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Diari de Catalunya

Tourist tax increases in Catalonia, with Barcelona leading in Europe

The new regulation, effective from April 1, 2026, doubles the tax in luxury hotels in the Catalan capital and allows for additional municipal surcharges.

Generic image of euro coins on a hotel reception desk, symbolizing tourism tax.
IA

Generic image of euro coins on a hotel reception desk, symbolizing tourism tax.

From April 1, 2026, tourist accommodation in Catalonia will become more expensive due to the implementation of a new regulation that increases the tourist tax, with a significant impact on Barcelona, positioning it among European cities with the highest taxes in this sector.

The reform, promoted by the Catalan Government and agreed upon by the PSC, ERC, and the Comuns, represents a substantial change in Catalan tourist taxation. Not only is the tax itself raised, but municipalities are also granted greater autonomy to apply their own surcharges, and a significant portion of the revenue is allocated to housing policies.
In the Catalan capital, the increase is immediate and forceful. From this April, the autonomous portion of the tax doubles; for example, in five-star hotels, it rises from approximately 3.5 euros to 7 euros per person per night. To this amount, the municipal surcharge is added, which in Barcelona has already been set at 5 euros per night for 2026 and is expected to progressively increase to 8 euros in the coming years.

A tourist could pay around 12 euros per night in a luxury hotel in Barcelona this year, and the figure could approach 15 euros before the end of the decade.

This level of tax burden places Barcelona on par with or even above European capitals such as Paris, Rome, or Amsterdam, which have also opted to increase these taxes in recent years to manage tourist pressure and fund public services.
Outside of Barcelona, the increase will be more gradual. Between April 1, 2026, and March 2027, the maximum rate will rise to 4.5 euros per night in high-end accommodations, and it will not be until 2027 that it reaches 6 euros, double the current rates. Municipalities will also be able to apply additional surcharges, allowing for more flexible taxation based on the tourist pressure in each area.
The tourist tax, officially known as the tax on stays in tourist establishments, is paid by all individuals who stay overnight in accommodations such as hotels, tourist apartments, campsites, or cruises, including Catalan residents. One of the key novelties of the reform is the allocation of funds: 25% of the revenue will be dedicated to housing policies by the Generalitat, while the remaining 75% will continue to fund the Fund for the Promotion of Tourism. In Barcelona, this tax is already a crucial source of income, having generated approximately 140 million euros last year, making it the second-largest municipal revenue after the IBI.

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