In the heart of ancient Athens, tourist groups are everywhere, winding through narrow streets and past archaeological sites behind their guides. In the past, officials would have welcomed this. But Haris Doukas, the socialist mayor determined to reclaim the city’s crowded center for its residents, says the start of tourist season puts much of the historic core at risk of “over-saturation.” He believes entire neighborhoods are losing their authenticity due to uncontrolled tourism development.
“Athens can’t operate like a giant hotel,” he said in an interview. “We need restrictions and rules. Cities should have a say in how they develop.”
Last year, over 8 million people visited Athens—a record for a city that not long ago was seen as just a stopover on the way to the Greek islands. A recent study commissioned by the city found that overnight stays in short-term rentals in the popular Plaka district, below the Acropolis, have more than doubled since 2018.
At the city’s neoclassical town hall, officials say time is running out if Athens is to avoid being overwhelmed by its own success. Warning signs are everywhere: soaring rents that have pushed out locals, and infrastructure stretched to its limits.
“All of Athens is being dug up just to keep up,” said Doukas, a former climate energy professor before entering local government. “We’re building electricity systems, water systems, new drainage, 5G networks. With about 700,000 residents and 8 million visitors, the pressure is enormous.” Every month, he added, “more staff, more equipment, more machines” are needed to meet the challenges.
Doukas took office in 2024 after a surprise victory backed by the main opposition Pasok party, on a promise to “green” what is widely seen as Europe’s hottest capital. Under his leadership, about 3,855 trees have been planted across the 15-square-mile (39 sq km) municipality.
But as Athens’ popularity has grown, the mayor has clashed with those he blames for “runaway development” in prime tourist spots. He’s targeting construction companies building multi-story buildings at the foot of the 5th-century BC Acropolis, as well as property investors and entrepreneurs. He’s also going after the spread of often unlicensed rooftop bars and restaurants.
The battle escalated this week when Doukas told the Guardian he would use a tourism land-use bill currently under debate to call for a complete ban on new business activity in the city’s historic center.
“We’ll stop all tourist investment in Plaka, which I’m determined to save. There’s no more room. Not for short-term rentals, not for serviced apartments, not for hotels, or any other tourism use. The area is over-saturated,” he said. “We want to say ‘enough is enough’ in a law that’s written into the books.” Investors, he added, should look at other “less crowded” parts of the capital.
The mayor has also suggested freezing construction permits for new hotels. This would follow a similar ban by the center-right government that limits short-term rentals in neighborhoods with views of the Acropolis.
To his surprise, he gained support this week from an unexpected source. At an event promoting the capital on Tuesday, Evgenios Vassilikos, head of the powerful hoteliers’ association, also raised the idea of capping hotel construction, citing Barcelona as an example, which has not issued new hotel permits.Since 2017, no new hotel licenses have been issued. “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” the hotelier said, adding that it’s time for the capital’s tourism sector to seriously think about where it wants to be in 10 or 15 years.
The mayor said: “When the whole center of Athens is turning into a hotel zone, I can’t be the only one saying something. Now that the head of the hoteliers’ association has spoken up, the discussion has officially started. Athens cannot become another Barcelona.”
Doukas has clearly been encouraged by Jaume Collboni, his left-wing counterpart in Barcelona, who recently announced a complete ban on short-term rentals starting in November 2028. At that point, permits for more than 10,000 apartments will be canceled in an effort to make the city more livable for residents. Both Athens and Barcelona are among 15 cities whose mayors have joined a European housing action plan, urging the EU to take bold steps to address the crisis.
Like Collboni, Doukas has described access to affordable housing—impossible for many due to pressure from short-term rentals—as the municipality’s biggest challenge.
“We’ve set up a social housing office to find buildings and apartments we can renovate with EU funds,” he said. “We want to encourage young couples to stay in the center. While other cities are moving toward concrete and skyscrapers, we’re heading in a completely different direction—including tearing down buildings to create public spaces like parks and playgrounds. Athens is for its people. It’s not just for those who want to exploit it.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the statement Athens cant just be a giant hotel the mayor says vowing to save the city from overtourism
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q What does the mayor mean when he says Athens cant be a giant hotel
A He means the city shouldnt only exist to serve tourists It needs to remain a livable place for real peoplewith homes schools and local businessesrather than just a place for visitors to sleep and spend money
Q What is overtourism
A Overtourism is when too many visitors go to a place at once causing problems for locals This can mean crowded streets long lines higher rents and damage to the citys character
Q Why is the mayor worried about overtourism in Athens
A Hes worried that shortterm rentals are pushing locals out of neighborhoods making housing too expensive and turning historic areas into empty zones that only serve tourists
Q What is the mayor actually planning to do
A He plans to introduce stricter rules for shortterm rentals limit new hotel licenses in busy areas and invest in infrastructure that benefits residents first
IntermediateLevel Questions
Q How does overtourism affect everyday people in Athens
A It drives up rent prices because landlords prefer to rent to tourists for more money It also makes basic shopping harder as local bakeries and grocers are replaced by souvenir shops and fastfood chains
Q Is the mayor trying to stop all tourism
A No He wants to manage it not stop it The goal is to balance the needs of visitors with the needs of the people who actually live in Athens yearround
Q What specific steps has the mayor suggested to control shortterm rentals
A He has proposed a ban on new shortterm rental licenses in central neighborhoods a cap on the number of days a property can be rented out per year and stricter fines for illegal rentals
Q Are other European cities doing the same thing
A Yes Cities like Barcelona Venice and Amsterdam have already introduced similar measureslike limiting cruise ships banning new hotels in the city center or heavily regulating Airbnb
Advanced ExpertLevel Questions
