Even those that merely cease by the town on a cruise can discover themselves slapped with a the additional vacationer taxes, in addition to lodge and vacation let company
This Spanish vacation spot combines a metropolis break with seashores (Picture: Alexander Spatari through Getty Photographs)
A beloved Spanish metropolis break hotspot has doubled its vacationer taxes, which means Britons might face paying an extra €12 (simply over £10) per particular person per night time throughout their subsequent go to.
Barcelona welcomed 16 million guests in 2025, marking a year-on-year rise of two.9%, and with fast and handy flights from the UK it has emerged as an immensely standard metropolis break vacation spot for Britons. Past the town centre, the broader Catalonia area additionally attracts UK holidaymakers and consists of sunny coastal resorts together with Salou, Tarragona, and Lloret de Mar.
Barcelona has seen enormous anti-tourism protests (Picture: Getty Photographs)
However, the town’s appreciable tourism figures have sparked controversy lately, with Barcelona turning into the point of interest of anti-tourism demonstrations. Native residents have raised issues about tourism’s impact on the town, notably escalating property prices, and gathered within the streets throughout summer time 2025 urging vacationers to “go residence”. There have been broadly reported cases of holidaymakers being sprayed with water pistols whereas sitting on outside terraces.
In response to this, native authorities have applied measures together with plans to ban short-term lettings resembling Airbnbs by 2028. As of April 1, vacationer taxes have doubled, based on Barcelona Metropolis Council’s web site.
For guests staying throughout the metropolis centre, a Barcelona surcharge applies, which has additionally risen from €4 to €5 (roughly £4.36), which means these preferring central lodging can pay extra. From the income generated, 25% can be allotted in the direction of native housing schemes.
Probably the most important enhance will have an effect on these staying in accommodations in Barcelona’s metropolis centre. The cost for 5-star lodge lodging will double from €3.50 to €7 per night time (simply over £6). When mixed with the Barcelona surcharge, that is an extra £10 per night time for every visitor aged over 16. This implies a pair having fun with an extended weekend break might want to fork out an additional £60 on high of their lodge invoice, stories the Mirror.
Vacationer taxes on vacation leases have additionally doubled, although they’re usually decrease than accommodations, climbing from €2.25 to €4.50 (slightly below £4) an evening. That is additionally topic to the Barcelona surcharge for these staying throughout the metropolis itself.
Even passengers merely passing by way of on a cruise will encounter greater costs. These with stays exceeding 12 hours will see their taxes climb from €6 to €9 (roughly £7.85), whereas short-stay guests underneath 12 hours will see their charges rise from €7 to €11 (simply over £9.50). Cruise costs do not all the time embrace vacationer taxes, so guests ought to intently examine their reserving particulars to find out if they will have to pay.
In keeping with Reuters, some vacationers could possibly be discouraged from returning to Barcelona as a result of further taxes. A nurse from Italy interviewed by the information outlet reportedly mentioned: “I do not suppose this added expense is truthful. They already generate profits from vacationers spending in outlets, visiting their monuments, and many others.”
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Barcelona’s hoteliers’ group normal director Manel Casals additionally voiced his opposition to the scheme, claiming that native authorities ignored the tourism business’s requires a phased enhance in charges, cautioning: “At some point they are going to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
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