Over the past decade, overtourism has turned once-charming European cities into crowded theme parks. Residents complain about noise, skyrocketing rents, or the daily crush of camera-wielding visitors. In response, governments and community groups have begun creating “no-go” zones, day-trip fees, or restricted areas off-limits to many tourists. While environmental or cultural protection often justifies these restrictions, locals themselves sometimes roll their eyes at how these rules are enforced—or how they might fail to address deeper issues.
Below, we highlight 8 places or policies that define this “no-go zone” phenomenon, along with why they arose, how they function, and what travelers need to know. Because, yes, sometimes the reasons are practical, but other times they’re borderline absurd.
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1. Venice’s Day-Tripper Fee (Updated for 2025)
Where & What
- Venice, Italy, has finally implemented its long-delayed day-tripper fee. As of 2025, visitors must pay €5–€10 depending on the timing of their booking. The fee applies on 54 peak days between April and July 2025 and only affects day-trippers. Overnight guests are exempt as they already pay an accommodation tax.
Why Locals Roll Their Eyes
- Many Venetians still question the fee’s effectiveness, arguing it won’t truly deter mass tourism. The logistics remain messy—how will they track who enters as a day-tripper versus an overnight visitor? Some suspect the city will reinvest the revenue into tourism infrastructure rather than solving resident concerns.
The “No-Go Zone” Angle
- While not a hard ban, the fee creates a financial barrier for quick visitors. Some wonder if it will actually reduce numbers or just inconvenience tourists without solving the bigger problem (like cruise ship arrivals, which continue unchecked).
2. Amsterdam’s Red Light District Time Restrictions
Where & What
- Amsterdam’s central Red Light District has become ground zero for rowdy nightlife tourism. In recent years, the city introduced time-based closures, guided tour bans through certain streets, and new rules forbidding group tours at night.
Why Locals Roll Their Eyes
- Tourists overrun the district for “shock factor,” ignoring the fact that people actually live and work there. The city’s partial solution is limiting public tours after 7 PM and pushing “quiet zones” to reduce noise. Yet locals say the rules just shift rowdy crowds to other canals or create confusion about which streets are off-limits at what times.
The “No-Go Zone” Angle
- Certain blocks have become “no large group tours,” effectively no-go for official tourist guides. However, enforcement can be patchy. Some feel the city tries to salvage its tolerant reputation while appeasing residents fed up with late-night drunken chaos. Eye-roll moment: the partial ban addresses symptom (tours) but does little about throngs of party-seeking travelers who come anyway.
3. Santorini’s Cruise Passenger Cap
Where & What
- Santorini, Greece—famous for its caldera views and whitewashed cliffs. Overloaded by cruise arrivals, local officials limit daily passenger numbers to 8,000 (down from ~12,000) to reduce port chaos and donkey-ride congestion.
Why Locals Roll Their Eyes
- Residents agree the island is saturated, but wonder if capping daily cruise arrivals actually fixes the bigger problem: package day-trippers rarely spend money outside a few shops, then jam the cable cars. Meanwhile, island businesses dependent on tourism worry about losing revenue, so local factions are split. Some donkey owners also see fewer rides, hurting their income.
The “No-Go Zone” Angle
- While not banning tourists, restricting daily cruise passenger numbers effectively denies some visitors from disembarking. Eye-roll moment: the donkey ride controversies (concerns about animal welfare vs. local tradition) remain unsolved. Meanwhile, tourists can still book an overnight stay—no cap for those.
4. The Cinque Terre Ticketing System
Where & What
- Italy’s Cinque Terre introduced a scheme limiting the number of hikers on the scenic seaside trails. Tourists might need a “Cinque Terre Card” to access certain footpaths.
Why Locals Roll Their Eyes
- With Instagram mania for the pastel villages, local trains and trails get jam-packed. The card system aims to manage foot traffic, but some argue the daily quotas aren’t enforced consistently. Others suspect it’s just a money grab from a captive audience forced to buy the pass if they want to hike.
