How many visitors can Cadaqués accommodate without becoming a theme park?

GironaCadaqués, with its idyllic village charm of whitewashed houses at the foot of Cap de Creus and the birthplace of Salvador Dalí, is one of the most attractive and popular spots for sun and beach tourism on the Costa Brava. In winter, the town is home to around 2,800 people, but in summer, the population increases exponentially to nearly 30,000, multiplying its usual population by ten. During the tourist season, long lines form on the only winding road leading to the town from Roses, and parking is almost impossible to find.

The massive arrival of tourists collapses services, strains the housing market, creates problems for long-standing residents, and distorts the essence of this town of artists and fishermen, turning it into an increasingly impersonal "theme park." That's why the City Council, aware of the need to curb mass tourism, has decided to commission a study to determine the maximum number of visitors the municipality can handle without compromising its sustainability.

"Currently, the situation in Cadaqués, as in many coastal towns, is chaotic at certain times of the year, especially in summer or during long weekends, especially in terms of mobility. We must bear in mind that 75% of the municipality is a natural park, and last year, for example, 1,800 came," argues Núria Duran, the City Council's Tourism Councilor. And he adds: "The purpose of the study is to find the balance between heritage conservation and sustainable tourism. Overcrowding creates problems, and achieving this balance is essential to ensure the quality of life for residents and a more satisfying tourist experience for visitors."

The council's objective is not at all to make the town grow or to widen the road to accommodate more visitors—in fact, the topography and the protected land would not allow this either—but to control the influx of tourists, without prohibiting anyone from entering, but doing so in an orderly manner, so as not to lose the nation.

The results will arrive in 2026 and, in the meantime, containment measures will be implemented.

The "load study" - this is the official terminology of the council - is funded with a grant of 2.6 million euros. Next Generation, The ultimate goal is to develop a strategic tourism plan. "We know that tourism is the main economic driver, but it also has negative consequences if not properly regulated. We don't want Cadaqués to become a theme park that depersonalizes its essence," the councilor insists. "The visitor experience is already often disappointing: they can't find parking, they encounter queues, and this study aims to prevent this scenario and commit to a sustainable and respectful tourism model in the long term," she concludes.

Currently, the City Council estimates that the summer population is around 30,000 visitors, but the study will help determine if this figure is accurate and if the acceptable volume is below or above this limit. The results will be available in 2026, and from then on, the municipal government will be able to take specific measures regarding the operation of services such as garbage collection, parking, and mobility. Until they arrive, the council isn't sitting idly by and, since last year, has already taken action with some control measures: as in the last summer, the thousand cruise ships from Roses, which drop off hundreds of tourists in the town, will be reduced by half, but this year not only during the month of August, but from Sant Joan until September. And, for the first time this season, information screens are being installed at the entrance to the Roses road, indicating the occupancy status of the town and parking, to discourage vehicles.