Spain tourist tax - how much is tourist tax for Majorca, Benidorm, Barcelona and more

Tourist tax in Spain is a controversial topic among hoteliers and visitors, but something there is no getting away from if you choose to travel to the country's most popular holiday spots.

The decision to charge a levy is left up to local authorities, meaning those that do charge the tax can have different rates and eligibility.

Although the majority of the country is tourist tax-free, some of the most popular areas of Spain now charge a fee for tourists to help pay for infrastructure, resources, amenities and even to reduce the number of visitors at peak times. A family of four could face paying an additional €175 for a week away to the most expensive destinations. This, along with essentials like travel insurance and luggage, could quickly make a cheap deal look much more pricey.

Currently, Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera and some parts of Catalonia (including Barcelona) charge a tourist tax. Valencia (which includes Benidorm) was due to launch its tourist tax in December 2023 but it has been scrapped for now.

Madrid has also discussed the introduction of a tariff on numerous occasions but has not yet implemented one. Parts of Andalusia, such as Seville, Granada and Malaga, have also expressed interest in introducing a tourist tax, while northern regions Galicia and San Sebastian are also considering introducing a charge.

Each area charges the tax slightly differently, which we’ve broken down for you below. Or use our Spain tourist tax calculator to see what you'll need to pay.

Tourist tax for Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Formentera (Balearic Islands)

The Balearic Islands has charged a tourist tax covering all islands on the archipelago – Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera - since 2016, in a bid to make tourism more sustainable and preserve the environment.

The cost for each visitor is between €1-€4 per night depending on the type of accommodation they are staying in, with those in the most luxurious hotels paying the most.

Campers and those staying in hostels or lodgings pay €1 a day, cruise passengers (no matter the length of their visit) and those in budget hotels and apartments up to 3 stars pay €2, mid-range accommodation visitors pay €3, and luxury hotel guests pay €4 a day.

Rates more than halve during low season between November 1 and April 30.

They are: Hostel dwellers and campers pay 25 cents a day, cruise passengers and budget hotel and apartment guests up to 3 stars pay 50 cents, 3 star 'superior' and 4 star hotels charge 75 cents and 4 star 'superior' and five star luxury hotels charge €1.

Children under 16 are exempt. Those staying longer will have a 50% discount applied starting on the ninth day of staying at the same accommodation.

Tourist tax for Barcelona

Barcelona charges visitors between €4.25 and €6.75 a night depending on the type of accommodation they are staying in and this is rising from October 2024.

Some of the money goes to the Catalonia region with the rest going to the city. The prices are due to go up steadily over the next few years as the city authority raises its fee. The first rise came into force on April 1 2023.

Currently, those in hotels and apartments up to four stars pay €4.95 a night (going up to €5.70 in October 2024). This goes up to €6.75 for those in five star hotels (€7.50 from Oct 2024).

Housing for tourist use, such as Airbnb are charged €5.50 (up to €6.25 from Oct) a night with other, lower-ranked establishments costing €4.25 a night (€5 from Oct).

Cruise passengers must pay €6.25 to enter the city, or €5.25 if spending more than 12 hours there.

From October 2024, the Barcelona city surcharge will increase again by 75 cents a night.

Children under 16 are exempt from the tourist tax in Barcelona.

Tourist tax for Catalonia

Outside of Barcelona, the rest of Catalonia charges tourist tax. Because this is only collected by the regional authority, this is cheaper than Barcelona but can still add up for a family staying for a week.

As of April 2024 the charge is between €0.60 and €3 a night, again depending on the type of accommodation.

Those in a 5-star hotel are charged €3, dropping to €1.20 for those in 4-star hotels and apartments.

So-called 'housing for tourist use' such as an Airbnb, costs €1 a night, with other establishments costing €0.60.

Cruise ship passengers staying less than 12 hours must pay €3, with the price dropping to €2 for those staying more than 12 hours.

Children under 16 are exempt from the tourist tax in Catalonia.

Tourist tax for Benidorm and Valencia

The Valencia region, which includes Benidorm, Alicante and Valencia city itself, has now scrapped plans to introduce a tourist tax after uproar from local communities.

The scheme was due to come in in 2024, but was withdrawn after the Valencia region elected Carlos Mazón as new president of the Generalitat.

However, the region, which includes Benidorm, is a highly visited place so it's worth explaining what the charges would have been to give an idea of what could potentially happen if debate arises again.

The agreed charges were between 50 cents and €2 a night, depending on the type of accommodation.

A 50 cents charge was to be imposed on campers and €2 for hotel and apartment stays. Cruise passengers would also have to pay, although the amount was never confirmed.

Originally the charge was due to be mandatory but after much frustration from local authorities, the region agreed the levy would be voluntary, with Alicante, Benidorm and Torrevieja saying they would not enforce the tax. Only Valencia city itself appeared to be on board with the charge.

Under the Valencia region's rules, if the tax did come into force, children under 16, disabled people and those in the area for a university event would be exempt.

Spain tourist tax for Airbnb stays

Holidaymakers booking through Airbnb must also pay a tourist tax when visiting the areas of Spain that have introduced the charge.

This is not always included in the price quoted for an accommodation, and Airbnb cannot currently collect this money on behalf of the local authorities in Spain. However, it is in talks to make this happen.

As such, the tourist tax in Spain is usually paid for on arrival or via a third party.

Airbnb already collects tourist tax for European countries including Germany, France, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands.

Spain tourist tax calculator

Want to quickly calculate how much Spain tourist tax you'll owe? Enter a few details into our Spain tourist tax calculator below and get an instant estimate:

Spain tourist tax

Here are all the Spain tourist tax charges as of April 1 2023:

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