What was meant to be a relaxing long weekend by the lake turned into a crowd-control nightmare in one of Italy’s most charming spots.
Over the May Day holiday, Sirmione—a peaceful town perched on the edge of Lake Garda—saw an explosion of visitors that locals say pushed the place to its limit.
Tourists Flood the Village for a Glimpse of a Fairytale Castle
Imagine this: a village of just over 8,000 people suddenly hosting a whopping 75,000 tourists in a single weekend.
That’s exactly what happened in Sirmione, as holidaymakers rushed to admire the Castello Scaligero di Sirmione, a stunning 13th-century castle with postcard-perfect views.
But instead of a leisurely stroll through cobbled streets, what unfolded was a sweaty, shoving scramble.
Streets Turn Into a Human Traffic Jam
Clips that made their way to TikTok showed just how packed things got.
Tourists were shoulder-to-shoulder, barely able to move.
The town’s narrow streets became clogged with people trying to get closer to the castle.
Even cars and electric buses found themselves stuck, unable to inch forward as human traffic took over the roads.
“We’ve Never Seen Anything Like This”
Local officials were stunned. Transport councillor Roberto Salaorni admitted they weren’t prepared for such a surge.
He explained that while they’re not trying to block people from visiting, something has to change.
One suggestion?
Installing a barrier at the castle entrance to better manage the flow of visitors during peak times.
“This is the first time we’ve ever seen crowds this big,” Salaorni said, “not just in Sirmione, but all across the lake towns.”
Locals Feel Squeezed Out of Their Own Town
For the people living in Sirmione, the experience was more than just inconvenient—it was overwhelming.
Daily life came to a grinding halt, and the quaint town suddenly felt more like the chaos of Rome or Venice during high season.
Marco Merlo, who heads a group representing hotels and restaurants, voiced his concern about the safety and comfort of not just locals, but tourists and workers too.
He’s calling for the council to bring more voices into the conversation so they can come up with smart, realistic solutions.
“This Can’t Be the Future of Sirmione”
A local civic group named Siamo Sirmione (which means “We Are Sirmione”) didn’t hold back in their criticism.
In a statement, they said the situation over the weekend was the worst they had ever seen and warned that it could damage the town’s reputation in the long run.
“If this is how the town is being managed,” they said, “we’re not just talking about discomfort for locals—it could seriously harm tourism and Sirmione’s image.”
Not the First Time Tourists Stirred Controversy in Italy
This tourism chaos comes hot on the heels of another viral moment—this time in Positano, a town on the Amalfi Coast.
A U.S. content creator named Keri posted a critical review after visiting, saying the place was too crowded, the food was mostly overpriced, and authentic spots were hard to find.
She pointed out that getting around Positano was difficult without hiking up and down hills, and while she admitted it sounded hypocritical, she couldn’t ignore the sheer number of “loud American tourists” yelling through the streets.
Can Italy Keep Its Cool Amid Tourist Chaos?
Between the overcrowded charm of Lake Garda and complaints from influencers about the Amalfi Coast, Italy’s most beloved towns are feeling the pressure of being too popular.
With summer around the corner, the big question is: how can these iconic destinations protect their culture and calm without turning tourists away?
