Spain has implemented and is continuing to expand a complex system of regional tourist taxes designed to manage overtourism, protect local environments, and fund destination improvements. Rather than a single national tax, Spain uses a decentralized approach where individual regions and cities set their own rates. Here’s what travelers need to know for their 2025 and beyond travels.
Current Tax Rates by Region
Barcelona and Catalonia
Barcelona operates under a dual-tax system that makes it the most expensive destination in Spain for tourist taxes. As of May 1, 2025, visitors pay both a regional Catalan tax and a Barcelona city surcharge:
| Accommodation Type | Barcelona Tax | Catalonia (outside Barcelona) |
|---|---|---|
| Hostels/camping/budget hotels | €6 | €1.20 |
| 4-star hotels | €7.40 | €2.40 |
| 5-star hotels | €11 | €6 |
| Holiday rentals (Airbnb) | €8.50 | €2 |
| Cruise passengers (12+ hours) | €8 | €4 |
| Cruise passengers (under 12 hours) | €10 | €6 |
Barcelona’s city surcharge has increased significantly and will continue rising. The municipal supplement reached €4 per night on May 1, 2025, is scheduled to reach €5 in 2026, and is envisioned to climb to €8 by 2029. This means luxury hotel guests in Barcelona could eventually pay up to €15 per night by 2029 when combining regional and city taxes.
Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera)
The Balearic Islands charge a Sustainable Tourism Tax (ecotasa) ranging from €2–€4 per person per night depending on accommodation type. Importantly, guests receive substantial discounts during low season (November 1 to April 30), with taxes reduced by 50%. Additionally, stays longer than eight days receive a 75% reduction from the ninth night onward.
Galicia: Santiago de Compostela and A Coruña
Galicia has recently introduced tourist taxes for the Camino and other areas:
- Santiago de Compostela: Starting October 1, 2025, charges €1–€2.50 per night depending on accommodation category, applying only to the first five nights of a continuous stay
- A Coruña: Implemented from September 1, 2025
These new taxes represent the expansion of tourism fees to Spain’s northern regions, previously untaxed.
Toledo and Emerging Taxes
Toledo has introduced a unique approach targeting tour bus visitors. From 2025, tour operators must pay €1–€1.50 per tourist depending on bus capacity, as the city aims to offset the impact of short-stay day-trippers who contribute minimally to the local economy.
Andalusia (In Development)
As of July 2025, the mayors of Granada, Seville, and Málaga have voiced support for introducing a tourist tax in Andalusia, though these have not yet been implemented. These three major cities recognize the need to manage tourism growth while funding services for residents and visitors alike.
Important Exemptions and Discounts
Age Exemptions: Children under 16 are exempt from tourist taxes across all regions where taxes apply.
Long-Stay Discounts: In the Balearic Islands, travelers staying beyond eight consecutive nights receive a 75% reduction from day nine onward.
Seasonal Reductions: Low season (November 1 to April 30) offers 50% discounts on taxes in the Balearic Islands.
Tax Cap on Continuous Stays: In Catalonia, the tax typically applies to a maximum of 7 consecutive nights per stay, after which longer stays are not taxed. In Santiago de Compostela, taxes apply only to the first 5 nights.
How Taxes Are Collected
Who Collects: Your accommodation provider—whether a hotel, Airbnb host, hostel, or campsite—is legally responsible for collecting the tax.
When You Pay: Taxes are typically collected at check-in or check-out, added as a separate line item on your final invoice. They are not usually included in headline prices shown during online booking.
Payment Methods: Accommodations accept card or cash, and many Airbnb hosts in Barcelona send separate payment links outside the Airbnb platform to manage the additional fees.
VAT Addition: Tourist taxes include 10% Spanish VAT, so a €2 tax becomes €2.20 on your invoice. This is not double taxation but simply how Spain applies VAT to the service.
Key Practical Considerations for Travelers
Budget Planning: When booking accommodations online, taxes are frequently listed separately as “taxes not included.” For a week-long family trip to Barcelona (two adults, one child under 16), you could expect to pay €45–€60+ in taxes depending on hotel category. Use booking platforms that display full costs including taxes.
Booking Platform Transparency: On Airbnb and similar platforms, tourist taxes may not always be included in the quoted nightly rate, especially in Barcelona. Always ask hosts whether taxes are included before confirming your booking.
Longer Stays: If you’re planning to stay longer than 8 days in the Balearic Islands, the 75% discount from day nine makes extended stays significantly more economical.
Cruise Passengers: Day-trippers arriving by cruise ship face higher taxes, particularly in Barcelona (€10 for stays under 12 hours) and Santiago de Compostela, reflecting concerns that cruise passengers use local infrastructure without generating substantial spending.
Regional Variation: Major Spanish destinations like Madrid still do not charge a tourist tax, making them more budget-friendly alternatives. Valencia was initially planned to introduce a tax but scrapped the initiative.
What Drives These Taxes?
Spain’s tourist taxes serve multiple purposes: managing overtourism, funding local infrastructure and environmental projects, controlling short-term holiday rentals, and generating revenue to preserve historic city centers. Barcelona and other densely visited cities explicitly use tax revenues to reduce pressure on residents and improve local services, addressing growing “tourism fatigue.”
Future Outlook
Expect continued expansion of tourist taxes across Spain. More Andalusian cities (Seville, Granada, Málaga) are likely to implement taxes, and existing rates in Barcelona will continue climbing annually through 2029. Cities are also implementing non-tax measures like cruise ship capacity caps, restricted visiting hours at popular attractions, and bans on tour buses in sensitive areas.
For travelers planning trips to Spain’s most popular destinations in 2025 and beyond, accounting for these taxes in your budget—particularly in Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, and newly taxed Galician destinations—is essential for accurate trip planning.