From Amsterdam to Venice, local authorities are quietly raising tourist taxes to manage overcrowding and fill budget gaps. For British holidaymakers planning a 2026 trip, the extra costs could add £20–£50 per stay — and the rules are changing fast.
Why tourist taxes are climbing across Europe
Tourist taxes are not new, but the scale and speed of recent increases are striking. At least a dozen major European destinations have announced or implemented higher charges for 2025 and 2026, according to data from the European Tourism Association (ETOA) and national tourism boards. The rationale is twofold: to curb overtourism and to raise revenue for local infrastructure strained by record visitor numbers.
In 2024, international tourist arrivals in Europe reached 94% of pre-pandemic levels, according to the UN World Tourism Organization. Cities such as Barcelona, Amsterdam and Lisbon have seen occupancy rates above 80% in peak months, pushing local governments to act. The taxes are typically collected by hotels, short-term rental platforms or at the point of entry, and are passed directly to the traveller.
For UK travellers, the cumulative effect is significant. A family of four spending a week in Amsterdam could pay over £50 in tourist taxes alone by 2026, based on current proposals. The charges vary widely by city, season and accommodation type, making it essential to check before booking.
Amsterdam: the highest city tax in Europe
Amsterdam already levies one of the highest tourist taxes in Europe: 12.5% of the room rate for hotels, plus a €3 per person per night surcharge for cruise passengers. In 2025, the city council voted to increase the hotel rate to 13.5% from 2026, according to the City of Amsterdam official website. For a standard double room costing €200 per night, that adds €27 — roughly £23 at current exchange rates.
The tax applies to all accommodation, including Airbnb and other short-term lets, which are charged at 10% of the rental price. Amsterdam’s deputy mayor for finance stated the revenue is earmarked for “maintaining public spaces, waste management and tourism management.” The city also introduced a ban on new hotel developments in 2024, aiming to cap annual overnight stays at 20 million.
For UK travellers, the practical impact is clear: a week-long stay in a mid-range Amsterdam hotel could cost an extra £160 in tax alone. The city’s tourism board advises visitors to factor this into their budget, though no official calculator exists.
Venice and Barcelona: day-trippers face new charges
Venice made headlines in 2024 when it became the first city to charge day-trippers an entry fee. The pilot scheme, which ran on 29 peak days, cost €5 per person. In 2025, the fee was extended to 54 days, and from 2026 it will apply to all days between April and July, according to the City of Venice official portal. Overnight guests already pay a tourist tax of €1–€5 per person per night, depending on the season and accommodation type.
Barcelona has gone further. In 2024, the city raised its regional tourist tax to €4 per person per night for all accommodation, on top of the existing city tax of €1.75. From 2026, the regional surcharge will increase to €5, meaning a total of €6.75 per person per night, as confirmed by the Barcelona City Council tourism page. For a family of four staying five nights, that is €135 — roughly £115.
Both cities argue the revenue funds public services and anti-overcrowding measures. Barcelona’s mayor said the tax is “a tool to guarantee that tourism contributes fairly to the city’s maintenance.” UK travellers should note that the charges apply per person, per night, and are rarely included in advertised room rates.
Portugal and Greece: regional variations and seasonal surcharges
Portugal’s tourist tax is set at the municipal level, creating a patchwork of charges. Lisbon charges €2 per person per night for the first seven nights, while Porto charges €2.50. The Algarve region, including Faro and Albufeira, introduced a €2 per night tax in 2024, with plans to raise it to €3 in 2026, according to the Visit Portugal official tourism site. The tax is capped at seven nights per stay.
Greece applies a “climate resilience fee” that varies by season and accommodation category. From March to October 2025, the fee ranges from €1.50 per night for a one-star hotel to €10 per night for a five-star property, according to the Greek National Tourism Organisation. In 2026, the government has proposed increasing the top rate to €12 per night for five-star hotels during peak season. For a couple staying a week in a five-star Santorini resort, that adds €168 — roughly £143. More detail on the spread and rise of per-night accommodation taxes across European destinations is set out in the Greek tourist-tax breakdown, compiled by hotel-reference site HotelsPedia.
Both countries also apply a separate VAT on accommodation, typically 13% in Portugal and 13% in Greece, which is included in the advertised price. The tourist tax is additional and must be paid at check-in or checkout.
How UK travellers can prepare and check the rules
The key takeaway for British holidaymakers is that tourist taxes are becoming a standard part of the travel cost, not an optional extra. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice pages now include links to local tax information for many destinations, though not all. The ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) website provides a regularly updated guide to tourist taxes across Europe, including specific rates and exemptions.
Consumers should also check the terms and conditions of their booking carefully. Some online travel agencies include the tax in the total price, while others add it at the property. The Which? consumer advice pages recommend contacting the hotel directly to confirm the total payable amount, especially for longer stays or group bookings.
It is also worth noting that some cities offer exemptions for children, disabled travellers or those visiting for medical reasons. For example, Amsterdam waives the tax for children under 18, while Venice exempts residents of the Veneto region. Always check the official city or regional tourism website for the most current rules.
Sources
- City of Amsterdam – Tourist Tax Information
- City of Venice – Access Contribution Portal
- Barcelona City Council – Tourism and Tax
- Visit Portugal – Tourist Tax Guide
- Greek National Tourism Organisation – Climate Resilience Fee
- GOV.UK – Foreign Travel Advice
- ABTA – Tourist Taxes Guide
- Which? – Tourist Taxes Advice
Sources checked 2026-06-29.
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Catherine Lowe is Managing Editor at MorningTimes.uk, running the daily news list and the publishing schedule.