As calls for sustainable travel become the norm, travel publisher Fodor’s has just released its annual ‘No List.’ The list reveals popular travel destinations where environmental strain and overtourism have made their mark and have become major concerns.

Destinations to avoid according to Fodor’s ‘No List’ for 2025

Once again, Fodor’s has released its annual ‘No List’ featuring popular travel designations that are causing significant concerns relating to overtourism and environmental strain. Meanwhile, the list is a call for sustainable tourism and attempts to alleviate pressure on locals and the ecosystem. Below, the list reveals key highlights from Fodor’s 2025 ‘No List.’

Meanwhile, many of the destinations on the ‘No List’ are facing challenges for locals such as the rising cost of living, strained infrastructure and environmental degradation, worsened by the influx of too many tourists. By releasing the list, Fodor’s aims to balance tourism’s benefits while aiming to preserve natural and cultural heritage.

– Bali, Indonesia

Bali is an exotic and hugely popular tourism destination and for this reason, the island faces severe environmental stress due to overtourism. Meanwhile, more than 1.6 million tons of waste are generated each year, with only 7 percent of plastic waste being recycled.

Popular beaches like Kuta are buried under tourism’s trash, while Bali’s infrastructure struggles to keep up with the major influx of tourists, with 3.5 million visited in the first half of 2024 alone. Bali’s popularity with tourists leads to rapid urban development, that threatens natural habitats. Moreover, waste management systems are inadequate, with 33,000 tons of plastic entering the ocean and rivers each year.

– Barcelona, Spain

Recently, Barcelona has seen protests by locals relating to mass tourism and rising housing costs. Locals are literally being priced out of rented properties. Moreover, the Spanish city sees more than 10,000 vacation rentals where owners are seeking the higher rents paid by tourists, rather than accommodating locals.

This year has seen residents in the streets, protesting overtourism and calling for stricter regulations. Meanwhile, the city’s authorities plan to revoke all short-term rental licenses by 2028. However, locals say that the timeline is insufficient.

Moreover, the key issues in Barcelona relate to housing shortages and higher living costs while the city’s infrastructure is strained by excessive foot traffic.

– Lisbon, Portugal

As with Barcelona, Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, also has a housing crisis, as the city is overwhelmed by vacation rentals. Moreover, around 60 percent of these properties are listed on platforms like Airbnb. Due to this, locals face soaring rents, making Lisbon one of the least affordable places in the world.

– Mount Everest, Nepal

Mount Everest welcomes climbers each year, each hoping to reach the summer. However, even this location is suffering from soaring tourist numbers. In 2023, permits for climbers reached an all-time high of 487. Due to this, more than 30 tons of trash and human waste (and the occasional dead body) remain on the mountain’s slopes each climbing season, thus threatening the fragile ecosystem.

– Scotland’s North Coast 500

This popular road trip has led to traffic congestion and environmental harm. Meanwhile, wild camping leaves private properties and beaches littered with trash and human waste, leading to residents calling for stricter visitor management.

– Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy has been suffering from overtourism in recent years, which led to a day-tripper entry fee in 2024. However, even with the fee, the city continues to face challenges, with overcrowded streets and infrastructure.

Read the full Fodor’s ‘No List for 2025 here.