A 2025 ranking of the world’s most overcrowded beaches based on TripAdvisor reviews. Italy, Greece, Ibiza — and one surprising hero: Cyprus.
You planned it all: sun, sea, serenity. You dreamed of white sand under your feet, the soft sound of waves in your ears, and maybe a mojito in hand.
Reality? You’re shoulder to shoulder with strangers, your towel’s half-covered by someone else’s flip-flop, and someone nearby is blasting Despacito for the 7th time.
According to a new report by Cloudwards, which analyzed over 1.3 million TripAdvisor reviews, Europe’s beaches have made a name for themselves — for all the wrong reasons. The main complaint? Overcrowding. Not jellyfish, not overpriced ice cream — just too many people.
🏖️ Top 15 Most Overcrowded Beaches in the World (2025)
Based on the percentage of reviews mentioning crowd-related issues
| # | Beach | Country | The Problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Pelosa | Italy (Sardinia) | 87% of reviews mention crowds, even in low season |
| 2 | Spiaggia La Cinta | Italy (Sardinia) | 5 km of sand and nowhere to sit |
| 3 | Praia da Falésia | Portugal | Instagram-perfect… from 50 meters above |
| 4 | Cala Comte | Spain (Ibiza) | Sunset with 500 strangers |
| 5 | Konnos Bay | Cyprus ❤️ | Tiny and packed in summer, dreamy off-season |
| 6 | Bournemouth Beach | UK | Trash, crowds, and a heatwave panic |
| 7 | Elafonissi | Greece (Crete) | Pink sands + 200 beach towels per square meter |
| 8 | Balos Lagoon | Greece (Crete) | Not quite the peaceful lagoon it claims to be |
| 9 | Porto Katsiki | Greece (Lefkada) | Beautiful, but noisy as a festival |
| 10 | Waikiki Beach | USA (Hawaii) | Perfect score of 100 complaints. Oops. |
| 11 | Maya Bay | Thailand | Tourist darling turned chaos zone |
| 12 | Ipanema | Brazil | Sun, fun, and speakers louder than the surf |
| 13 | Barceloneta | Spain | Crowded city beach, always buzzing |
| 14 | Copacabana | Brazil | Legendary, yes. Peaceful? Not really |
| 15 | Venice Beach | USA (California) | Feels more like a street performance than a beach |
Greece: Not Just Crowded, But Loud and a Bit Messy
Looking for peace and quiet on a Greek beach in peak season? Good luck.
Balos Lagoon ranked high for both dirt and overcrowding. Elafonissi, with its pink sand and shallow waters, was mentioned in over 70% of complaints about crowds. And Porto Katsiki, despite being one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, also made the list — thanks to noise levels that rival a music festival.
Cyprus: A Shining Star in the Chaos
Among this sea of complaints, Cyprus shines like a sun-kissed hero.
Only one beach — Konnos Bay — made the list. Yes, it can get crowded in July and August, but visit in May, September, or early morning, and it’s pure bliss: pine trees, white sand, turquoise water, and peace. A true hidden gem when timed right. Bravo, Cyprus
Italy: Paradise With a Side of Panic
Sardinia is a visual masterpiece — and a logistical nightmare.
La Pelosa and La Cinta take the #1 and #2 spots on the global crowding list. One reviewer said it felt like Times Square on New Year’s Eve — in mid-September, on a weekday morning. Oof.
📊 How the Rankings Were Made
Cloudwards analyzed 1.3 million TripAdvisor reviews of 200 of the most-visited beaches in the world.
They flagged reviews mentioning four pain points:
- Dirtiness
- Overcrowding
- Long queues
- Noise
Each beach was given a score from 0 to 100, based on the frequency of complaints.
Spoiler: a perfect score doesn’t mean perfection. Waikiki got a 100 — and not in a good way.
🛑 What Are Destinations Doing About It?
Some places are already cracking down on overtourism before their beaches become open-air nightmares:
-
Sardinia: daily visitor caps, pre-bookings, and even towel bans (yes, really — to protect the sand).
-
Greece: €20 entry fee introduced in 2025 for cruise passengers visiting hotspots like Mykonos and Santorini.
-
Spain: beach alcohol bans and fines for rowdy behavior.
🏝 Final Thought:
In 2025, paradise might come with a queue, a speaker, and someone’s elbow in your lunch.
Your best bet? Go early, go off-season, or go remote.
Or maybe… just enjoy the sound of waves from your balcony and call it a day.
