Visiting Barcelona Is About to Get More Expensive: Catalonia Doubles Tourist Tax

Catalonia’s regional parliament approved legislation to double the existing tourist levy, a move legislators say will ease strain on the property market as the number of visitors keeps hitting record highs.

The increase will begin in Barcelona this April. In the rest of Catalonia, the rollout will be more gradual. A first hike will take effect later this year, with the full increase in place by April 2027.

What Does It Mean for Tourists?

Luxury hotels in Barcelona will see the biggest jump. The regional base rate for five-star properties will rise from €3.50 per night to €7. When combined with the city’s municipal surcharge of €5 per night, visitors could end up paying €12 per night in tourist tax alone. Barcelona’s city council also retains the authority to push that figure as high as €15 per night if it chooses.

The changes will not only affect high-end hotels. Lower-category hotels, tourist apartments, hostels, campsites, and even cruise passengers will also pay more under the new structure.

One notable shift in the law is that municipalities across Catalonia, not just Barcelona, can now introduce their own local surcharge of up to €4 per night. However, that surcharge cannot exceed the regional base rate. 

The legislation also simplifies how the tax is collected. Instead of two payment periods per year, there will now be a single annual payment window.

Of the total revenue collected by the regional government, 25% will be directed toward housing policies. Supporters argue that tourism drives up rents and limits housing availability, particularly in major cities like Barcelona. The remaining 75% will continue to fund tourism promotion efforts, similar to what Romania had in mind when deciding to boost the Bucharest tourist tax at the start of the year.

Rome, Paris, and Amsterdam have also joined the trend, imposing tourist taxes on visitors. while London is weighing a similar tax on overnight visitors.  At the beginning of the month, 

Starting February 2, Rome announced a new €2 entrance fee to visit the famous Fontana di Trevi.