Ayia Napa, Cyprus

With a population of just 3,212, the reality of living in this tourist hub is that it caters primarily to the 700,000 visitors who flood the resort annually. The city's ambitions to become "the best and most cosmopolitan tourist resort of the Mediterranean" have led it to prioritize upgrading infrastructure and shutting down problematic establishments, rather than building a thriving local community. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the mayor and city council facing threats and legal actions for their efforts to bring beach management under public control. Ultimately, Ayia Napa is a transient party destination, not a place for those seeking a stable, year-round home.