More and more countries in Europe are getting on board and implementing or increasing tourist taxes on travellers in a bid to tackle overtourism and improve the quality of life for their residents. For those wanting to visit some of the continent’s top destinations, visitors’ budgets now have to take the hit to help support local infrastructure, sustainability and overwhelmed local services.

The likes of Italy, Spain, Greece, France and the Netherlands have been demanding these funds to maintain the appeal of some of the world’s most beloved cities. As one of Europe’s most visited countries, Italy has rolled out taxes in several major cities, including Rome and Venice, charged per person per night. In Venice, which has been seeing an average of 80,000 daily visitors on peak days in 2025, its tourist tax is used to support local tourism initiatives and preserve its delicate infrastructure. Taxes are often increased during peak tourist seasons, such as summer or holiday periods, as demand for accommodations rises.

Currently, for tourists not staying overnight, the Venice access fee is €5 (£4.40) from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on high-traffic days, including some weekends and holidays. Last-minute online books can cost €10 (£8.80). For those staying overnight, the tourist tax is per person, per night, and varies between €1 and €5 (£0.88-£4.40) depending on the time of year and the type of accommodation.

For several years, France has had its “taxe de séjour” (occupancy tax) in place, which applies to overnight stays in hotels and other types of accommodation. Like in Venice, prices vary depending on the location and type of accommodation. For example, a stay in a luxury hotel in Paris will likely cost more than one in a basic hostel in rural France.

The French government used the money to support tourism-related infrastructure and services. A stay in a five-star hotel will cost €11.38 (£10) per person, per night, while a four-star hotel will cost €8.45 (£7.43). For hotels and rentals that are unclassified or awaiting classification, the tax is calculated as 5% of the cost per person per night, capped at €15.60. This applies to many properties listed on platforms like Airbnb. 

With its iconic canals and famous cities like Amsterdam, the Netherlands is another country where tourist taxes are now commonplace. In Amsterdam, the revenue generated is put towards improving public transport, maintaining historical sites and keeping the city’s public spaces clean and safe. Here, the tourist tax is 12.5% of the accommodation price for hotels, holiday rentals and campsites, which is payable per person, per night. In addition to this is a fixed day-tourist tax of €14.50 (£12.76).

Many of Spain’s popular areas have also imposed tourist taxes, including in the iconic Balearic Islands. Here, the tax applies to overnight stays and varies depending on the type of accommodation. In hotspots in Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca, funds are used to improve tourism services and maintain infrastructure. Visitors should expect to pay higher prices during the peak summer season, when demand for accommodation is highest.

Between January and August alone, Greece received nearly 25 million visitors – a 4% increase from the previous year, according to new data. It’s no surprise, therefore, that the country has also implemented tourist charges in recent years, now known as the “resilience tax”, designed to increase revenue for managing climate change and disaster recovery actions.

Currently, Greece charges €15 (£13.20) per room per night for villas and short-term rentals in the high season, as well as in five-star hotels. Four-star hotels charge €10 (£8.80) per room, per night. In the low season, it drops to €4 (£3.52) for villas and five-star hotels. A cruise ship passenger tax now applies to many iconic Greek island destinations, including Santorini and Mykonos, where a €20 (£17.60) per person fee is charged. This drops to €12 (£10.56) for the shoulder season (April to May and October) and €4 in the low season.