The Parliament of Catalonia will approve next week the increase in the tourist tax, a measure that will affect Barcelona and the rest of Catalan municipalities in the next two years. The new regulation, which had been blocked for a year due to disagreement between PSC, ERC, and the Comuns, is unblocked after the agreement reached between these three parties.
Barcelona will apply the increase in April
In the Catalan capital, the new rate will come into effect in April. Currently, staying in a five-star hotel involves paying a base rate of 3.5 euros per night, to which a municipal surcharge of 4 euros is added, bringing the total to 7.5 euros. With the new law, the base rate will double and will be 7 euros. Adding the current municipal surcharge, the final price will be 12 euros per night.
The Barcelona City Council will have room to increase the municipal surcharge up to 8 euros, which would allow for a maximum of 15 euros per night in the highest category establishments.
Progressive increase in the rest of Catalonia
Outside of Barcelona, the increase will be staggered. In April 2026, the base rate in a five-star hotel will be 4.5 euros per night, with the possibility of reaching 8.5 euros if the maximum surcharge is applied. One year later, in April 2027, the base rate will rise to 6 euros and, with the surcharge, could reach 10 euros per night.
The new regulation also affects cruise passengers who stay less than 12 hours in Barcelona. They currently pay 8 euros, but from April they could pay up to 14 euros.
News in youth hostels and annual liquidation
For the first time, public youth hostels will be subject to the tourist tax. The amount will be one euro throughout Catalonia, although it may vary depending on municipal surcharges.
The tourist tax settlement will be unified into a single annual period each April, one of the main demands of the Comuns. Until now, payment was made semi-annually, in April and October, according to stays registered in each semester.
Municipal autonomy and local surcharges
The new law grants municipalities the possibility of imposing a municipal surcharge of up to 4 euros, provided that the tax set by the Generalitat is not exceeded. The amount collected from this concept will go directly to local coffers.
The consistories will have autonomy to decide in which neighborhoods the tax is applied, on what type of establishments and in what settlement period. This flexibility will allow adapting the collection to the needs and characteristics of each municipality.