Barcelona Increases Tourist and City Taxes

Barcelona is implementing some of the highest tourist taxes in Europe. Since 2012, an additional city tax has been added to the general regional tourist tax. In 2022, Barcelona authorities announced a gradual increase in the city tax over the next two years. In April this year, the surcharge rose from €2.75 to €3.25 per night. From October 2024, the city council approved a further increase to €4 per person.

Starting in October 2024, visitors will pay €4 per night in addition to the regional tax. For example, guests in five-star hotels will pay €7.50 per night, amounting to €52.50 for a week's stay.

Visitors to Barcelona must pay both the regional tourist tax and the city tax. The regional tax varies depending on the type of accommodation: four-star hotels charge €1.70, Airbnb rentals €2.25, and five-star luxury hotels €3.50. Cruise passengers also contribute: €3 for stays of less than 12 hours, and €2 for longer stays. The city tax, which is charged for a maximum of seven nights, currently stands at €3.25 per night for most tourists and €4 for those staying in tourist apartments or on cruises for less than 12 hours.

Barcelona en Comú, one of the parties supporting the tax increase, emphasized the burden tourism places on the city. The additional revenue, expected to increase the city's budget from €95 million to €115 million in 2024, will be used to improve infrastructure such as roads, bus services, and escalators.

Other regions in Spain also levy tourist taxes. The Balearic Islands charge a nightly fee ranging from €1 to €4 for visitors aged 16 and above. Valencia considered a similar measure but postponed it after the 2023 elections. Barcelona aims to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the need to maintain the city's infrastructure and quality of life for residents.