The World’s Most Tourist-Dense Destinations

Coming in at number 1 is the breathtaking city of Dubrovnik, sometimes referred to as “The Pearl of the Adriatic”. This stunning spot on the Dalmatian coast welcomed a whopping 6.5 million international visitors last year, compared to a population of 40,000, meaning there were 16,250 tourists per 100 locals in this beautiful city. If you needed proof that Dubrovnik’s historic charm and coastal beauty are at the very top of the world's travel bucket list, there you have it!

Since it was used as the setting for Game of Thrones’ King’s Landing, the UNESCO World Heritage-recognized Old Town has attracted tourists from all over the world with its dramatic architecture blending Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. Why not take a walking tour, including the centuries-old city walls?

Renting a car for the week from April 13–19 would cost €43, a great way for tourists to explore more of the country and enjoy drives along the stunning coastline. The Pelješac peninsula makes an amazing day trip, where you can escape the crowds of Dubrovnik to see historic towns like Ston, pretty villages like Zuljana, or visit local vineyards to taste Croatian wine.

Next on the list is Reykjavik, where tourism was as popular as the northern lights. Iceland’s capital welcomed a massive 7.4 million visitors last year, and with a population of only 140,000, that’s 5,286 tourists per 100 locals. Reykjavik is a lively, compact city full of museums, galleries and great restaurants, so it’s no wonder it placed at number 2 on the list.

You can visit thermal baths in the city center, or drive just under an hour to reach the famous Blue Lagoon on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where you can enjoy a soak in a geothermal spa against a dramatic backdrop of the black rocks of a lava field. Architectural attractions include Hallgrímskirkja, the tallest church in Iceland, and the stunning Harpa Concert Hall, covered in colorful, twinkling glass panels. It would cost €233 to rent a car for a week from April 13–19.

In third place is the breathtaking Venice, often thought of as one of the world’s most romantic cities, with a staggering 4,240 international visitors for every 100 locals. With a population of 250,000 and 10.6 million tourists last year, the iconic “Floating City” has captured imaginations around the world with its beautiful architecture and network of canals to explore by gondola.

You won’t want to miss the ornate beauty of St. Mark’s Basilica or the grandeur of the Doge’s Palace. You can explore these icons from the inside to see their history up close, or take it all in from the water on a classic boat tour for a different perspective of the city’s skyline. Visitors are also drawn every year to the Rialto Bridge for panoramic views across the Grand Canal.

Renting a car for a week from April 13–19 would cost €99. While you can’t drive in the historic center of Venice, with a car you can take day trips to beautiful nearby cities like Treviso, often known as “Little Venice” because it’s also built on waterways – it’s the birthplace of tiramisu, so make sure you try some while you’re there! Another city that will be less crowded than Venice and takes less than an hour to drive to from there is Padua, with gorgeous medieval architecture.

Next up we have Switzerland’s second-largest city, Geneva, against the magnificent backdrop of the Swiss Alps. It’s not a big city, with a population of 200,000, and compared to a massive 7.8 million tourists in 2025, that makes 3,900 visitors for every 100 locals. Geneva attracts nature lovers from all over the world on their way to explore the mountains, as well as those who’d prefer to wander its pretty, cobbled streets, or try a taste of famous Swiss chocolate.

Lake Geneva itself is a highlight for visitors, as is the Jet d’Eau fountain in the lake harbour, which shoots lake water 140 meters up into the air, and looks absolutely beautiful lit up at night. The magnificent medieval St. Pierre Cathedral is another key attraction for visitors to Geneva, with over 500,000 visitors a year according to its official website. It would cost €235 to rent a car for a week from April 13–19 in this city.

In fifth place we have Porto, Portugal’s second city, famous around the world for its lovely buildings covered in colorful tiles. It attracted 7 million international tourists last year – its population is only 250,000, meaning there were 2,800 visitors for every 100 locals. This picturesque city is the birthplace of port wine, so why not raise a glass in one of the city’s many elegant wine bars?

The historic heart of the city, the Ribeira District, has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is the perfect place for a stroll down the cobbled streets, a bit of shopping and a bite to eat. The pedestrian walkway of Dom Luís I Bridge, which connects Porto’s Old Town to Vila Nova de Gaia, offers amazing views over the water. Tourists also flock to Livraria Lello, often called one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world. Renting a car from April 13–19 would cost €32.

