Holiday warning for Aussies as major rule change hits Europe hotspot

One of the most popular sites in Europe is making a huge change due to concerns of excessive tourism.

Australians headed to bask in the Greek sunshine could see their holiday plans abruptly changed as new rule is set to come into play within days.

Visitors to the Acropolis in Athens will see new restrictions on the number of people permitted to see the historical ruins beginning on September 4, The Sun reports.

Beginning in two weeks, the famous attraction will cap visitors at a maximum of 20,000 people per day, according to the Greek government.

Tourists rushed to social media to warn future visitors of the rule change – with many urging people to stay away or plan well in advance to get a spot.

The number of visitors to the Acropolis in Athens will be capped in September. Picture: Getty Images

Up to 23,000 have been crowding the hilltop attraction, which has raised safety concerns for both the monument and the crowds hoping to get a glimpse of it.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said: “That’s a huge number.

“Obviously tourism is desirable for the country, for all of us. But we must work out how excessive tourism won’t harm the monument.”

Entry for visitors will be staggered throughout the day to ensure overcrowding isn’t an issue.

Different numbers of visitors will be allowed in hourly during the site’s 8am to 8pm opening hours.

3000 people will be granted access from 8am to 9am, 2000 during the following hour, with the numbers varying during the rest of the day.

There are no plans to limit the length of the visits to the Acropolis but Ms Mendoni said on average, organised tours to the location last around 45 minutes.

The new rule will be enacted on a trial basis on September 4, and is set to become permanent beginning on April 1, 2024.

An extreme heatwave didn’t put tourists off visiting the Acropolis this year. Picture: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

Mendoni stressed: “The measure will address the need to protect the monument, which is the main thing for us, as well as improving visitors’ experience of the site.”

Similar restrictions will also be put in place for other popular archaeological sites across the country after more than three million tourists were recorded to have visited the Acropolis last year.

The restrictions come as holiday-makers heading to Koufonisia, Greece, have been issued a warning over popular beach activities.

Officials have introduced a ban on nearly all recreational water activities on the idyllic island.

This includes popular water sports such as water skiing, kite surfing, parasailing and using water bikes or jet skis.

Only swimming will be allowed in the clear blue waters of the two islets, located in eastern Cyclades in the interest of public safety and preservation, the newspaper Kathimerini reports.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission