Three cities have been deemed ‘forbidden’ due to tourism saturation (Image: Getty)
Three popular Spanish holiday destinations have been deemed “forbidden” for travel this year by a leading travel guide.
Fodors’ 2025 forbidden list named , and the among the no-go zones, due to tourist saturation.
It acknowledged the Spanish locations were a victim of their own popularity, being unable to cope with the sheer number of tourists, warning that visiting such busy places “rarely results in happy travellers” .
In a scathing commentary, the guide said: “Touring cities full of tourists is frustrating; Sightseeing in villages where locals resent your presence is disturbing and wandering through nature plagued by garbage is depressing.”
It echoed sentiments held by residents during , saying “Governments tend to prioritise visitor experiences over the well-being of local residents”.
The Canary Islands saw protests throughout 2024 (Image: Getty)
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All three Spanish black-listed areas experienced anti tourism protests last year. In Palma, Majorca, more than 20,000 protestors were reported to have gathered in July, with slogans such as “Your luxury, our misery.”
Tourist services have sprawled so much over Cala Major beach that
In Barcelona, mayor Jaume Collboni announced that tourist flats will be banned by November 2028, which he says restricts the local housing supply and drives up prices, in an attempt to relieve the city’s housing crisis.
to instead promote environmentally conscious and sustainable tourism.
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However, despite putting them on the forbidden list, Fodors did acknowledge the beauty of the regions.
The travel guide said: “The destinations on the list of ‘forbidden’ places deserve the fame and adoration they receive and they are worthy of their time and money.”
Venice, Tokyo and Bali also featured on the list.