Heading a bit further afield for number six, with Phuket, the capital of the beloved tropical island of the same name, off the coast of Thailand’s mainland. It has a population of 250,000 but had a huge 5.2 million visitors from overseas last year, meaning there were 2,080 tourists for every 100 locals. This destination is the place to go for perfect white beaches and a stroll through authentic Thai night markets.

Patong Beach is one of the most popular beaches, and the Phi Phi Islands are a 1-3 hour boat ride away from Phuket, too, depending on whether you travel in a little speedboat or have a leisurely trip on a ferry. Phuket’s photogenic Old Town is also a famous attraction for tourists with streets of colorful, historic buildings. To rent a car would cost €107 for the week from April 13–19.

A second Italian destination within the top ten ranking, the beautiful city of Florence was visited by 7.3 million people last year. That’s 2,028 tourists for every 100 locals, as the population is 360,000. The capital of the Tuscany region, known for its gorgeous countryside, this city is famous for its connection with the Renaissance – it’s practically an open-air museum for some of Europe’s most beautiful buildings built during this period.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as the Duomo, is one of the largest churches in the world and is famous for its ornate marble panelling in shades of green and pink. Florence is a dream destination for art lovers, with museums like the Uffizi Gallery, which houses some of the most famous examples of Renaissance art, including works by Botticelli and Caravaggio. Renting a car for a week from April 13–19 in Florence would cost €132.

Not far behind Porto, we have the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, with incredible old-world charm – it’s often referred to as Europe’s second-oldest capital city after Athens. It has a higher population than Porto, with 580,000 people living there, but 10.4 million visitors last year means there are still 1,793 tourists for every 100 locals. Lisbon’s restaurants and clubs are the perfect place to listen to musicians playing fado, Portugal’s soulful, melancholy folk music. This vibrant city isn’t far from the coast, making it a perfect destination for people who’d like to combine their cultural city break with some time on the beach.

Built in the 16th century, the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery is one of Lisbon’s most famous attractions, and a wonderful place to spend a few hours. Another iconic symbol of the city, São Jorge Castle, looks down on the city from the hills, offering beautiful views. Renting a car for a week would cost €31, but it would be more useful for excursions out of the city itself, as the historic streets are very narrow.

In ninth place we have the enchanting Scottish capital, Edinburgh, parts of which date back to medieval times. This city had 1,714 visitors for every 100 locals in 2025, as 8.4 million people came to visit compared to the 490,000 people who live there. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival every summer is one of its biggest attractions, with a performance around every corner.

Edinburgh Castle is a must-see, which stands on Castle Rock overlooking the city – listen out for the One O’Clock Gun, which fires from here every day to mark the time! Between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace, you can explore the historic streets of the Royal Mile, which runs through the city’s Old Town. You can rent a car in Edinburgh from April 13–19 for €135.

Rounding off the top ten is the Greek capital of Athens. The oldest capital city in Europe, dating back more than 3,400 years, it’s full of astounding examples of classical architecture, transporting you back in time. At the same time, it’s a modern, vibrant city that’s full of life – why not take a street art tour or sit in a cafe window and just watch the world go by? Athens had 10.2 million visitors in 2025 compared to a population of 640,000, meaning there were 1,594 tourists for every 100 locals.

The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most famous places in the city, a complex of monuments including what remains of ancient temples, marketplaces and theatres. In the shadow of the Acropolis, Plaka is a pretty neighborhood which is mostly pedestrianised, where you can find shops, restaurants and museums. Renting a car in Athens from April 13–19 would cost €31.

In contrast to the cities where visitors outnumber locals by far, let’s kick off our ranking of the cities with the lowest number of tourists with Cairo, a bustling metropolis that has stood on the banks of the Nile River for over 1,000 years. This huge and historic city has a population of 23.07 million, and with 2.5 million visitors last year, that’s only 11 tourists for every 100 locals. You can wander through the traditional bazaars or travel the Nile on a felucca tour, on one of Egypt’s traditional sailboats.

On the other side of the Nile from central Cairo lies Giza, where you can find the Great Sphinx and the Pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Great Egyptian Museum, which houses an incredible collection of an estimated 100,000 artifacts. The museum officially fully opened its doors to visitors last autumn. Renting a car in Cairo from April 13–19 would cost €88.

