Tourist Tax in 2025: All The Destinations You Have to Pay to Enter

Whether you’re a seasoned globe-trotter or planning your first big adventure, understanding tourist tax can save you from unexpected charges along the way.

From sunny beaches to bustling cities, you’ll find tourist tax just about anywhere. But what exactly is this fee, and how much does it cost? Is it something that you need to budget for? We’ve covered everything you need to know in this Trtl Travel blog.

What is tourist tax?

Tourist tax is a small fee that travellers pay when they stay overnight in a country that isn’t their home. But, this isn’t just any fee — it’s put to good use. The money collected is usually spent on maintaining and improving the local area, which can include anything from sprucing up parks, keeping streets clean, or making sure that local tourist attractions are kept in top-notch condition.

Michael Corrigan, CEO at Trtl Travel, explains: “Different places have different tax rules. It could be a small percentage of your hotel bill or a fixed amount per night — but it’s always best to double-check before you book how much you’ll be paying.”

How does tourism tax work?

The way tourism tax works is pretty simple. When you check into a hotel, hostel, or even a short-term rental like an Airbnb, you’ll most likely see a small charge on your bill — this will be the tourism tax. It’s often only the equivalent of £1 - £5 in local currency per night, but it can vary from city to city.

The local government sets this tax, and they decide how much to charge based on what they think will help the community most, without being too heavy on travellers' wallets.

Who has to pay tourist tax?

Tourist tax is aimed at visitors from other countries who are using accommodations like hotels, rentals, and beds and breakfasts while staying in a place different from their current residence. 

“Essentially, the idea is pretty straightforward,” explains Michael. “If you’re using local services and enjoying public spaces, tourist tax is a small way of contributing to keeping those amenities in tip-top condition. Whether you’re in town for business or have your dream getaway to this destination, if your accommodation charges it, it’s going to be added to your bill.”

Some destinations might exempt children up to a certain age, but again, it’s best to check with the country and accommodation provider.

Why was tourist tax introduced?

Originally, tourist tax was introduced by certain governments across the world to reduce over-tourism and generate income from large numbers of travellers entering the country. The uplift in cheap flights means that travelling has become much more accessible for people, even if it’s just a quick 2-hour flight to a destination in Europe.

What countries introduced tourist tax in 2024?

There were a handful of countries that imposed new tourist tax regulations in 2024, including:

• Venice, Italy, began charging tourist fees in 2024. Day trippers must now pay €5 to enter on certain days from April - July between 8:30 AM and 4 PM. You can pay the fee on the Venice Access Fee site. 
  
  
• The Indonesian government announced they would impose a tourist tax for travellers visiting Bali from 14 February 2024. This costs 150,000 rupiah per person, around £7.60 or $9.60 (correct as of April 2024).

What countries are introducing tourist tax in 2025?

Surprisingly, a handful of popular countries still haven’t imposed a tourist tax, but that’s changing in 2025.

• Thailand have proposed implementing a £6.80 travel tax by the end of 2025, but this will only impact those arriving by plane.

• The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system is a scheme for visitors from the US, Australia, Canada, and Europe who don’t need a visa for short stays. Applying costs £10, which is non-refundable. After a series of delays, the system was rolled out in April 2025.

The cheapest VS most expensive tourist tax destinations

Let's dive deep into the cheapest and most expensive tourist tax in some of the most popular destinations worldwide (all conversions are correct as of May 2025).

1. France - €0.65 - €15 (£0.55 - £12.76)

Whether you’re discovering the breathtaking views of the French Riviera or admiring the beautiful architecture of the Palace of Versailles, France has some seriously strong hitters when it comes to destinations.

However, France also sees quite a price difference depending on where you’re staying and the type of accommodation you book. For campsites of 1 - 2 stars, they average €0.65, around 55p per night per person. You can expect to pay €15 for palaces, around £12.76.

2. Croatia - €1 (£0.85)

The sojourn tax must be paid by all foreign and domestic citizens staying in Croatia. Depending on how long, the time of year and where you’re staying, adults can expect to pay around €1 per night, around 85p, and €0.5 for children aged 12 - 18 (42p).

3. Portugal - €1 to €4 (£0.85 - £3.39)

There are so many wonderful cities to visit in Portugal, from the bustling streets of Lisbon to the breathtaking views of Madeira.

But not every city in Portugal charges tourist tax (or taxa turistica, as the locals call it) — you can expect to see them in places like Lisbon (€4 per person, per night) and Porto, which capped their tax at €3 per person per night in December 2024. The fee is between €1 - €4 (0.85 - £3.39) per person per night, depending on where you stay and the type of accommodation.

4. Italy - €1 to €10 (£0.85 - £4.24)

Celebrated for their delicious foods, if you’re visiting Italy, you can expect to find everything from pasta, pizza, gelato, focaccia and more.

