Top Cities with the Steepest Tourist Taxes
In a strategic move to manage over tourism and generate revenue, major European cities have adjusted their tourist taxes for 2025. This trend is particularly evident in popular destinations, with several cities increasing their tax rates.
In Spain, Greece, and Portugal, tourist taxes have seen significant increases, mirroring the trends in Italy. For instance, Greece applies a tourist tax per room per night, reaching up to €8 during the high season (April to October). In Portugal, tourist taxes vary by municipality but typically range around €2 per person per night, with limits on the number of nights taxed. Spain, too, is enforcing steep increases, though specific rates differ by region.
France and The Netherlands have also implemented tourist taxes, with varying rates based on accommodation type and location. In Paris, luxury hotels face charges up to €15.60 per person per night, while campsites are much cheaper at approximately €1.95 per night. In Amsterdam, the tourist tax has recently increased to 12.5% of accommodation costs, with additional fees for stays by the river or sea.
Unlike many other European destinations, Cyprus traditionally did not charge a tourist tax. However, discussions are ongoing regarding the possible introduction of a €2.50 per person per night tax to align with other Mediterranean countries.
Many cities employ strategies to manage over tourism, such as seasonal variations in tourist taxes, variable rates based on accommodation type, and capping the number of nights taxed. These taxes also serve as a regulatory tool to discourage excessive tourist numbers, thus protecting local infrastructure, environment, and residents' quality of life.
In Greece, cities such as Athens and Rhodes apply a "climate resilience tax" to support infrastructure and sustainable tourism. In Italy, the tourist tax in cities like Milan, Rome, Florence, and Bologna can reach up to 10 euros per night for luxury accommodation, and it directly contributes to public services and urban maintenance.
Porto in Portugal charges a tourist tax of three euros per night, while Lisbon and Cascais charge the highest tax at four euros per night. Tourist taxes in Portugal can accumulate to several hundred euros over a stay, making vacations more expensive but part of a broader strategy to regulate flow in highly visited areas.
In summary, major European cities have adopted or increased tourist taxes in 2025, with rates ranging typically from €1 to over €15 per person or room per night depending on the city, accommodation type, and season. These measures reflect a strategic balance between revenue generation and mitigating the negative impacts of over tourism by modulating visitor numbers through financial disincentives.
[1] European Commission (2021). Tourism taxation in the EU. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/banking-and-finance/consumer-protection/consumer-safety/tourism/tourism-taxation-eu_en
[2] The Local (2021). Tourist tax rates in Europe: How much you'll pay in popular destinations. Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.de/20210101/tourist-tax-rates-in-europe-how-much-youll-pay-in-popular-destinations
[3] Cyprus Mail (2021). Cyprus to introduce tourist tax to align with other Mediterranean countries. Retrieved from https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/06/11/cyprus-to-introduce-tourist-tax-to-align-with-other-mediterranean-countries/
[4] Visit Portugal (2021). Tourist tax in Portugal. Retrieved from https://www.visitportugal.com/en/plan-your-trip/travel-information/tourist-tax-in-portugal
- Portugal's second-largest city, Porto, imposes a tourist tax of three euros per night, with Lisbon and Cascais charging the highest tax at four euros per night.
- In response to over tourism, a traditionally tax-free destination, Cyprus, is considering introducing a tourist tax of €2.50 per person per night to align with other Mediterranean countries.
- Tourist taxes in countries like Greece and Italy serve dual purposes, generating revenue and discouraging excessive tourist numbers to protect local infrastructure, environments, and quality of life.
- The Local reports that tourist tax rates in popular European destinations can range from €1 to over €15 per person or room per night, depending on the city, accommodation type, and season.
