Tourist taxes in Europe: what you pay per night, and when

The short version

Many European cities charge a tourist tax on top of your room rate, usually per adult, per night. It is set by the city or region, collected by your hotel or host, and often paid at the property rather than when you book. Most flat rates in the cities below fall between about €2 and €16 per adult per night, and cities that charge a percentage of the room price, such as Amsterdam, can cost more on expensive rooms. Budget for it, and check your booking for whether it is already included.

TODO (delete when done): add one line from your own trips, for example a city where the tax surprised you at checkout.

What is a tourist tax?

A tourist tax (also called city tax, tourism tax, or accommodation tax) is a charge a city, region, or country puts on overnight stays. Hotels and hosts collect it from guests and pass it on to the local authority. They usually cannot waive it. It is separate from VAT, and it is not a hotel "resort fee": the money goes to the local government, not to the property.

Not every place charges one. Some cities and countries have no overnight tax at all, and the rules change often, so a figure from a blog post two years ago may be wrong today.

How is it calculated?

There are three common models, and one city can mix them:

A flat amount per person, per night. Lisbon and Prague work this way.
A flat amount that depends on the hotel category. Paris, Rome, and Barcelona set different rates for a five-star hotel, a three-star hotel, an apartment, and a hostel.
A percentage of the room price. Amsterdam and Vienna charge a percentage, so the tax rises with the price you pay.

Many places also stop charging after a set number of nights (Rome after ten, Lisbon after seven) and exempt young children, with the age limit varying by city.

What do major cities charge in 2026?

These are the figures we could confirm as of October 2026. Amounts are per adult, per night unless noted.

Tourist tax in selected European cities, 2026
City	What you pay	Worth knowing
Paris	€2.60 (hostels, B&Bs, 1 star) to €15.93 (palace hotels). 4-star: €8.45. 5-star: €11.70.	Rates from January 1, 2026. They include a regional transport surcharge added in 2025.
Amsterdam	12.5% of the overnight price	Unchanged for 2026. The cost climbs with the room rate.
Barcelona	5-star hotel €12. 4-star €8.40. Tourist apartment €9.50. Hostel €6.	New amounts from April 1, 2026. The city's share is due to rise in later years.
Rome	5-star €10. 4-star €7.50. 3-star €6. Hostels €3.50.	Charged for the first ten nights only. Children up to age 10 are exempt.
Vienna	5% of the room price, excluding VAT and breakfast	Rose from 3.2% on July 1, 2026. Scheduled to reach 8% on July 1, 2027.
Lisbon	€4	Up to seven nights per stay. Applies from age 13.
Prague	CZK 50 per night	City fee, roughly €2. Confirm with your property whether it is per guest.
Edinburgh	5% of the accommodation cost	New visitor levy from July 24, 2026, capped at five consecutive nights.
Greece (national)	About €1.50 to €15 per night	A "climate resilience" fee that varies by accommodation type and season, highest in peak months.
Kraków and the rest of Poland	None at present	See below.

Venice is a special case. Overnight guests pay a regular lodging tax, and day visitors pay a separate access fee on selected peak days: €5 if booked at least four days ahead, €10 if booked later. Guests staying overnight in Venice are exempt from the day-visitor fee.

How do I estimate the total for my trip?

Multiply the nightly amount by the number of adults and the number of nights, then check any cap. Three examples:

Paris, 4-star hotel, 2 adults, 4 nights: 2 × 4 × €8.45 = €67.60.
Rome, 4-star hotel, 2 adults, 4 nights: 2 × 4 × €7.50 = €60.
Amsterdam, €200 per night, 4 nights: 12.5% of €200 is €25 a night, so about €100 in total. Check your confirmation for the exact base the city applies.

For a percentage city, work from the price you actually pay. That is why two people in the same city can owe very different amounts.

Where and how do I pay it?

It depends on the booking and the property. Some booking sites add the tax to the total, some list it as "not included" and leave you to pay at check-in or check-out, and some hosts collect it in cash. Read the price breakdown before you confirm, and look for lines called "taxes and fees" or "city tax." At small guesthouses and apartments, keep some cash in the local currency in case the host cannot take a card. Ask for a receipt.

The property cannot waive the tax, and asking them to is not a useful negotiation. If the amount at checkout is higher than you expected, compare it with the city's published rate for that accommodation type.

Do children pay?

Often not, but the age limit differs. Rome exempts children up to age 10, and Lisbon applies the tax from age 13. Other cities set their own limit, commonly somewhere between 10 and 18. Check the city's official page before you book a family trip.

Is there a tourist tax in Kraków or the rest of Poland?

Not currently. Polish law has no dedicated tourist tax. A local fee (opłata miejscowa) exists, but it can only be charged in places with favorable climatic properties and suitable conditions for recreation, so most cities, including Kraków, cannot collect it. Kraków's council has asked the national government for the power to introduce a tourist tax, and in May 2026 a group of MPs submitted a bill to the Sejm that would let each municipality decide. As of October 2026 it is a proposal, not law. If it passes, expect the amount to be set by each city.

Planning a Polish trip? See our guide to where to stay in Kraków.

Compare the full price before you book

When you compare places to stay, compare the total, not the nightly rate. A cheaper room with a percentage tax or extra fees can end up costing the same as a pricier one.

Compare places to stay for your dates

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Heading to Europe for the first time? Start with our first-time checklist. Wondering what else to budget for, see tipping in Europe, country by country.

Frequently asked questions

Is the tourist tax included in the price when I book?

Not always. Some booking sites include it in the total and some list it separately, to be paid at the property. Read the price breakdown and look for a line called taxes, fees, or city tax before you confirm.

Can a hotel waive the tourist tax?

Generally no. Hotels and hosts collect the tax for the local authority and are not free to waive it. If the amount seems wrong, compare it with the city's published rate for your accommodation type.

Do children pay the tourist tax?

Often they are exempt, but the age limit varies by city. Rome exempts children up to age 10, while Lisbon applies the tax from age 13. Check the city's official page for your trip.

Is there a tourist tax in Poland?

Not at present. Poland has no dedicated tourist tax, and Kraków cannot charge the limited local fee. A bill to let municipalities introduce a tourist tax was submitted to the Sejm in May 2026, but as of October 2026 it is not law.

How much is the tourist tax in Paris?

From January 1, 2026, it ranges from €2.60 per adult per night for hostels, B&Bs, and one-star hotels to €15.93 for palace hotels. A four-star hotel is €8.45 and a five-star hotel is €11.70.

Where the figures come from

Rules and prices change. Last checked October 8, 2026.