Indonesia’s dynamic, sprawling capital Jakarta has a population of 41.9 million, making it the city in this ranking with the highest population of all. With 4.7 million visitors in 2025, that makes 11 tourists per 100 locals. The capital of Indonesia is a diverse and lively city with plenty to see and do.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is a perfect place for a day out — it represents the 33 provinces of Indonesia with replicas of traditional architecture, as well as gardens, museums, houses of worship and spaces for performances. Jakarta is also home to the National Monument, a 132-meter-tall obelisk crowned with a flame covered in gold leaf, which represents the struggle for Indonesian independence. You can rent a car in Jakarta from April 13th-19th for €250 – but bear in mind that because the city is so busy, traffic can get very congested.

In third place, we have Brazil’s cosmopolitan São Paulo, the largest city in the whole of South America, well known for its world-class gastronomic scene. There were 14 million visitors per 100 locals last year, with 3.2 million tourists and a much higher number of locals at 22.99 million. This city is the perfect place for a cultural getaway, with a whole host of museums and galleries. Liberdade is a great neighborhood to explore, with a big Japanese influence, as this is where many people who moved to Brazil from Japan first lived in the 1910s.

Highlights for tourists might include Ibirapuera Park, a 158-hectare urban park that houses several museums. Paulista Avenue is one of the city’s busiest streets, with plenty of historic buildings to see, and it’s very popular among tourists for sightseeing and shopping. Renting a car for a week from April 13–19 would cost €85.

Next up is Mexico City. Full of culture and atmosphere, it’s the oldest city in the Americas, built where the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan used to stand. The population of the wider metropolitan area is 22.75 million, and 3.3 million tourists came to visit last year. This means the number of tourists per 100 locals is 14, making this another city where tourists are very much outnumbered in comparison. Mexico City’s food scene is known around the world, whether you’re more excited to try exclusive restaurants or fresh, authentic street food.

Tourists visiting Mexico City often go to Zócalo, or Plaza de la Constitución, the city’s main square, where cultural events like parades and concerts are sometimes held, including an annual Day of the Dead celebration. You can drive in just under an hour from the city to Teotihuacan, where you find ancient Mesoamerican pyramids and temples. Renting a car in Mexico City for a week from April 13–19 costs €45.

Japan’s capital is next up in our ranking — one of the world’s largest cities, you’ll never run out of things to do in this vibrant metropolis that blends futuristic skyscrapers with a real sense of history. Although Tokyo is an extremely popular tourist destination that gets busier by the year, it still has a comparatively low number of visitors compared to locals, at 47 visitors for every 100 local residents. Last year, there were 15.4 million international tourists to the capital compared to a population of 33 million.

Sensoji Temple, in the beautiful neighborhood of Asakusa, known for its traditional architecture, is Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. In Shibuya, a district that’s a busy commercial center, you can find a peaceful forest with the Meiji Jingu Shrine at its heart, as well as Yoyogi Park. People flock to the park in the springtime for hanami celebrations, to admire the cherry blossoms in bloom. You can rent a car in Tokyo for a week from April 13–19 for €208.

As so many of the top ten cities most popular with tourists are in Europe, you won’t find any differences in the top five cities when we’re looking solely at countries on the continent.

While these cities have the lowest number of tourists compared to locals in Europe, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be getting a quiet vacation if you travel to one of these destinations! On the contrary, they’re all capital cities, and some of the biggest cities in Europe. There are just so many people who live here that visitors will naturally be outnumbered, even though these cities are all major tourist hotspots.

In first place, Istanbul had 127 visitors per 100 locals over the course of 2025, followed by London, where there were 232 tourists for every 100 locals. In Berlin, there were 295 visitors per 100 locals, and in Rome, there were 326. Rounding off the top five, there were 360 tourists per 100 locals in Madrid last year.

Here are the cities in the US that attract the highest numbers of tourists compared to locals. It won’t be surprising to see Orlando, a city famous for its many theme parks and attractions, right here at the top of the list with 223 visitors for every 100 locals over the course of 2025. It’s followed fairly closely by New York City, one of the most iconic cities in the world, where 191 tourists came to the city for every 100 locals last year. Las Vegas had 163 visitors per 100 locals, while in Los Angeles, there were 93 tourists compared to every 100 locals. Finally, rounding off the top five, in San Francisco, there were 87 visitors for every 100 locals.

What’s your dream vacation? Somewhere that’s full of the hustle and bustle of tourists, or somewhere a little bit more low-key where you can blend into the city and experience it more like one of the local residents?

We hope our comparison of cities around the world with the most and least tourists compared to the local population has given you some travel inspo. Wherever you go on your next vacation, please consider booking with us — we’re a global car rental comparison site that operates in more than 164 countries around the world, and we can help you find the perfect car for your trip!