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If you're planning a holiday somewhere in Spain this summer, it's worth knowing that in some parts of the country your accommodation bill will come with an extra charge attached. The tourist tax, applied per person per night, is designed to help fund tourist infrastructure, heritage conservation and the management of large numbers of visitors.

 

It applies across hotels, hostels, campsites, guesthouses, rural accommodation and tourist apartments, with the exact amount depending on the category of the establishment and, in some cases, the time of year.

 

 

In Catalonia the amount you pay depends on which municipality you're staying in, and for cruise passengers, on how long the ship is docked in port.

 

Barcelona adds its own municipal surcharge on top of the regional tax, meaning the overall charge in the Catalan capital ranges from €6 a night for a youth hostel up to €12 a night for a five-star hotel or other luxury accommodation.

 

Elsewhere in Catalonia the tax is considerably lower, ranging from 80 cents to €4.50 per night. From April 2027 these rates are set to rise, with the new range running from €1 to €6 per night.

 

 

In the Balearic Islands the rate depends on the season. High season runs from May 1 to October 31, and low season from November 1 to April 30.

 

During high season the tax ranges from €1 per night for hostels, guesthouses, inns and campsites up to €4 per night for higher-end accommodation including four-key and four-key superior tourist apartments and four and five-star hotels. In low season the tax drops considerably, ranging from 25 cents to €1 per night.

 

 

In Santiago de Compostela the tax is €2.50 per night for five-star and four-star superior hotels, €2 for four-star, three-star and two-star superior hotels, €1.50 for one and two-star hotels, and €1 for hostels, campsites, rural houses, tourist apartments and other tourist accommodation.

 

In A Coruña the rate is also €2.50 per night for five-star and four-star superior hotels, dropping to €2 for four and three-star hotels, two-star superior hotels, tourist accommodation, hostels, campsites and rural tourism establishments. One and two-star hotels, guesthouses and cruise ships are charged €1.50, while other tourist accommodation is charged €1.

 

In Vigo the tax starts at €2 per night for five-star and four-star superior hotels, falling to €1.60 for four, three and two-star superior hotels and tourist accommodation. One and two-star hotels, guesthouses and cruise ships pay €1.20, while hostels, campsites, rural houses, apartments and other tourist accommodation pay 80 cents.