Montmartre, an old neighborhood in Paris, is facing problems because of too many tourists. In the past, it was a quiet place with local shops for residents. Today, many bakeries and butchers are gone, replaced by cafés, souvenir stores, and tuk-tuks. The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur (pronounced SAH-kray KUR) received about 11 million visitors in 2024, more than the Eiffel Tower. In the same year, Paris welcomed 48.7 million tourists, an increase of 2 percent from 2023. Some residents have put banners on buildings to protest the changes. The city has tried to control short-term rentals, but the number of tourists keeps growing.

Experts say that too many visitors can damage old neighborhoods. City planners warn that popular areas could become “zombie cities,” beautiful to see but without local life. Some residents have trouble because streets are now only for walking, making daily travel harder. A local group, Vivre à Montmartre, says important services are disappearing, and people must rely on deliveries. Other cities in Europe are also struggling. Venice now charges a fee for visitors, Athens limits entry to the Acropolis, and Barcelona has protests against cruise ships. The United Nations predicts almost 10 billion people worldwide by 2050, which may increase the pressure on famous cities.