The “No-Go Zone” Angle
- Certain trails close or limit capacity, creating partial no-go areas for those without advanced bookings or the official pass. Eye-roll moment: Backpackers can find alternative routes (less scenic but free) and locals might do them without fanfare. Tourists remain funnelled into the pay-to-hike zones.
5. Dubrovnik’s “Old Town Limit” and CCTV Monitoring
Where & What
- Croatia’s Dubrovnik is overrun by cruise-based day trips, leading the mayor to propose limiting daily tourists to 4,000 and installing cameras to track foot traffic in the walled Old Town.
Why Locals Roll Their Eyes
- The city invests in tourist counting technology but the giant cruise ships keep arriving, dumping thousands at once. Meanwhile, locals complain about rising rents and a near-total tourist economy ignoring city infrastructure. Some see the cameras as invasive or purely symbolic if ships still unload 5,000 passengers simultaneously.
The “No-Go Zone” Angle
- If foot traffic hits a certain threshold, security might temporarily close Old Town gates to new entrants—a literal no-go zone. Eye-roll moment: People want a structural fix, not cameras measuring the same problem daily.
6. Faroe Islands “Closed for Maintenance” Weekends
Where & What
- The remote Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic occasionally shut or limit access to specific hiking trails or natural sites for “clean-up weekends” each year. Volunteers can come help maintain them, but casual tourists are turned away.
Why Locals Roll Their Eyes
- Some residents appreciate controlling eco-impact, but also suspect the tourism board cleverly markets this “closure” for publicity—like an exclusive volunteer invitation. Others fear it might be the start of more permanent limits on scenic spots, though tourism is crucial to local livelihoods.
The “No-Go Zone” Angle
- For those weekends, certain iconic cliffs or waterfalls close to free roaming. Eye-roll moment: People wonder if the “maintenance closures” are truly environmental or a hype tool. Nonetheless, the closure is real—no going there unless you’re a pre-registered volunteer.
7. Spanish Coastal Towns’ Rental Restrictions (New for 2025)
Where & What
- In 2025, Málaga has banned new short-term rental registrations in several neighborhoods to curb overtourism and ease the housing crisis. The measure aims to keep more homes available for residents instead of turning entire districts into Airbnb zones.
Why Locals Roll Their Eyes
- Some residents welcome the move, while others worry about unintended consequences—such as landlords shifting to even higher rental prices or the impact on the local economy. The law targets tourist-heavy areas, but it’s unclear how effectively it will be enforced.
The “No-Go Zone” Angle
- By blocking new short-term rental licenses, authorities are effectively creating rental no-go zones in key neighborhoods. The change could significantly alter how visitors find accommodation in Spain’s most popular cities.
Conclusion: “No-Go Zones” or Quick Fixes?
Across Europe, no-go zones—ranging from day-trip fees to strict area closures—reflect a desperate attempt to manage overtourism’s impact. In principle, restricting visitors can preserve heritage or protect nature. But many local skeptics label these measures as band-aid solutions that generate fees or publicity rather than solving root issues like uncontrolled cruise arrivals, skyrocketing Airbnb conversions, or underfunded local services.
For travelers, it means navigating new rules—paying day fees, checking if certain beaches or city quarters are open, or avoiding prime times to skip the crush. If you see a “no-go zone” scenario, try to understand why it was created. Are you about to trespass an off-limits area for environmental reasons, or is it a vague sign with minimal enforcement?
In the end, locals might**—with an eyeroll—**comply with these partial bans or surcharges, but hope for more holistic tourism management. Real solutions might include limiting cruise ship capacity, better public transport, or rethinking how local businesses rely solely on quick-buck visitor spending. Until then, these pop-up no-go zones are the new normal: a patchwork of restricted areas or timed closures, ironically shaping a new tourist experience of “You can’t go here… yet we still want your money next door.”
Pro Tip
- Always research local regulations before arriving. If you’re heading to Venice, Santorini, or the Cinque Terre, confirm if day-pass fees or visitor caps apply. Understanding the why behind these zones can also help you travel more respectfully: sometimes the local environment (or community) truly needs a break from mass tourism. Give them space—your trip will be more enjoyable, and you’ll be part of a more mindful, sustainable travel future.
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues sharing his travel experiences with his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.