British holidaymakers planning trips in 2027 may need to budget for higher costs, as several European hotspots introduce or increase tourism taxes. These levies are typically charged per overnight stay, or for day-trippers in some cities, and are either absorbed into the holiday price or paid at the hotel desk.
In the UK, Andy Burnham's government has proposed granting regional mayors in England the power to introduce their own tourism taxes. Some cities, including Liverpool, already have a small levy for overnight visitors.
Spain and the Canaries: new VAT on holiday lets
The Spanish government is set to introduce a new levy from December 1, applying 10% VAT to tourist accommodation. This affects stays booked before the rules come into force as well as those after. Whether guests pay the extra cost depends on whether the property's landlord chooses to absorb the VAT.
Barcelona: hotel tax rise proposed for April 2027
Barcelona is considering increasing its tourism levies in April 2027. Earlier this year, the city doubled its tourism tax from €3.50 to €7 per night for 5-star hotel guests in the city centre. A Barcelona surcharge for all city-centre visitors rose from €4 to €5. Visitors have faced paying an additional €12. Under current proposals, the hotel tax would rise from 1.17% to 1.30%, increasing the current cap of €12 in some cases. These remain proposals only.
Venice: day-trip fee could triple
Venice already charges a tourism tax for day-trippers, mainly those on cruise itineraries, and a separate overnight tax of €1 to €5 per person per night depending on accommodation. For 2027, city officials are proposing to raise the day-trip fee to as much as €30 a day, over three times the current range of €5 to €10. The proposals are still in discussion and expected to be confirmed later this year.
Amsterdam and Vienna: higher overnight rates
Amsterdam currently charges 12.5% of the price (excluding VAT) for overnight stays and €15 per passenger for day-trippers. Proposals include raising the overnight tax to 16% by next year, with a further possible increase to 20%, though this has not been officially confirmed. Vienna increased its accommodation tax to 5% earlier this year, and from July 1, 2027, it will rise again to 8%.
