
Tourist tax 2026: where the fee increased and how much extra you will pay per night
Tourist tax is rising faster than accommodation prices. In Amsterdam, VAT has been added to the city rate, Barcelona raised its city surcharge from €4 to €5, and Venice charges just to enter. For a week-long trip, that adds up to tens of euros on top.
We have put together seven destinations where the tax has gone up or just appeared, and listed the current rates. You will see how much extra you pay per night and who is exempt from the tax.
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What is changing for travelers
💡 In short:
- Amsterdam charges 12.5% of the room price plus 21% VAT (as of 09/2026, city tax rates).
- From April 1, 2026, Barcelona raised its city surcharge from €4 to €5 (as of 09/2026, city tax breakdown).
- Venice charges €5 or €10 per person on selected days (as of 09/2026, entry fee rules).
Netherlands: Amsterdam keeps 12.5%
Amsterdam collects the highest city tax in the country: 12.5% of the room price excluding VAT (as of 09/2026, Amsterdam figures). From January 1, 2026, the VAT rate on accommodation rose from 9% to 21% (as of 09/2026, tax change overview). Together with the city tax, taxes take about 33.5% of the cost, and cruise passengers pay an additional €15 per day in port (as of 09/2026, cruise tax data).
© Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA · CC BYPhoto: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsSpain: Barcelona doubles the tax
From April 1, 2026, the Barcelona tax increased under a new Catalan law (as of 09/2026, increase overview). The regional Catalan rate of €4.50 per night applies until March 31, 2027 (as of 09/2026, Catalan rates overview), and the city surcharge rose from €4 to €5, adding €1 per year up to €8 in 2029 (as of 09/2026, surcharge increase plan).
© Anónime · CC BY-SAPhoto: Anónime, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsEvery guest aged 16 and older must pay, and the tax is charged for no more than seven consecutive nights (as of 09/2026, terms and exceptions).
Iceland: the per-night tax is already in effect
Iceland introduced an overnight tax on January 1, 2024 (as of 09/2026, Iceland Revenue and Customs). Hotels charge about 600 króna per night, campsites about 300, and a cruise ship pays 1,000 króna per docking (as of 09/2026, Icelandic tax overview). This is a vessel tax, not a per-passenger tax. Cruise passengers themselves pay a separate tax of 2,500 króna per day in port (as of 09/2026, tax directory).
Portugal: each municipality sets its own rate
Portugal has no single tax: it is introduced by individual municipalities (as of 09/2026, rate overview by region). Lisbon charges €4 per night, Porto €3, Funchal €2, Cascais €1, and children under 13 are exempt from the fee (as of 09/2026, rules and exemptions). In the Algarve, the tax is in place in only 7 of 16 municipalities, and Olhão charges it seasonally.
Italy: Venice charges an entry fee
Venice collects an entry fee on 60 days, from April 3 to July 26, 2026 (as of 09/2026, dates and rules for 2026). Day-trippers over 14 pay €5 with early booking and €10 right before the trip (as of 09/2026, dates and fines). The QR code is shown at the entrance, and paying outside the portal can result in a fine.
Denmark: passenger tax on flights
Denmark has added a passenger tax to flights: the longer the flight, the higher the rate, and part of the increase comes at the end of the decade. All passengers departing from Danish airports pay it. Before buying, compare flight prices.
Indonesia: Bali charges 150,000 rupiah
Bali has introduced a fee of 150,000 rupiah per person for foreign visitors (as of 09/2026, official Bali portal). You pay once per trip through the Love Bali portal or at an airport counter. The QR code confirmation may be checked at your hotel or on a tour, so save it on your phone.
© Philip Nalangan · CC BYPhoto: Philip Nalangan, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much is the tax in Amsterdam in 2026?
The city rate stays at 12.5% of the room price excluding VAT (as of 09/2026, rates). Starting January 2026, 21% VAT was added, so together the taxes take about 33.5% of the cost. You see the exact amount on your hotel bill.
Do children pay this fee?
It depends on the city. In Barcelona, guests aged 16 and older pay; in Venice, from age 14 (as of 09/2026, rules for children). In Portugal, children under 13 are exempt, and in Bali the fee is charged to every foreign tourist.
Is the fee included in the hotel price?
In most cities, the fee is charged separately and added to the bill at checkout. In Amsterdam, the hotel collects it together with the room cost, and in Barcelona a city surcharge is added on top of the regional rate. Check the tax line in your booking confirmation.
When will the tax in Barcelona go up again?
The city surcharge increases by €1 every year and will reach €8 per night by 2029 (as of 09/2026, increase schedule). The regional rate stays in place until March 31, 2027, and the fee is charged for a maximum of seven nights.
In short: what to book
The fee has become a permanent line in your trip budget: in Amsterdam and Barcelona it is more noticeable than in Venice for a day trip, and in Bali you pay it once. When booking, look at the final price with taxes, not just the base room rate. You can browse hotels in these cities on Trip.com.


