Have you ever been asked to pay for an extra unexpected fee at the check-in or check-out of your holiday? If yes, this could have been a tourist tax. Being asked to pay for extras at your accommodation can feel confusing, but we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about the tourist tax.
How is the tourist tax charged and when?
The tourist tax is usually charged per person and per night, but can also be a percentage of the room rate or a combination of both. The approach to the tax is dependent on local regulations. Some countries have a maximum charge, which means it may not apply to every night of long holidays.
It’s important to remember that this is a compulsory charge that usually needs to be paid when you check in or check out, rather than when you book your holiday accommodation.
Sometimes, you will be asked to pay the tax in cash, so if you don’t usually carry cash on holiday, be sure to check with your accommodation provider before you arrive.
Holiday rentals nearly always ask for the tourist tax up front upon check-in and you will more than likely need cash to do this.
What countries charge tourist tax?
Lots of countries around the world charge a tourist tax, from Iceland to Bali, Italy to New Zealand. Many countries are also planning on introducing tourist taxes, including Edinburgh.
Let’s take a look at some popular countries that charge a tourist tax, how much it is and when you will need to pay it as a visitor.
Popular destinations with tourist tax
| Destination | Cost | When you pay the tourist tax |
| Amsterdam, the Netherlands | 12.5% of the accommodation rate, excluding VAT, per person per night | Usually paid at check-in |
| Bali, Indonesia | IDR 150,000 per person (plus IDR 4,500 online processing fee) | Paid once per trip, either online before departure or at your point of entry |
| Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca) | €1.00-€4.00 per person per day plus 10% VAT | Added to your hotel bill and paid at checkout |
| Berlin, Germany | 7.5% of the accommodation cost per night | Paid with your hotel bill at checkout |
| Budapest, Hungary | 4% of the accommodation cost per night | Paid with your hotel bill at checkout |
| Catalonia, Spain (including Barcelona) | Up to €7 per person per night, depending on the accommodation star rating | Paid at check-in or check-out |
| Edinburgh, Scotland | 5% of accommodation cost per night before VAT (capped at five nights) | Paid at checkout for bookings from 1 Oct 2025 for stays from 24 Jul 2026 |
| Florence, Italy | €1.00-€5.00 per person per night, depending on accommodation type (such as camping or hotels), up to seven nights | Paid at checkout |
| Milan, Italy | Up to €7.00 depending on accommodation type | Paid at checkout |
| Rome, Italy | €3.50 per person per night | Added to your hotel bill and paid at checkout |
| Venice, Italy | €5.00 flat fee on selected days until the end of July 2025 | Paid in advance online or at city entry points on designated high-tourist days |
| France | €0.20-€0.90 per person per night, depending on accommodation star rating | Displayed by the accommodation provider and paid per night upon checkout |
| Frankfurt, Germany | €2.00 per person per night | Paid at checkout |
| Greece (nationwide) | €1.50-€10 per room per night, depending on accommodation star rating | Added to your hotel bill and paid at checkout |
| Lisbon, Portugal | €4.00 per night per person for the first seven nights of a stay | Paid at check-in or check-out |
| Marrakech, Morocco | 28 Moroccan Dirham (MAD) per person per night | Paid at check-in or check-out |
| Mogan in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands | €0.15 per person per day | Paid at check-in or check-out |
| New Zealand | NZD $100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) | Paid when applying for a visa or an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) |
| Prague, Czechia | CZK 50 per person per night up to 60 days | Paid with your hotel bill at checkout |
| Salzburg, Austria | €3.00 per person per night | Paid at checkout |
| Vienna, Austria | 3.2% of the total accommodation cost | Automatically included in your room rate and paid with your hotel bill at checkout |
| Tunisia | Up to 12 Tunisian Dinars per day, depending on the hotel’s star rating/ | Paid at check-in |
| Zurich, Switzerland | 2.50 CHF per person per night | Paid at check-in or check-out |
What countries are introducing tourist taxes soon?
In 2025, more countries will implement or increase tourist taxes. This is being enforced to recoup the costs of maintaining tourist-heavy hotspots and invest in initiatives that benefit both residents and visitors.
- Mogán in the Canary Islands implemented the tax in 2025 (15 cents per day), with more expected this year and in 2026.
- The Greek tourist tax increased in early 2025, too, with up to a €5 increase per person per night for visitors to the country between April and October.
- Norway has just announced it will start charging a tourist tax of 3% on overnight stays in some popular destinations. Local authorities will be given the power to decide individually whether to implement the fees. This is in response to a huge uptick in tourists visiting popular places like Bergen and the Lofoten islands.
- Thailand is also expected to introduce a tourist tax of 300 baht by the end of 2025, applicable to all visitors arriving by air.
- Edinburgh is introducing a ‘Visitor Levy‘ from July 2026. It will cost 5% of a night’s accommodation rate, capped at five days. It will be the first destination in Scotland to implement a tourist tax.
Who has to pay tourist tax and who’s exempt?
Almost everyone staying in accommodation in these places has to pay tourist taxes. This includes hotels, holiday rentals, campsites and everything in between. There are some exemptions to paying the tax, though.
Children
Children don’t usually have to pay tourist taxes, but be sure to check your destination’s cutoff age for teenagers. For example, in Florence, only children under 12 are exempt from paying the tax.
However, in Berlin, the exemption applies to children under 17. Bali is different again, where adults travelling with children of any age must pay a tourist tax on the youngster’s behalf.
Travellers with a disability
People with disabilities often don’t have to pay tourist tax either, and neither does one person accompanying them. Again, be sure to always check your holiday destination’s local rules before booking your cheap flights.
FAQs
Bhutan has the highest tourist tax in the world, costing USD $100 per person per day. This is called the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) and is implemented to protect the country’s environment, culture and heritage and keep tourism figures low.
Each country in Europe has their own approach to tourists taxes, with some places like London, England not having one at all. Be sure to research the local regulations related to tourist taxes for your holiday destination before heading there.
No, you can’t claim tourist tax fees back. It’s a compulsory fee used by local authorities to fund infrastructure updates, environmental and cultural projects, sustainability initiatives and much more.
Many countries implement a tourist tax on a per person per night basis, but some charge it as a percentage of the room rate or even a combination of both.
