Millions of Britons flock to Spain each year in search of sun, sea and sandy beaches – but some of the country’s most popular coastal spots are becoming so crowded that holidaymakers are warning others to think twice.
Videos shared online show packed stretches of sand, rows of umbrellas and seas filled with swimmers as tourists descend on Spain’s biggest holiday hotspots.
One clip posted by @14lara01 showed an overcrowded beach in Alicante, with barely any space left between towels on the sand or swimmers in the water.
‘Think carefully about going to Alicante in the summer,’ the caption warned.
The warning comes as Alicante ranks among the most-searched Spanish destinations for August travel, according to flight search data from Kayak, suggesting thousands of holidaymakers are still considering the popular hotspot for their summer break.
Barcelona, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza were also among the Spanish destinations attracting the most flight searches.
Another clip, uploaded by @ingram.abbie, showed similar busy scenes at Cala Llombards in Majorca.
‘In all honesty no I wouldn’t recommend visiting Cala Llombards, unless you go first thing in the morning (in July),’ she penned.
Brits are flocking to Spain this summer but might find the beaches are packed
Salou beach, in Catalonia, is another sandy spot that already has hordes of beachgoers
‘Yes the beach is stunning, but it’s small and gets so packed that it’s too busy by midday and not enjoyable. The water isn’t the cleanest either.’
Benidorm has seen an increase in British visitors in the first half of this year, totalling 513,398 – a 4.7 per cent rise.
The coastal city is popular with Britons for its affordable all-inclusive resorts, cheap drinks and miles of sand.
Tourists have continued to visit this summer and footage shared by @beautyinbenidorm showed a rammed Playa de Levante beach.
Stretching two miles, the beach is a popular spot and the video taken in July showed it full of umbrellas and people swimming in the sea.
Salou beach, in Catalonia, is another bustling spot. One video posted by @dhodgef1n showed hordes of beachgoers enjoying the sunshine and was captioned with: ‘Busy busy busy!’
As for the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria is forecast to have a 6.7 per cent increase in passengers flying in from the UK this summer, and Fuerteventura 5.1 per cent.
Playa de Mogán boasts golden sands and is located in Puerto de Mogán, a charming fishing village.
‘Busy day at Mogan beach beautiful,’ one visitor, @johnhowarth17, shared on TikTok alongside footage of the bustling coastal spot.
Meanwhile La Palma, a lesser-known Canary Island, is expected to see a 98.4 per cent increase in British arrivals by plane this summer compared to the same period in 2025, rising from 11,718 to 23,247.
Jet2 launched flights to La Palma for the first time in April this year and now has two weekly services year-round from Manchester Airport to the Spanish spot.
More routes are set to be added from London Stansted in November.
However, the masses of tourists that descend on Spain are not always well received. Last weekend anti-tourism protesters flooded Mallorca’s streets to fight against holidaymakers.
Protesters claimed the holiday hotspot had ‘reached its limit’ and some ended up clashing with police officers.
The protests have occurred multiple times over recent years, and in May scores of fed-up locals took part in demonstrations across the archipelago from 11am, including in Tenerife.
Dozens of armed officers from the National Police were seen on patrol, while ‘terrified’ tourists stayed inside their hotels. One holidaymaker visiting from Ireland said he was too scared to leave his Airbnb.
A packed beach in Benidorm in May, which has seen an increase in British visitors in the first half of this year
Spain isn’t the only busy destination this summer, Italy’s streets have been rammed with tourists too.
Viral videos shared online show shoulder-to-shoulder crowds in Rome, snaking ferry queues on Lake Como and heaving train platforms in Cinque Terre, with some travellers admitting the experience left them feeling anxious.
With the school summer holidays now under way, thousands more Britons are expected to head to Italy in the coming weeks – and many could find themselves caught up in the chaos.
