Svalbard, Chios, El Hierro: How these European islands have successfully avoided overtourism

Mass tourism is once again testing the limits of Europe’s most visited places – and islands are among the hardest hit.

With limited land and fragile infrastructure, record visitor numbers have driven up housing costs and stretched local services beyond breaking point.

In recent years, protests have erupted across archipelagos as residents call on local governments to start putting them first.

A new analysis from BookRetreats.com has delved into which islands are most overloaded and which have been quietly modelling a more sustainable approach.