Barcelona doubling tourist tax from April 2026

The popular Spanish city has made the decision in an effort to curb visitor numbers and make housing more affordable. Tourists in Barcelona could be taxed €12 a night from April under new changes.

Barcelona

Starting next month from April 2026, the city will double its tourism tax and increase its Barcelona surcharge, both of which visitors must pay. Guests at five-star hotels will face the highest tourist tax, paying €7 per person per night, up from €3.50.

With the new €5 surcharge, increased from €4, the total cost will be €12 per night, as per information shared by Barcelona City Council. The council has also decided that the surcharge will increase by €1 annually until 2029, reaching a maximum of €8 per night.

While the surcharge remains constant regardless of accommodation type, the tourist tax varies. Under the new rules, those renting holiday homes will pay €4.50 per night in tourist tax, up from €2.25, plus the surcharge, totaling €9.50. Guests in four-star hotels will pay €3.40 in tourist tax, up from €1.70, plus the surcharge, making the total €8.40 per night per person. Cruise passengers will pay between €6 and €11 in total.

This decision is part of efforts to reduce visitor numbers and make housing more affordable for locals. Residents have claimed that the influx of tourists and an increase in short-term holiday rentals are driving up housing prices.

The law increasing the tourist tax states that a quarter of the revenue will address the city's housing crisis.

Barcelona has also announced plans to prohibit all short-term holiday accommodations by 2028.