Vacation in Europe is getting more expensive: The tax you will pay in addition to the hotel price

Hotel prices in Europe are already high, but for those planning a vacation in the coming months, there is another cost to consider: more and more cities in Europe are charging a tourist tax from visitors, and in some destinations, the amounts are rising.

The tax is usually charged in addition to the room price, and is sometimes paid directly at the hotel rather than as part of the price shown when booking the room. Therefore, the price the traveler sees at the first stage of booking does not always reflect the final amount they will pay for the accommodation. In Amsterdam, for example, the tourist tax is calculated as a percentage of the accommodation price. Today it stands at 12.5% of the room price before VAT, so the more expensive the hotel, the higher the tax the guest pays.

In Paris, the system is different, and the tax is determined by the type of hotel. In Palace-level hotels, the highest category in the city, the tax reaches up to 15.93 euros per person per night. For a couple staying for four nights, this is an additional cost that can reach about 127 euros just for the tourist tax.

Barcelona also charges a tourist tax, and in five-star hotels it reaches up to 12 euros per person per night. For a family of four on a five-night vacation, this is an additional cost of up to 240 euros. Vienna has also joined the trend of raising the tax. The tourist tax rate in the city has risen to 5%, and the authorities intend to raise it to 8% in 2027. And in the UK, Edinburgh has started charging a new tourist tax of 5%, which will apply to the first five nights of the stay.

For Israelis planning a vacation in Europe, this means it is worth checking not only the hotel price but also what additional taxes and payments are added to it. The gap can be particularly significant for families, on long vacations, and in expensive hotels. The trend of raising tourist taxes is intended, among other things, to increase the cities' revenues from tourists and help fund services and infrastructure, but for the traveler, it is effectively another expense that needs to be included in the vacation budget.