system. It’s hoped the tourist tax will reduce congestion and allow the city to allocate funds to restoring heritage sites and improving public services.

Óbidos

Beautiful Places in Portugal Overwhelmed by Overtourism Óbidos — © Anna / Adobe Stock

In recent years, Óbidos and its historic center have seen an increase in tourist numbers, putting the town’s government under pressure to protect the city and keep residents happy. Despite tourism boosting the local economy, overtourism appears to win the battle, causing many issues across the city.

The consequence of overcrowding in Óbidos’ narrow cobblestone streets is increased traffic, poor waste management, rising housing costs, and fewer local service infrastructures. As expected, this has seen many residents abandon the town center altogether. It’s also not out of the question that overtourism could cause damage to Óbidos’s medieval walls because they’ll start to decay as more and more people walk on them.

Albufeira

In Albufeira, hen parties and stag dos are turning what was once a pristine Portuguese fishing village into an unsavory party destination fuelled by chaos and debauchery. According to the Express, overtourism and bad tourist behavior along the resort strip have even put other tourists off visiting. That makes you wonder how the residents feel.

A walk along the Strip is a stark reminder of how overtourism can destroy a place. Experiencing strain from tourism overload, there is nothing Portuguese about Albufeira’s party street. You won’t find authentic restaurants, traditional shops, and fascinating attractions. You’ll discover boozy Brits, littered floors, large crowds, and tacky nightclubs serving cheap alcohol.

Benagil

Benagil, a world-famous sea cave and beach in Lagoa, might be the most beautiful destination in Portugal dealing with mass tourism saturation. This breathtaking location in the Algarve has become a big hit with travelers who want to glimpse its impressive natural beauty. However, according to Portugal Resident, locals believe the attraction is at breaking point.

Benagil has suffered immensely at the hands of overtourism due to overcrowding, public defecation, disrespecting of the rules, and illegal motorhoming. As a result, this once-stunning destination is starting to lose the charm that made it so famous. Unfortunately, Benagil is a fine example of how a place going viral on Instagram and TikTok isn’t always good.

Madeira

In Madeira, the influx of tourists places immense pressure on the island’s natural habitats, infrastructure, and public services. Madeira is a beautiful island situated off the west coast of North Africa. It’s loved most for its impressive natural beauty, charming towns, authentic cuisine, and scenic hiking trails.

As such, over two million people stay on the island overnight yearly. While this helps boost the local economy and provides residents with more job opportunities, it also increases the likelihood of overcrowding. Sadly, this overcrowding can cause the island to grapple with the effects of overtourism, which harms the natural environment. For example, the Laurisilva forest suffers from trampling and littering. Water supplies and waste management are also strained.

Nazaré

Fun Facts About Portugal We Bet You Didn’t Know The Biggest Waves Were Surfed in Nazare Portugal — © stu.dio / Adobe Stock

Nazaré, one of Europe’s premier surfing spots, has seen both positive and negative impacts due to tourism. The answer you receive regarding overtourism will depend on who you ask. Ask someone in the tourism industry, and they’ll tell you they can’t live without it. Ask somebody who doesn’t, and they’ll likely tell you they hate it.

Either way, it can be argued that Nazaré is impacted by heavy tourism influx. The town’s increase in popularity has led to increased pressure on public services, such as water supplies and waste management, an increase in coastal development, which harms the local environment, and larger crowds, which generally disrupt the lives of residents. Overcrowding is terrible during the Nazaré Big Wave Challenge.

Coimbra

Coimbra, a city in central Portugal, is on our list of beautiful places in Portugal that are overwhelmed by overtourism because it struggles to cope with the overflow of tourists in its historic sites. Overcrowding in Coimbra has put local services under immense pressure, making the city less enjoyable for locals and tourists and causing complex management challenges for local leaders.

To combat overtourism in the city, Coimbra’s government hopes to divert tourists away from the city center and into nearby towns and villages through cultural programs and attractions. This will reduce the number of tourists in the city at one time, giving Coimbra the time it needs to breathe. If overcrowding isn’t controlled, the city will lose its historic charm.