Barcelona’s tourist tax rose sharply in April 2026 and is due to rise again in April 2027. The charge is per person, per night, collected by your hotel, and the final figure combines a Catalan tax with a city surcharge. Here is what the rates are, who is exempt and how to budget for it. Details last checked in October 2026.
Quick Answer
- What it is: A per-person, per-night tax on tourist accommodation and cruise calls, plus a city surcharge
- New rates from: 1 April 2026 under Catalan Law 2/2026
- Typical total: About €12 a night for a 5-star hotel and €8.40 for a 4-star, as reported in 2026 guides
- Next rise: The city surcharge is reported to go up €1 on 1 April 2027
- Cap and exemptions: Counted for up to 7 nights in one stay; people aged 16 or under are exempt, per CatalunyaInfo
What Is the Barcelona Tourist Tax?
The Barcelona tourist tax has two layers. The first is the Catalan tax on stays in tourist establishments, officially the Impost sobre les Estades en Establiments Turístics. The second is a municipal surcharge that Barcelona adds on top.
The hotel or host collects both and must show them as a separate line on your invoice. The Catalan tax agency’s note on Law 2/2026 says the final charge is the base rate plus any municipal surcharge, multiplied by the number of nights.
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How Much Is the Barcelona Tourist Tax Per Night?
The base rates below come from the Catalan tax agency’s note on Law 2/2026, effective 1 April 2026. The surcharge column is not in that note: CatalunyaInfo, which cites the city’s fiscal ordinance, reports a €5 city surcharge in 2026. The law lets Barcelona set a surcharge of up to €8, so check your invoice for the amount actually charged.
| Accommodation | Base rate (official) | Total with €5 surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| 5-star hotel or equivalent | €7.00 | €12.00 |
| 4-star hotel | €3.40 | €8.40 |
| Licensed tourist apartment | €4.50 | €9.50 |
| Youth hostel | €1.00 | €6.00 |
| Other accommodation and campsites | €2.00 | €7.00 |
| Cruise call over 12 hours | €4.00 | €9.00 |
| Cruise call of 12 hours or less | €6.00 | €11.00 |
Will the Tourist Tax Go Up in 2027?
CatalunyaInfo reports the city surcharge rising by €1 each April: €6 from 1 April 2027, €7 in 2028 and €8 from 2029, which matches the legal ceiling in Law 2/2026. On that schedule a 4-star night would cost about €9.40 from April 2027 and a 5-star night about €13.
These later figures follow from the city’s schedule rather than a published 2027 price list, so confirm them closer to your trip.
Who Pays, Who Is Exempt and How Many Nights Count?
The guest is the taxpayer, but you pay the hotel, usually at check-in or check-out. Per CatalunyaInfo, the tax is counted for at most 7 nights in one continuous stay at the same establishment, and moving hotels restarts the count. The same guide says people aged 16 or under are exempt, subject to the authorities’ documentation rules.
One useful rule from the official note: if you booked before a rate change and paid the full price and tax at that time, the rate in force on the booking date applies.
How Do You Budget for the Barcelona Tourist Tax?
- Find your accommodation category on the booking page, such as 4-star hotel or tourist apartment.
- Take the total per person per night from the table above.
- Multiply by the number of adults and by nights, up to 7 in one stay.
- Add the amount to your trip budget, because it is often charged separately from the room rate.
- Check the invoice shows the tax as its own line with the nights and rate used.
Example: two adults in a 4-star hotel for 4 nights at about €8.40 pay roughly €67 in tourist tax, assuming the €5 surcharge.
Is Barcelona Still Worth the Extra Cost?
For most visitors, yes. The tax adds a fixed amount per night, so it matters most on long stays in higher-category hotels. A short city break barely changes in price, and you can offset it by booking attractions ahead and using public transport.
Book Barcelona Tickets and Transfers
Pre-book the big sights and your airport ride to keep the rest of the budget predictable.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the tourist tax in Barcelona?
Under Law 2/2026 the base rate runs from €1 for youth hostels to €7 for 5-star hotels per person per night. With the reported €5 city surcharge, a 4-star hotel totals about €8.40 and a 5-star about €12.
When did the new Barcelona tourist tax start?
The new rates took effect on 1 April 2026, when Catalan Law 2/2026 came into force.
Do children pay the Barcelona tourist tax?
CatalunyaInfo reports that people aged 16 or under are exempt, subject to documentation rules. Check with your accommodation.
How many nights does the tax apply to?
It is counted for up to 7 nights in one continuous stay at the same establishment. Changing hotels starts a new count.
Is the tax included in the hotel price?
Often not. Hotels collect it and must list it as a separate line on the invoice, so check whether your booking shows it before you arrive.
Final Thoughts
Budget roughly €6 to €12 per person per night for the Barcelona tourist tax, depending on where you stay, and expect €1 more from April 2027. Look for the separate line on your invoice and confirm the exact surcharge with your hotel.
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