Why you now need to budget for tourist taxes

You’ve spent a week in Amsterdam at a hotel costing £200 a night, yet at checkout you’re hit with an extra £145 on your bill. 

You’d be forgiven for assuming it’s a mistake. In fact, this mandatory fee charged by the government is calculated at 12.5% of the cost of your accommodation per night (before VAT). And it’s the most expensive tourist tax in Europe. 

No longer just pocket change, tourist taxes are becoming more common, more expensive and even more complex to calculate. Read on to understand how tourist taxes work, where the funds go, and when you can get a discount. 

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How do tourist taxes work?

Some countries, cities and regions charge taxes to tourists. You’re likely most used to paying flat-rate tourist taxes, with a nightly fee per person. For example, Lisbon charges a tourist tax of €4 per person per night, capped at seven nights (around £24 per person for a week or longer). At the top end of the scale, Bhutan now charges all UK visitors a staggering 100 USD (£78) per night. 

Rates can also vary by the type and tier of accommodation. In a five-star Barcelona hotel, you pay around €12 per person per night (around £73 for a week). Drop down to a four-star hotel and it’s €8.40, while short-term rentals are €9.50, and hostels are €7. Meanwhile, in a bid to combat overtourism, Kyoto has introduced a fee ranging from 94p to £52 per person per night, depending on accommodation type.

Although you pay the fee at the hotel, holiday companies are now meant to list the tax in the initial price of your trip. But not all companies are consistent, so do check before you book to avoid any expensive surprises. When booking a homestay, the tax will likely be part of your initial payment. Amsterdam is one of many destinations where the tourist tax is calculated as a percentage of your accommodation cost, and it can quickly add up. Chicago’s charge can reach an eye-watering 19% of your nightly stay. For a £200-a-night room, this is £266 extra a week you’ll need to budget for. 

Tourist taxes are usually reserved for overnight visitors, but some countries, regions and cities now charge an entry fee for day trippers. If you take a day trip to Venice between April and July on peak days, it costs €5 to €10 to enter. Officials do spot checks, and if you’re caught without the pass, you can be fined between €25 and €150. Between June and September, just stepping off a cruise ship in Santorini and Mykonos will cost you €20 per person. But you don’t pay the fee if you’re island hopping by ferry.

2026 tourist taxes in popular destinations

Prices are per adult, per night in GBP for UK citizens unless otherwise specified. Prices are approximate and converted to GBP from the local currency. Correct as of April 2026.

Where is your money going?

Thanks to millions of visitors, various tourist destinations are cashing in. Some use the money to manage crowds. Amsterdam funds extra policing and cleaning, while Kyoto plans to upgrade transport infrastructure and preserve Unesco sites. Others finance environmental or heritage projects. In the Balearics, for example, this money has helped to restore historic walls, install solar panels and create public parks. A quarter of Barcelona’s revenue from tourist tax is for affordable housing projects in response to the recent protests over short-term rentals.

However, some taxes have brought controversy. An audit of Visit Orlando by the Orange County Comptroller’s Office in 2025-2026 found that it had misclassified more than $11m. The money meant to promote tourism was spent on staff perks like tickets to sporting events, as well as lobbying efforts in Tallahassee. Visit Orlando later reclassified the money. Meanwhile, Hawaii’s eco tax has been criticised for not having a dedicated fund, allowing the government to spend it on more than just environmental projects. And while Venice’s daily tax was designed to curb crowds, after two years, its visitor numbers have stayed flat or even increased.

Staycation fees are imminent in the UK

Edinburgh became the first UK city to launch a tourist tax. The 5% charge per night at your accommodation applies to all guests – UK citizens and international visitors alike – for up to five nights. The plans for the money are ambitious. A significant amount will be spent on funding affordable housing, as well as improving public spaces and helping to keep tourism sustainable. Glasgow is also planning a tax for 2027.

In England, councils can’t currently implement tourist taxes, although some have a workaround. In Manchester and Liverpool, select hotels charge guests a ‘Business Improvement District’ fee of £1-£2 for local tourism projects. However, new legislation means that regional mayors will soon be able to introduce official tourist taxes.

Can you avoid paying tourist taxes?

No, but there are exemptions and ways to get discounts. A number of tourist taxes are charged only at peak times; in Ibiza and Mallorca, it drops by 75% between 1 November and 30 April. Some destinations cap charges or offer discounts on longer stays. In Edinburgh, the tax stops after five nights, while in Ibiza and Mallorca, the rate drops by 50% from the ninth night. But sometimes these apply only if you stay in the same accommodation, and moving elsewhere can restart the clock. 

Exemptions or discounts often apply to children, students and seniors, so do check in advance.

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