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Barcelona Tourist Tax 2026: How Much You Pay Per Night
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Barcelona increased its tourist tax rates on April 1, 2026. Visitors now pay between €6 and €12 per person per night, depending on the type of accommodation.
For example, the tourist tax is €9.50 per person per night for tourist apartments such as Airbnb, while guests staying at 5-star hotels pay €12 per person per night.
This page provides the Barcelona tourist tax rates for 2026, including hotels, tourist apartments, hostels, and cruise ships.
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Barcelona Tourist Tax Rates in 2026
As of April 1, 2026, the tourist tax in Barcelona is charged at the following rates:
| Accommodation Type | Catalonia Tourist Tax | Barcelona City Surcharge | Surcharge Total Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-star hotels | €7.0 | €5.0 | €12.0 |
| 4-star hotels | €3.4 | €5.0 | €8.4 |
| Airbnb | €4.5 | €5.0 | €9.5 |
| Other accommodations | €2.0 | €5.0 | €7.0 |
| Youth hostel | €1.00 | €5.0 | €6.0 |
| Cruise ships (12 hours or less) | €6.00 | €5.0 | €11.0 |
| Cruise ships (more than 12 hours) | €4.00 | €5.0 | €9.0 |
These rates apply per person, per night, rather than per room.
The tourist tax is generally charged for a maximum of 7 nights at the same accommodation, and travelers aged 16 or younger are exempt.
The rates above are based on the official information published by the Catalonia Tax Agency and apply from April 1, 2026.
How Does the Barcelona Tourist Tax Work?
The Barcelona tourist tax consists of two separate charges:
- Catalonia Tourist Tax (IEET)
- Barcelona City Surcharge
Because both the regional and city taxes are applied, the total accommodation tax ends up being relatively high.
1. Catalonia Tourist Tax
This is the regional tourist tax applied to tourist accommodation throughout Catalonia. The amount depends on the type of accommodation.
For example, guests at a 5-star hotel in Barcelona pay €7 per person per night, while guests staying in a tourist apartment pay €4.50.
2. Barcelona City Surcharge
Barcelona applies an additional municipal surcharge on top of the Catalonia tourist tax.
As of April 2026, this surcharge is €5 per person per night for accommodation within the city of Barcelona.
This means that a traveler staying at a tourist apartment pays:
€4.50 Catalonia Tourist Tax + €5 Barcelona City Surcharge = €9.50 per person per night
The city surcharge is one reason why tourist taxes in Barcelona are higher than in many other destinations in Catalonia.
How Much Is the Barcelona Tourist Tax for Airbnb?
If you stay in a licensed tourist apartment or Airbnb in Barcelona, the tourist tax is €9.50 per person per night as of April 1, 2026.
The €9.50 consists of:
- Catalonia Tourist Tax: €4.50
- Barcelona City Surcharge: €5.00
- Total: €9.50 per person per night
For example, if two adults stay in an Airbnb for five nights:
€9.50 × 2 people × 5 nights = €95
The total tourist tax for the stay would therefore be €95.
Keep in mind that the tax is charged per person rather than per apartment, so the total can become significant when traveling as a couple, family, or group.
How Much Tourist Tax Will You Pay? Examples
The easiest way to estimate your Barcelona tourist tax is to multiply the nightly tax rate by the number of taxable guests and nights.
Here are some examples based on the 2026 rates:
| Stay | Total Tourist |
|---|---|
| 1 person × 3 nights at a 4-star hotel | €25.20 |
| 2 people × 5 nights at an Airbnb | €95.00 |
| 2 people × 7 nights at a 5-star hotel | €168.00 |
| 2 people × 14 nights at an Airbnb | €133.00 |
The last example is €133 rather than €266 because the tourist tax is generally charged for a maximum of seven nights at the same accommodation.
Who Is Exempt from the Barcelona Tourist Tax?
Not every visitor is required to pay the Barcelona tourist tax.
Travelers aged 16 or younger are exempt from the tax.
There are also exemptions for certain stays and circumstances specified under Catalan tourist tax regulations.
If you are traveling under a special program or believe an exemption applies to your stay, check the latest requirements with your accommodation or the Catalonia Tax Agency.
For most adult tourists staying at a hotel, hostel, or tourist apartment in Barcelona, however, the standard tourist tax applies.
Do You Pay Tourist Tax for More Than 7 Nights?
The Barcelona tourist tax is generally charged for a maximum of seven nights at the same accommodation.
This is particularly useful to know if you are planning a long stay in Barcelona.
Example of accommodation tax
- One adult staying in an Airbnb for 30 nights would pay:
€9.50 × 7 nights = €66.50 - Two adults staying for the same period would pay:
€9.50 × 2 people × 7 nights = €133
You don’t simply multiply the tourist tax by all 30 nights when the stay is subject to the seven-night limit.
Barcelona Tourist Tax FAQ
- How much is the tourist tax in Barcelona in 2026?
-
As of April 1, 2026, the Barcelona tourist tax ranges from €6 to €12 per person per night, depending on the type of accommodation. Guests at 5-star hotels pay the highest rate of €12 per person per night.
Q
- How much is the tourist tax for Airbnb in Barcelona?
-
The 2026 tourist tax for licensed tourist apartments in Barcelona is €9.50 per person per night. This consists of a €4.50 Catalonia tourist tax and a €5 Barcelona City surcharge.
Q
- Is the Barcelona tourist tax per person or per room?
-
The tourist tax is charged per person per night, not per room. Therefore, two adults staying in the same room are each subject to the applicable tourist tax.
Q
- Do children have to pay tourist tax in Barcelona?
-
Travelers aged 16 or younger are exempt from the Catalonia tourist tax.
Q
- How many nights do you pay tourist tax in Barcelona?
-
The tourist tax is generally charged for a maximum of seven nights at the same accommodation. If you stay for 10, 20, or 30 consecutive nights at the same property, the tax is generally calculated on the first seven taxable nights.
Q
- Is the Barcelona tourist tax included in the hotel price?
-
This depends on how the accommodation handles payment. Some booking platforms and hotels include or collect the tourist tax during the booking process, while others require guests to pay it separately at check-in or check-out.
Check your booking confirmation to see whether the tourist tax has already been collected.
Q
- Why is the tourist tax higher in Barcelona than elsewhere in Catalonia?
-
Barcelona charges its own €5 city surcharge in addition to the regional Catalonia tourist tax. As a result, visitors staying within Barcelona city pay more than travelers staying in many other parts of Catalonia.
Q
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ABOUT ME
My name is Taka from Japan. I spent five years traveling across Europe as a digital nomad. Today, I run my own Japanese matcha brand and share practical knowledge about launching a matcha business.
