The numbers do not lie: tourism in Italy keeps growing exponentially (around +13.14% in 2025 compared to 2024).
On one hand, this is a resource for the country: it means many people can work thanks to tourism.
On the other one, though, 70% of tourists concentrate in just 1% of places.
It's called overtourism: an excessive presence of tourists in places that cannot contain so many people.
Venice, Florence and Rome are among the destinations under the biggest pressure. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to walk through the iconic calli of Venice, take a picture of the Duomo in Florence, or stand inside the Colosseum imagining what it felt like to be a gladiator?
Of course, there is nothing wrong with wanting that.
After all, if I come to Italy only once in my life, I should visit all the main cities - even if I only have a handful of days available. Or maybe not?
The truth is... There may be other ways.
Because if it is true that tourists visit only 1% of Italy, it also means that the other 99% of Italy is largely unexplored.
A Personal Story from Venice
I remember my last time in Venice, on November 1st, 2024. In Italy it is a public holiday. That year it was also a Friday, so most people had planned a weekend away, taking advantage of the extra day off.
Just like me.
I had decided to visit some friends who live there. I was happy about seeing them again, but at the same time I had very clear images in my mind: crowds packed into narrow streets and endless lines heading toward Piazza San Marco.
And yet, everything went smoothly.
The turning point was being with locals who knew how to guide me through the less known parts of the city: through the streets of the Venetian Ghetto, neighborhoods far from the center, and antique shops literally two streets behind the most touristic ones.
On top of that, one simple trick: waking up a bit earlier to enjoy the city before trains started bringing daily waves of visitors.
Sometimes it really takes very little.
Active Travel vs Overtourism
While overtourism keeps increasing, we are also happy to see that more and more people are choosing cycling holidays and hiking trips, moving away from this trend.
Active travel in Italy does not focus on iconic places that have become overcrowded, posted and reposted millions of times on social media.
Instead, it follows the philosophy of slow travel in Italy: a slower, more human rhythm where pedaling and footsteps are the centre of the journey.
There is a lot to gain from this perspective:
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Hidden places – truly hidden, not “hidden for marketing purposes”: intact medieval villages, traditions that have not been turned into a farce, local food with ancient flavors. Living a place, without thinking only about the perfect social media picture.
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Peace and quiet: natural landscapes that are still silent and deeply beautiful.
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Support for local economies: by choosing smaller destinations, you directly support small communities and local businesses, often in areas at risk of depopulation.
What Type of Traveler Are You?
If you made it to here, we probably have more in common than you think.
- You prefer small groups over huge ones where you will never even remember the names of your travel companions.
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You appreciate local guides, who can actually answer your questions and share context.
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On a tour, you want tracks and routes you would hardly find on your own (if not, what's the point?)
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What matters most to you is not how many places you manage to check off a list, but how meaningful each experience feels once you are there.
It’s this philosophy that led Forbes to recommend our tours in Italy among the most meaningful ways to experience this country.
“[Tourissimo] specializes in Italy and if you want a deeper dive into locally owned establishments and regional cuisine, they are a great choice. They are also often a better value than the bigger international brands.”
Be Part Of The Solution
Now you know what overtourism really looks like, and that you can swim against the current.
99% of Italy is still out there waiting to be discovered by people like you, for whom collecting photos is not enough to feel truly satisfied after a trip.
Because responding to overtourism does not require giving something up. It simply means discovering better alternatives.
These are some of the active travel alternatives you can enjoy in Italy with Tourissimo:
Cycling Tours
It is literally the only cycling tour of this kind you can find in this region. No one else goes here. When we say “off the beaten path,” we like to take it literally.
A true melting pot of cultures – Slovenian and Italian – where you have both mountains and the sea. Hope you like meat and butter!
Who says Tuscany has all the vineyards? Here you can cycle through bright green vineyards, discovering a wine country region traveled but just as beautiful.
Hiking Tours
Did you know there are panoramic hiking trails right behind the most famous squares here, and almost nobody knows them? First we stretch our legs, then we also enjoy an aperitivo with a view.
Trekking above the blue sea and along the iconic cliffs of Cinque Terre, but we pick the most beautiful routes with fewer crowds.
Curious to Hear What Others Think?
Read here the reviews of our tours.
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