Shoulder-to-shoulder crowds choke narrow walkways along Italy’s Amalfi Coast
Viral video from Positano shows tourists packed onto a tight cliffside path with little room to move, drawing backlash online as experts say tour groups, day-trippers and social media are fueling overwhelming crowds.
Italy's most famous beaches are becoming reservation-only destinations, leaving travelers to debate whether a day at the beach should require weeks of planning.
Several of the country's most popular beaches now require visitors to reserve entry before arriving, with QR codes, daily visitor caps and admission fees replacing the traditional first-come, first-served approach, according to Fodor's Travel Guide.
The changes are noticeable particularly on the island of Sardinia, where officials have introduced reservation systems to manage growing crowds and help protect some of Italy's most environmentally sensitive coastlines, Forbes reported.
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One of the best-known examples is La Pelosa Beach, where reservations are mandatory May 15 through Oct. 15, the beach's official reservation website says.
Access is limited to 1,500 visitors per day. Five hundred spots can be booked at any time during the season, while the remaining 1,000 are released two days before the selected visit date, according to the website.
Italy's most famous beaches are requiring reservations. Some travelers are now debating whether the extra planning required is worth it. (iStock)
Visitors ages 12 and older must reserve online, pay a €3.50 (about $4) daily fee and present a QR code for entry between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The reservation system has become so popular that advance booking availability is reportedly sold out through Sept. 15.
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Another popular destination, Cala Goloritzé, also requires advance reservations from April through October.
Access is limited to 250 visitors at a time, with reservations opening 72 hours before the selected visit date.
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Visitors pay a €7 (about $8) admission fee, while children under age 6 are admitted for free.
The official reservation website recommends booking as soon as spots become available, noting that reservations often fill quickly.
Sardinia has become one of the clearest examples of officials implementing reservation systems to control visitor numbers. (iStock)
The restrictions come as tourism continues to grow across Italy.
Italy recorded a 4.2% increase in tourist arrivals and a 7.5% increase in overnight stays during the first quarter of 2026, according to data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT).
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Sebastiano Venneri, a tourism official with Italy’s Legambiente environmental group, told The Times in the U.K., "Something has to be done since the number of tourists globally is jumping from one billion in 2000 to an expected two billion in 2030."
The growing use of reservations has also sparked debate over whether some of Europe's most famous public beaches should require advance planning, visitor caps and entrance fees or remain freely accessible to anyone who wants to spend a day by the sea.
Online, some travelers said the restrictions are simply becoming another part of planning a vacation, while others questioned whether access to public beaches is becoming increasingly limited.
As reservation systems spread, travelers are debating whether Europe's most iconic public beaches should prioritize preservation through visitor caps and fees or remain freely accessible. (Ivan Romano/Getty Images)
"Then you go to book, and it's all booked up," one Reddit user wrote.
Another commenter questioned the growing restrictions.
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"Who benefits from this? Certainly not the customers," the person wrote.
"More free beaches!" another user added.
