Santiago de Compostela Faces Overtourism Pressures

The historic pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, is increasingly strained by overtourism. 

Some challenges in the city include noise, traffic congestion, street wear, and erosion of the local spiritual atmosphere because of very high numbers of visitors. 

Residents are also facing rising housing costs, with rents up 44% between 2018 and 2023, and many long-time locals are being displaced. 

A neighborhood group in the historic centre has introduced visitor etiquette guides to remind tourists to behave respectfully: keeping noise down, using hiking-pole protectors, obeying traffic rules, etc. 

Regulatory steps are also being discussed, including tighter controls on short-term rentals and illegal accommodations. 

Santiago’s situation highlights the tension between preserving cultural heritage and accommodating growing pilgrimage and tourism flows, pushing for sustainable visitor management.