Europe's Most Overcrowded Island Named, Wants More Tourists

Malta has been identified as Europe's most overcrowded island, with a tourist-to-local ratio of seven to one, according to a study by BookRetreats.com. Despite this, the local tourism board is actively seeking to attract more visitors, aiming to triple the tourism sector's contribution to the economy. Plans include increasing annual visitor numbers from just over four million to 4.5 million by 2035.

Tourism Density and Overcrowding

The study analyzed data from the European Commission, focusing on overnight stays per square kilometer. Malta, with a total area of 316 km² (roughly one-fifth the size of London) and a population of about 575,000 (one-third foreign residents), topped the list due to its small size. While Mallorca saw nearly 14 million visitors last year, Malta's mainland was deemed more overcrowded because of its limited land area.

Brits form the largest group of year-round visitors, attracted by winter sun with January temperatures averaging 16°C and widespread English fluency. Key attractions include Valletta's colorful 16th-century architecture and the medieval walled city of Mdina, as well as northern beaches with turquoise waters.

—

Wide Pickt banner — collaborative shopping lists app for Telegram, phone mockup with grocery list

Measures to Manage Crowds

Some restrictions have been implemented on Malta's islands. The Blue Lagoon on Comino, which once saw daily crowds of up to 12,000 in summer, now caps visitors at 4,000 per day. There have been calls to halve this number to protect the delicate ecosystem.

Gozo and Comino ranked 14th on the list, indicating lower tourism density than Malta's mainland. Spanish islands dominated the top spots, including Lanzarote, Ibiza, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria. Greek islands such as Corfu and Zakynthos, along with Portugal's Madeira, also featured in the top ten.