4 h. ago Greek island of Zakynthos named most crowded resort in Europe

A new Which? Travel report on overtourism also cites Mallorca and Paris as destinations suffering from an influx of visitors, but some argue that bad behaviour is as much of a problem as numbersIn Great Yarmouth there are some signs of regeneration: the vast glass palace of the Winter Gardens is being refurbished and the ornate Cafe 1903 next to the historic Hippodrome is busy. But the bustling tourist industry of the Edwardian era is long gone. “When Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show came in 1903, the tent held 5,000,” says local historian Roger Silver. “A couple of years earlier the Bass Brewery brought 10,000 workers on a day trip from Burton upon Trent. It took 16 trains.”Coincidentally, that is the same number of visitors who poured into the Italian mountain village of Roccaraso (population 1,500) in January, drawn by the presence of Tik Tok influencer Rita de Crescenzo. But the similarities end there. The Yarmouth invasion received no complaints, while the residents of Roccaraso r...

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25 h. ago The gorgeous Greek island named Europe's most overcrowded holiday spot

A new study has revealed the popular tourist destination that's the most overcrowded in Europe. Read on to find out where you might want to avoid this summer...

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5 d. ago Greek hidden gems include 'floating village' and 'some of the best beaches in the world'

Google searches for 'Greek island hidden gems' have risen by 100% in the past three months, with people looking to avoid the crowds at more well-known destinations

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8 d. ago Sand groomers v turtles: how wildlife is falling foul of the demand for Insta

From the turtle-nesting beaches of Italy to Greek island bird havens, across the Mediterranean campaigners are fighting to protect habitats from tourists seeking a picture-perfect holidayIn the summer months in Puglia, southern Italy, the battle for the beaches begins before dawn. Armed with tractors, beach owners flatten every imperfection from the sand, dragging it to sift out anything large enough to be considered waste. As the sun rises, tourists flood the coastline, often unaware of what lies hidden beneath their feet.Two feet below the surface, delicate eggs laid by loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are waiting to hatch. For the turtles, the beach is not a beauty spot but a habitat. Continue reading...

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1 week ago Best Greek island hotels for sea views and romantic retreats in Crete, Corfu, Mykonos and more

Greece isn’t short of an island or two – here are the best places and hotels to stay when you visit some of our favourite spots

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2 w. ago Charming little European island missed by tourists but packed with cultural charm

The Greek island of Ithaca is bursting with history from ancient antiquity but also boasts some incredible views and secluded beaches for those who fancy a more relaxed holiday away from huge crowds

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2 w. ago ‘Who wept for these people?’ Francis’s papacy was defined by compassion for refugees

From personally promising to relocate vulnerable asylum seekers to speaking out against ‘cruel’ policies, the late pope was a voice for the marginalisedOn a glorious spring day almost a decade ago, an Airbus A320 took off from Mytilene airport on the Greek island of Lesbos. For what seemed like an age, a small group of bystanders, including officials and the media, watched in disbelief until the plane veered left over the sun-speckled Aegean Sea and its Alitalia livery could no longer be discerned. On board was Pope Francis, who had spent barely five hours on Lesbos, then at the centre of the refugee crisis on Europe’s eastern fringes.The whirlwind tour had been replete with symbolism but it was the pontiff’s fellow travellers who had caused such surprise. Moments after the head of the Roman Catholic Church had entered the aircraft, 12 refugees had also appeared, cheerfully making their way across the runway with expressions of stunned relief, their first taste of freedom after inca...

Events

2 w. ago Boat trip to Welsh island is like being on a Greek holiday with an amazing surprise at the end

A shingle cove is where you wait for a boat to whisk you on a picturesque journey to a remote island with a wildlife surprise

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2 w. ago Almighty eruption threatens holiday island loved by Brits as scientists try to pinpoint date

Greek island Santorini was hit by a number of strong earthquakes earlier this year which put its tourist season in jeopardy, as experts arrived to look into the threat of an underwater volcano

Events

3 w. ago 'I visited Greek island and fell in love but now tourists make it unbearable'

Santorini is a Greek gem with spectacular views and jaw-dropping sunsets, but the sheer number of tourists makes it nearly impossible to enjoy

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3 w. ago How Spencer Matthews and Charlotte Dawson became inseparable after bonding over 'sausages for breakfast'. Insiders tell KATIE HIND how the unlikely duo became close friends

When Spencer Matthews landed on the stunning Greek island of Ios to stay in a luxurious hotel, one can imagine it all felt like one home from pampered home.

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3 w. ago Beautiful EU island rivals Santorini and Mykonos without the crowds of tourists

This little-known Greek island is a tranquil paradise offering tourists an authentic Greek experience with crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches

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3 w. ago Meet the monk who lives in the cliffs on a Greek holiday island

For more than 50 years, Father Spyridon has welcomed the faithful in a monastery carved into a cliffside

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3 w. ago Dr Michael Mosley's son shares sweet tribute to 'maverick' late father ahead of anniversary

The TV doctor lost his life last year after going missing on a walk on a Greek island

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