Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have heard the term ‘overtourism.’ The catchy name for the problem of having too many visitors concentrated in one place to the point local life has been detrimentally impacted. Essentially, overtourism is too many effing people in a destination, and it’s messing up the locals’ lives and/or ruining the experience.

In retaliation, the Spanish have been spraying tourists with water; Dubrovnik and Santorini have put a limit on visitor numbers; the famous Maya Bay (the beach from ‘The Beach’ movie) has been closed because of damage; and Barcelona has proposed banning short-term rentals for tourists from 2029. Here in Venice, meanwhile, we’ve finally begun to tackle the problem with the introduction of the access fee.

So, how can little old you contribute to sustainable, responsible tourism? For starters, try to avoid contributing to the problem in the first instance by traveling to quieter destinations that aren’t affected by overtourism. Easier said than done, though, when the places affected by overtourism are some of the bucket list destinations of dreams. There are ways to help minimize your impact and contribute towards a positive experience of tourism for the locals. For Venice, this means doing the following:

For the love of god DO NOT sit on the bridges

This one is probably the number one complaint of my fellow Venetians. Imagine your nearest motorway/highway was just one lane wide, now imagine someone sitting in the middle of that lane. Imagine how damn f*cking inconvenient that would be! That is what is essentially happening every time someone sits on the steps of the bridges. It’s literally blocking traffic flow. No one would think to do this in a car, so why would anyone think it’s ok to do it where the bridges are the literal streets?? Be a good person and avoid sitting on anything other than a chair or a bench while you’re in Venice.

Don’t buy cheap tat made in China

Venice and the outer-lying islands are full of artisans – the lace makers of Burano, the glass blowers of Murano, the mask makers of Venice, and many other craftspersons. The invasion of Chinese shops selling cheap plastic tat is contributing to yet more problems – plastic pollution and the dying out of authentic craftspersons. Do yourself, and the planet, a favor and buy something handmade from one of Venice’s local artisans. Not only will you have something you love that will last a really long time, but you’ll also be helping to support Venetians to stay in the city they love.

Don’t leave rubbish everywhere

The bins may be hard to locate and overflowing when you do find one, but please don’t take that as an excuse to leave your rubbish on the street. It doesn’t always get swept up by the street cleaners; it can end up polluting the lagoon and damaging the fragile ecosystem that exists within. It costs nothing to take a small bag with you that you can use to keep your rubbish in until you can find another bin or you get back to your accommodation. Save Venice’s beaches – yes, we have beaches!

Save a plastic bottle, bring a reusable

Did you know that Venice has a network of public fountains with completely safe drinkable water? I certainly didn’t on my first visit, and I’m embarrassed to think of the number of plastic bottles I went through. For an up-to-date list of open fountains in Venice, go to the site Venice tap water and use the interactive map to find the closest fountain to you. You’ll never be far from an open fountain, especially in the San Marco and Rialto areas.

KEEP RIGHT

Yep, just like with the London Underground, you need to keep right when walking down the streets of Venice and crossing the bridges. To say the streets of Venice are narrow is an understatement. Some streets are so narrow it is difficult for two people to pass side by side. To keep traffic flowing, much like you would on any normal road, please keep to the right.

Spend your money on the ground

By that I mean don’t just give your money to GetYourGuide or Airbnb. Spend your hard-earned money on genuine local handicrafts rather than giant retailers or imported plastic tat. Buy a papier-mâché mask, handmade fans, friulane slippers, Murano glass, hand-carved wooden toys, and books from independent bookshops. Support local artists. Keep the Venetians in business and in the city!

And simpler, eat local. Don’t come to Venice and have a McDonald’s, Starbucks, or a KFC. You can indulge in that to your heart’s content at home! You’re in Italy; eat the wonderful local food we have on offer. Cicchetti are a wonderful option for budget travelers, as are takeaway pastas or tramezzini (sandwiches) from a local bar. There are options for everyone.

Don’t sit around to eat

So, you’ve got your takeaway food, but where to eat it? Either do as was intended and eat while you walk, or take it to one of the public gardens- there are 4 in Castello, 2 in Santa Croce, 1 in Cannaregio and 1 in San Marco. There are also plenty of benches tucked away in some of the quieter Piazzas (small squares) around the city centre – Campo Santo Stefano, Campo dei Gesuiti, Campo Arsenale, Campo san Pietro. One day I’ll get around to publishing a full list.

Dress appropriately

This is more for the churches and the beaches. For the former, please make sure you bring a shawl you can wrap around your shoulders while you’re in the churches if you’re wearing a vest, for example. Whilst you may be allowed in, it’s a mark of respect if you maintain a little more modesty. Lads, keep your shirt on whilst visiting Venice. Shorts, etc., are fine, but girlies, avoid the cheek peek if you want to get into the churches.

Similarly, once you’ve left the beach, if you can’t get changed, please make sure you’re wearing something that covers your tushy. Last year, the city cracked down on this, and bus drivers refused to transport people who wore beachwear on their way home. It’s 11 km between the beaches of Alberoni and the water bus station of Santa Maria Formosa, and you’d likely not be allowed on the vaporetti either, so unless you fancy a long and dangerous swim or an expensive private taxi… keep it covered.

Backpacks off on the vaporetti

One of the most frustrating things you can do as a tourist in Venice is to keep your backpack on while on the water buses. You won’t be aware of hitting anyone in the face, but please keep in mind that the poor person behind you is likely getting a faceful. The vaporetti get crazy busy, especially in summer, and when everyone wants to head home, every bit of space is valuable. Take your backpack off and hold it, or do as the locals do and keep it between your feet. You may even get a smile from a Venetian if you do.

Thank you for reading. Grazie mille.

Follow these tips and you’ll be appreciated by the locals for being a responsible tourist and contributing to keeping Venice the city we know and love, and not an amusement park. We have a campaign here ‘Venezia non è Disneyland‘- Venice isn’t Disneyland. As you’re enjoying your time here, please remember this is still home to 50,000 people. Those pretty doors are someone’s front door. Those stone steps may well be the entrance to a dentist’s or doctor’s surgery. That beautiful palazzo could possibly be a school. But you can make tourism in Venice a pleasant experience for yourself and locals alike by following simple tips to avoid making a nuisance of yourself. We appreciate when you do.