In the summer of 2026, Europe continues to face significant overtourism challenges, with major hotspots like Venice, Barcelona, Rome, and Santorini experiencing record-breaking crowds. The months of July and August are the most congested, as traditional European school holidays coincide with a massive influx of North American and Asian tourists. This results in multi-hour queues for icons like the Eiffel Tower, "people-traffic" in narrow historic streets, and significantly higher prices for accommodation. Many cities have implemented entry fees or tourist caps (like Venice's access fee) to manage the flow. However, "Europe" as a whole is not too crowded; the congestion is highly localized. Travelers can find peace by visiting "second cities" or underrated regions like the Baltics (Latvia, Estonia), the Balkans (Albania, Montenegro), or the rural interiors of France and Spain. For those set on the classics, the "shoulder seasons" of May/June or September/October are much better alternatives, offering the same beauty with a fraction of the chaos and much more comfortable temperatures for exploring.