How much is tourist tax in Spain? Rules for Barcelona, Majorca & other Balearic Islands explained

THE summer months are upon us and you may be getting ready to jet off on holiday.

It's important to know where you need to bring some extra pennies to pay tax. Here's everything to know about Spain's tourist tax.

Do you have to pay tourist tax in Spain?

The majority of Spain is tourist tax free but there are some areas where you will need to pay.

Some of the most popular areas of Spain now charge a fee for tourists to help pay for infrastructure, resources and amenities.

The tax also aims to reduce the number of visitors at peak times.

Tourist tax promotes responsible tourism as travellers are contributing to the care and preservation of the destination.

What is the tourist tax in Barcelona and how does it differ to the rest of Catalonia?

Despite Barcelona being part of Catalonia, the tourist tax slightly differs.

This tax was introduced in 2012 in Catalonia but the amount of the tax payable by guests has changed over the last decade.

The tourist tax is between €0.60 and €3.50 per person in Barcelona but the rates can change depending on the type of accommodation and its location.

Variations in tax amount can be down to the star rating of the hotel you are staying in.

In 5-star hotels guests will have to pay a fee of €3.50 per night, while in tourist accommodation they would only have to pay €2.25.

If you're staying in Barcelona then you are subject to a surcharge from the city council.

2024 saw Barcelona raise its tax after an announcement in 2022 that said the rates would go up over the next two years.

Here are the tourist tax rates for Barcelona:

• Housing for tourist use - €4
• 5-star hotels - €5.25
• 4-star hotels - €3.45
• Other establishments - €2.70

Here is a look at how the tourist tax differs in other parts of Catalonia:

• Housing for tourist use - €1
• 5-star hotels - €3
• 4-star hotels - €1.20
• Other establishments - €0.60

What is the tourist tax in Majorca and the other Balearic Islands?

You will need to pay a tourist tax when you arrive for your holiday to the Balearic Islands.

This includes Majorca, Menorca, Formentera and Ibiza.

The Balearic Islands have charge tourist tax since 2016 in a bid to make tourism more sustainable and preserve the environment.

Here's the rates:

• Luxury hotels - €4
• Mid-range accommodation - €3
• Cruise passengers - €2
• Campers and hostel guests - €1

How do I pay the tourist tax?

Tourist tax tends to be collected by your accommodation upon check in.

This means you don't have to think about it for the rest of your trip.

However some places may wait to charge you at check out.

Is the tourist tax per person or per room?

Tourist tax in Spain tends to be charged per person per night.

This means you need to consider how much extra money you will need to have for your holiday.

Under 16s tend to be exempt from the tax.

Which other countries have tourist tax?

Many other European countries also charge a tourist tax when you visit.

The money raised tends to go towards infrastructure or repairing damage.

For example, Greece introduced a tax facing a year of historic natural disasters.

Record rainfall and heat waves destroyed over 1,500 square kilometres of land and led to 37 deaths.

The funds collected will go towards repairing the damage that the natural disasters caused.

Other non-European countries also charge a tourist tax when you visit.

Tax rates will vary depending on which country you visit and how long for.

Countries include:

• New Zealand
• Most Caribbean islands
• Bhutan
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Malaysia
• USA