Tourist tax in Barcelona: Among the top 5 most expensive taxes in Europe

The Barcelona tourist tax is a levy that tourists must pay for each night of their stay in the city . This tax applies to all overnight stays in tourist establishments , including hotels, tourist apartments, campsites, and other similar accommodations.
As of October 2024, the Barcelona City Council was applying a surcharge of €4 per night for stays in the city.

Starting in July 2025, Barcelona City Council has approved a phased increase: the municipal surcharge will rise by one euro each year, from the current €4 to €8. This means that, combined with the regional tax, the total tourist tax could reach between €10 and €15 for stays in hotels and premium accommodations, solidifying Barcelona's position as the city with the highest tourist tax in Europe. Furthermore, the regulations allow for the possibility of adjusting the surcharges according to city zones and establishment category.

Automatic tourist tax calculation

Automate the collection of tourist taxes during online check-in and make guest registration easy and fast.

The Catalan Parliament intends to increase Barcelona's tourist tax

After several months of dialogue, the spokesperson for the Comuns party in the Catalan Parliament announced an agreement with the Catalan Government to double the current tourist tax from €4 to €8, with the intention that tourists will pay between €10 and €15 by 2029. If this surcharge is ultimately implemented, Barcelona would become the city with the most expensive tourist tax in Europe.
This city council surcharge must be added to the general rate (common rate in Catalonia) for each type of establishment to determine the total tourist tax.
Currently, Barcelona's tourist tax is among the top five most expensive tourist taxes in Europe .
These rates and surcharges help finance the maintenance of tourist infrastructure and the promotion of the city as a tourist destination.

Rates and surcharges currently in force in Barcelona

What is the purpose of the tourist tax in Barcelona?

Barcelona's tourist tax serves several purposes, all focused on improving and maintaining the city's tourism-related infrastructure and services. Some of the main uses of this tax include:

• Maintenance of tourist infrastructure : Funds for the maintenance and improvement of infrastructure used by tourists, such as monuments, museums, and public areas.
• Tourism promotion : Investments in marketing and promotion campaigns to attract more visitors to the city.
• Public services : Improvement of public services such as security, cleaning and transport, which are used by both residents and tourists.
• Sustainable development : Initiatives to promote sustainable and responsible tourism, minimizing the environmental and cultural impact of mass tourism.
• Support for local culture : Funding of cultural events and activities that preserve and promote local culture and traditions.
• Tourism diversification : Investments to develop new tourist attractions and experiences, diversifying the offer and reducing pressure on the most crowded areas.

With this phased increase, five-star hotels and large accommodations could charge up to €15 per person per night by 2029, while tourist apartments and other categories will see proportional increases. The tax ordinance approved in 2025 sets these maximums and anticipates that annual revenue from the tourist tax will exceed €200 million, primarily earmarked for funding projects related to sustainability, safety, public services, and initiatives to reduce the impact of tourism in the busiest neighborhoods.

These funds ensure that Barcelona can remain an attractive and well-maintained destination for tourists, while also improving the quality of life for its residents.

Since 2025, the City Council has announced the creation of a Tourism Recovery Fund, intended to reverse the negative impact of tourism and improve the daily lives of residents in the most affected neighborhoods. Institutional campaigns also aim to raise awareness among visitors about local culture, language, and the importance of respecting local traditions.

Barcelona tourist tax at a maximum of €7.50

Barcelona city council surcharge from €3.25 to €4.

The Barcelona City Council increased the surcharge from the current €3.25 to €4 per night. This measure came into effect in October 2024. To implement this proposal, both the Catalan Government and the Parliament of Catalonia amended Law 5/2020 on fiscal and financial measures so that the surcharge could exceed the previous amount of €3.25.

How much will Barcelona City Council earn from this new surcharge?

According to Jordi Valls , councilor and deputy mayor for Economy, Finance, Economic Promotion and Tourism of the Barcelona City Council, the city of Barcelona would go from collecting 95 million (75 million from the surcharge and 20 million from the Tax on stays in tourist establishments - IEETS) to 115 million euros .

Who pays the tourist tax in Barcelona?

The tourist tax is a tax levied by the Government of Catalonia and administered by the Catalan tax agency. This tax is directly charged to tourist accommodations, which in turn apply this surcharge to the price of the overnight stay . Therefore, the tourist tax is included in the final price paid by the guest.

When is the tourist tax due?

As previously mentioned, each tourist accommodation must pay this tax to the Catalan Tax Agency .
This procedure must be carried out electronically every six months . In each payment period, the tourist accommodation will have 20 days to complete the process .

The settlement and payment of the tourist tax continues to be carried out electronically every six months, with the 20-business-day deadline remaining in place. It is important that establishments monitor changes in rates and surcharges, as municipal regulations allow for adjustments to amounts and conditions according to the budgetary needs of the City Council and the Generalitat (Catalan Government)