Your holiday stay in Barcelona may cost you quite a bit more from now on. Visitors to Catalonia, which includes Barcelona, will soon face a tourist tax of up to £12 per night in a move to tackle overtourism. By the end of 2025, the region plans to double its tourist tax rates, with at least 25% of the revenue being allocated to housing initiatives.
This comes following a series of protests in Barcelona, including one in July 2024 against mass tourism and another in November demanding lower housing rents amid concerns over short-term rentals and gentrification.
At present, Barcelona charges about £4.70 per night for guests in four-star hotels, while those in five-star hotels are charged £6.10 per night.
Barcelona's tourist tax was increased from £2.68 to £3.30 per night in 2024, and the cap was later raised to £6.60.
Other areas in Catalonia can also raise the tax by introducing a surcharge similar to Barcelona’s.
The move has faced strong opposition from the hotel sector, particularly in Barcelona, where the tax is already among the highest in Europe.
The Barcelona Hotel Association warned that the increase could hurt the city's competitiveness, especially for business tourism.
The Comuns spokesperson emphasised that similar measures are being introduced across Europe.
Mayor Jaume Collboni confirmed a thoughtful tax increase would occur, though no timeline has been given yet.
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