Observing that metropolitan tourism takes place mostly in public spaces, the present article aims to shed light on the complex and dynamic relationship between tourism and public space policies. It analyzes how urban governments reconcile the diversity of issues and usages characterizing public spaces in city centres with the economic need of tourism development. Confronting Paris and Berlin it shows how cities have given priority to prestige developments and great events in the context of urban marketing policies. However it argues that public space policies are currently renewed so as to make them more welcoming for tourists and to overcome the numerous conflicts of use due to the high level of tourism pressure on many neighbourhoods.Part...