Barcelona doubles tourist tax

The Catalan authorities have approved an increase in the tourist tax to one of the highest levels in Europe. The new measure, which comes into force in April 2026, is aimed at reducing the flow of tourists and raising funds to combat the housing crisis, which has made renting housing in the city unaffordable for local residents.

According to the new rules, the tax for short-term rental guests (apartments and apartments) will more than double from the previous 6.25 euros to 12.50 euros per night. This puts Barcelona on a par with the most expensive European destinations, although Amsterdam remains the leader of the rating with a daily fee of 18.45 euros.

For hotel guests, the tax will be slightly higher than for tenants of private housing. Depending on the hotel category, the overnight fee will increase from 5 7.5 euros to 10 15 euros.

A quarter of the funds raised will be used to solve the housing problems of the city, which is suffering from a sharp rise in real estate prices. Locals have been protesting against the dominance of tourists for years, accusing landlords of preferring to rent to visitors rather than locals.

Hoteliers have already expressed concern that a sharp rise in prices will scare away some of the guests. However, the regional government expects that the new fees will help balance the tourist load and make the city more comfortable for Catalans.

Source: Travel Tomorrow