But how much is tourist tax in this beautiful country? Well, generally speaking, the rate of tourist tax varies from city to city, but you can expect to pay anywhere between €1 - €10 (85p - £8.50) per day per person.

In more popular locations like Rome, rates are €4 - €10 (£3.40 - £8.50), while cities like Milan are slightly cheaper at €2 - €5 (£1.71 - £4.28).

5. Spain - €1 - €11 (£0.85 - £9.36)

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From the stunning streets of Madrid to the idyllic beaches of Majorca, there’s plenty to see and do in Spain. But not all places charge a tourist tax across this beautiful country.

Depending on where you’re staying, you could find tourist tax as low as €1 (85p) in the off-season on the Balearic Islands to prices as high as €11 (£9.36) per person per night in Barcelona.

As of May 1st 2025, the Catalonia region doubled its tourist tax rates, meaning tourists are now charged between €1.20 - €6 (£1.02 - £5.20), depending on their accommodation.

6. Bulgaria - 2.99 Bulgarian Lev (£1.30)

Encompassing Black Sea coastlines in a nation with diverse terrain, there are some beautiful sites to see in Bulgaria.

As for tourist tax, you can expect to pay around £1.30 (2.99 Bulgarian Lev) per night, depending on the hotel standard you choose.

7. Malaysia - 10 Malaysian Ringgit (£1.70)

Famous not just for its bustling capital, Malaysia also boasts stunning coastal areas that are worth exploring.

Malaysian tourist tax is set at a flat rate of MYR10, around £1.70 per person per night.

8. Greece - €2 to €15 (£1.70 - £12.76)

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Greece is a must-visit destination known for its stunning blue waters and sunny climate.

In 2024, Greece introduced a new ‘Climate Crisis Resilience Fee’, replacing the previous tourist tax. Now, travellers can expect to pay anything between €2 (£1.70) to €15 (£12.76) per night per person, depending on where you’re travelling to and the type of accommodation you’re staying in.

In the low season of winter (November - March), the fee is capped at €4, around £3.42.

Greece is also introducing a fee for cruise ship visitors to the islands of Santorini and Mykonos. During the peak summer season, tourists will need to pay €20 at the port. This is in a bid to tackle overtourism during the busiest times of the year.

9. Czech Republic - CZK 50 (£1.71)

A landlocked country in central Europe, the Czech Republic is famous for its beautiful scenery, rich history and delicious food!

If you’re planning a journey over, you can expect to pay CZK 50 per person each day, which is around £1.71. People under 18 and over 70 are exempt from paying the tax.

10. Austria - 3.2% of accommodation costs

Famous for its castles, palaces, and other unique buildings, Austria boasts some stunning architecture. If you’re planning on visiting the country, you can expect to pay 3.2% of the accommodation cost (after taking off the costs of sales tax, breakfast and 11% of the remaining amount).

Also known as the Ortstaxe, it’s used to help finance the tourist board. For example, if a hotel charges €100 per room per night — this includes sales taxes but not breakfast — then you can expect that €2.52 of the €100 you spend will go towards the Ortstaxe.

11. Hungary - 4% of accommodation costs

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Tourist fees in Hungary only apply in Budapest — but luckily, it can be an extremely affordable city to visit!

Travellers can expect to pay 4% of accommodation costs per night per person, and the fee doesn’t apply to children under 18.

12. Belgium - €4 (£3.42)

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Every city, town, and municipality in Belgium is free to charge its own tourist tax fee for all tourists.

If you’re heading to Belgium, you’ll find two different types of tourist tax: one for hotels and one for ‘domestic accommodation’ such as bed and breakfasts or campsites.

As it currently stands, hotels are taxed at €4 (around £3.42) and bed and breakfasts €3 (around £2.55) per night.

13. Japan - 1,000 Yen (£5.19)

Known for everything from their onsen hot springs to their beautiful cherry blossoms, there’s so much to explore in Japan.

Passengers leaving either by ship or plane must pay an international tourist tax of 1,000 yen, around £5.19, upon their departure. This is to help expand the country's tourism and infrastructure.

However, Japan’s government is considering raising the ¥1,000 tax, as there are growing concerns about the rise of overtourism.

14. Germany - 5 - 7.5% of accommodation price

It can vary from city to city for tourist tax in Germany, but in Berlin, for example, the standard tax was raised from 5% of the accommodation price to 7.5% at the beginning of January 2025.

Because of this, it’s a good idea to check how much tax you’ll pay when booking.

15. Indonesia - 150,000 Rupiah (£8)

Bali is one of Indonesia's most popular holiday destinations, known for its stunning beaches and warm hospitality.

From 14 February 2024, Indonesia imposed a tourist tax of 150,000 Rupiah (around £8) upon entering Bali, regardless of the traveller(s) age. You can pay the tax online or when you arrive at the airport, so there’s no need to panic if you forget!

16. Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 12.5% of the cost of accommodation

Amsterdam raised its tourist tax percentage from 7% to 12.5% in 2024. The land of tulips and bicycles has said it’s to “pay for services for locals [...] not to discourage people from visiting the city.”

In total, that means tourists staying overnight now pay an average of €22 a night in tax, rather than €15 on a room that costs €175.

17. New Zealand - NZ$100 (£44.64)

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New Zealand increased its International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) from NZ$35 to NZ$100 from October 2024.

The IVL ensures that visitors to New Zealand directly contribute to tourism and conservation projects that are part of broad, impactful changes in Aotearoa.

18. Bhutan - US$100 (£75)

Bhutan charges a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for foreign tourists, which is currently at US$100, or around £75 per night.

This fee aims to offset the environmental and cultural impact that tourism brings to the country and supports initiatives like preserving natural resources, free education, and healthcare.

How to budget for tourist tax

Budgeting for tourist tax is all about being in the know before you go. It’s pretty easy to stay ahead, but Michael explains some useful tips to make sure you’re not caught out on your trip:

• “Check ahead — Before you book your stay, do a quick check to see if your destination charges a tourist tax. This will help you know exactly what extra costs you’ll be expected to pay, which means you won’t be caught short.
  
  
• Calculate the costs — Once you know the rate — whether it’s a percentage or a flat fee per night — add it up for the total amount of nights you’ll be staying. For example, if the tax is €2 per night and you’re staying a total of 5 nights, that’s an extra €10 you’ll have to find per person. 
  
  
• Factor it into your accommodation budget — When planning how much you will be spending on hotels, Airbnb or rentals, add the tourist tax into the estimated cost. This way, you won’t be caught off guard when it’s time to settle the bill!
  
  
• Prepare for variations — Keep in mind that some sites might include the tax in the advertised price, while others will add it on when you pay. Checking the fine print on your booking confirmation can usually be a surefire way to tell which approach your accommodation is opting for.”

What happens if you don't pay tourist tax?

While the amount of tourist tax you’ll pay will differ in every city you visit regardless of the country, they’re usually legally enforceable. 

That means the hotel or accommodation simply won’t let you stay there if you don’t pay the tourist tax, as they’ll be liable for this charge to the scheme if you don’t pay — and that’s money out of their pocket.

Does the UK impose a tourist tax?

Currently, the UK doesn’t enforce any kind of tourism tax, either by the government or local councils. 

However, Manchester and Liverpool introduced something known as the ‘Accommodation BID’. This is a payable fee by hotels and serviced apartments with a rateable value of £75,000 or more in Manchester and £45,000 or more in Liverpool. 

Like a typical tourist tax, the BID levy can also be known as the ‘City Visitor Charge’ and participating businesses are encouraged to itemise it on a guest's bill.

Are cruise passengers required to pay tourist tax?

Well, this depends on where you’re cruising from. Mexico, for example, recently planned a hefty $42 USD tax per cruise passenger, but, after pushback, it’s been reduced to a more purse-friendly $5 from July 2025.

Rules can differ by country, and some places might exempt you if you don’t leave the ship, but always double-check.

Do business travellers need to pay tourist tax?

If you’re swapping the suitcase for a briefcase, yes, you’ll still have to pay tourist tax.

However, some destinations might let business travellers off the hook. In Germany, certain cities exempt business trips if you provide evidence, like a conference ticket.

To be safe, pack some documentation proving your trip is business-related, and always confirm specifics with your destination ahead of time.

Is tourist tax subject to VAT or additional charges?

Typically, tourist tax is separate from VAT, meaning you’ll often see it as an extra charge on your bill. 

Each country does things differently, so always read the fine print in your accommodation booking. If in doubt, a quick email or phone call to your hotel will help clear things up in no time.

Is tourist tax charged per person or per room?

Again, this is something that varies! In many spots across Europe, like Italy and Spain, you’ll find tourist taxes charged per person each night, so a family of four will pay more than a solo traveller.

On the other hand, some locations, like certain areas in Greece, might charge per person per night, no matter how many people share it.

Do children have to pay tourist tax?

Good news for families: children often get a break on tourist tax! In lots of countries, kids under a certain age don’t pay at all. In Spain’s Balearic Islands, for example, under-16s are completely exempt from paying.

Of course, every location has its own rules and age limits, so it's one to remember before you book.

Will the tourist tax be included in my travel package or hotel price?

Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t; it really depends on who you book with. Platforms like Airbnb will include these taxes in the upfront price, while traditional hotels might ask you to pay when you check in or out.

Get set with Trtl Travel

No matter where in the world you’re jetting off to, it’s so important that you’re aware of how much tourist tax you’ll be paying — you don’t want to be caught out at the end of the day!

And you’ll want to make sure that you get there in comfort and style with our Trtl Pillow Original, designed to give you complete support and relieve stress on your spine and muscles.

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