What to Know About Spain’s Anti-Overtourism Protests

Recently, you may have seen news about “anti-tourism” protests in Europe, especially in Barcelona and beach towns across Spain. Is it still safe to travel to these places? In short: Yes, absolutely. But it’s smart to understand what’s behind Europe’s frustration about overtourism, so you can avoid inconveniences — and do your part to be a good traveler.

Spain has seen a steady, pronounced rise in international tourism over the past few years. Last year, the country broke records with 94 million international arrivals — a 10 percent increase over 2023, pushing Spain ahead of Italy as the world’s second-most visited country (after France). Understandably, locals in many heavily touristed communities are alarmed and frustrated by the ever-increasing number of visitors clogging their communities — and, especially, by the reluctance of local authorities to thoughtfully curtail these problems.

We “Rick Steves” travelers from North America — who tend to go on brief, targeted trips to cultural destinations — represent only a small fraction of these numbers. The biggest piece of Spain’s problematic pie is beach tourism: holidaymakers from Britain and Northern Europe who flock to the Costa del Sol, Canary Islands, and other Mediterranean destinations for long vacations. Many of the recent protests have focused on these beach towns, though one major cultural destination — Barcelona — has seen its share as well.

Last July, you may have heard about “anti-tourism” protests in Barcelona, when a few thousand locals marched down the Ramblas chanting “Barcelona is not for sale” and slapping red tape across some businesses. To emphasize their point, a few protesters (harmlessly) sprayed water guns at tourists — a detail that succeeded in its primary goal: grabbing international headlines. This sentiment has continued into 2025, with several Spanish cities seeing a wave of protests in April. Organizers have also discussed plans for additional protests on June 15.

If you’re planning a trip to Spain, this might sound alarming at first. But it’s important to understand that, while typically characterized as “anti-tourism” protests, more precisely these are “anti-overtourism” protests. In most of these places, tourism represents a significant part of the local economy. (That wave of tourism in 2024 poured more than €125 billion into Spain.) Because of this, most locals are happy to host a certain critical mass of visitors. But when that number is exceeded, it begins to negatively impact quality of life, cost of living, and other markers of a livable community. So, naturally, locals push back.

One critical distinction is that these protests are typically not targeted at you, the tourist (even if a few of us might catch a little flak in the process). Rather, they’re designed to pressure local authorities to legislate more proactively to encourage sustainable tourism. One popular target is short-term apartment rental services like Airbnb, which locals (rightly) observe as increasing housing prices for residents and changing the character of neighborhoods that used to feel more local. A stated aim of these protests is demanding further restrictions on this form of accommodations.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that demonstrations of all kinds are common in Europe, which loves to exercise its rights to assembly and free speech. Strikes, for example, occur frequently across the continent, advocating for (or against) all sorts of issues. And, as with Spain’s anti-overtourism protests, it’s in your trip’s best interest to try and skirt them. A march in Barcelona and a train strike in Italy can cause bumps in your itinerary.

Luckily, they’re often avoidable. High-profile protests like these are designed to make a point by seizing people’s attention, and are therefore advertised well in advance. That’s just one more reason to tune into local news, wherever you’re traveling: to increase your chances of finding out about planned protests before you stumble upon them. If you know when and where they’re taking place, you can make a point to steer clear.

If you do accidentally come across a protest like this, it’s wise to quickly and discreetly remove yourself from the situation. (Of course, this is simply good advice for traveling anywhere: If you see a demonstration brewing, before wandering into the middle of it, be very clear on what it’s about and whether it’s a smart place for you to be.)

And what if, despite all efforts, you do wind up crossing paths with protesters? You’re probably going to be just fine. There have been no reports of injury or other lasting difficulties for travelers. Much more likely, you may simply be jeered for a few minutes; popular tourist sights and thoroughfares could be temporarily closed off; and, yes, there’s an astronomically small chance that you might get spritzed with a water gun. (That said, of the estimated 15 million tourists who went to Barcelona last year, maybe a dozen or two got a little wet…leaving them momentarily soggy, but unharmed. If you’re seeking reassurance, just do the math.)

All of this speaks to the practical side of traveling to places where these protests might be happening. But for the thoughtful traveler, the protests are also a reminder to check yourself. Protests, strikes, and demonstrations can, and should, give you pause. It’s important to understand that many communities, overwhelmed by their own popularity, would actually prefer if at least some of us tourists would steer clear. Rather than feeling defensive, take this trend as an opportunity to be more mindful about how travel, and your presence, might negatively impact the places you’re visiting.

The same principles of good travel — whether to a place that’s oppressively “overtouristed,” or one that’s pin-drop quiet — remain the same: Visit with a spirit of curiosity and empathy, treating everyone you meet with respect and consideration; be conscientious, seeking to minimize your footprint by thoughtfully consuming resources; avoid contributing to congestion by considering visits to lesser-known alternatives (or going at a less busy time); and try to understand the local point of view about what constitutes a “good traveler” versus a “bad traveler,” to make sure you’re striving to be the former.

Europe is grappling with how to handle overtourism. Venice, for example, reinstated its “Access Fee” this year (primarily targeting day-trippers), and protests like those in Spain might become more frequent. So far, these trends have not affected Rick Steves’ Europe tours or our travel advice in general. But we’ll continue to keep an eye on them, and in the unlikely event that things escalate beyond causing discomfort or inconvenience to travelers, of course, we’ll update this post.

However, our sense is that these protests are fundamentally peaceful, entirely reasonable, and important in prodding people on both sides of the “tourism equation” to challenge assumptions and strive to interact more constructively and sustainably with one another.

 

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