Hotel City Taxes & Tourist Taxes by Country (2026)
That extra line at checkout is usually the law, not the hotel. Tourist taxes now exist in most major destinations and several went up for 2026. Here's the per-night reality, country by country.
Ben Campbell
2026-08-14 · Updated for 2026
The Basics
A tourist tax (city tax, occupancy tax, taxe de séjour, Kurtaxe) is a government levy per person or per room, per night, collected by your accommodation. It's often excluded from online prices and payable locally — sometimes in cash — which is why it surprises people at checkout.
Rates typically scale with hotel category and cap after a set number of nights. Children are commonly exempt or discounted.
Europe (per person, per night unless noted)
| Destination | 2026 rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paris & Île-de-France | €2.60–€16.30 by category | Top tier applies to palaces; most 4-star ≈ €8–10 |
| Rome | €4–€10 | Capped at 10 nights |
| Venice | €1–€5 lodging tax; day-tripper fee €5–€10 on peak dates | Day fee applies even without staying |
| Barcelona | €5–€7.50+ combined city+regional | Rose again for 2026; capped 7 nights |
| Amsterdam | 12.5% of room rate | Europe's highest; percentage, not flat |
| Berlin / Hamburg | ~5–7.5% of net room rate | Business stays no longer broadly exempt |
| Lisbon / Porto | €4 / €3 | Capped 7 nights |
| Vienna / Prague / Budapest | ≈3.2% / CZK 50 / 4% of rate | Modest by comparison |
| Greece | €1.50–€10 'climate resilience fee' by category/season | Higher Apr–Oct |
| Switzerland | CHF 2–7 Kurtaxe by resort | Often includes local transport card |
Americas & Asia-Pacific
| Destination | Charge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Occupancy tax 10–17% of room rate | Percentage baked into taxes at checkout; NYC adds flat $ fees |
| Mexico (Quintana Roo) | ~$11 USD 'Visitax' per trip | Paid online, plus lodging taxes |
| Caribbean islands | 10–15% room levy typical | Sometimes bundled into quoted rate |
| Japan | ¥100–¥1,000/night by city & rate (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto raised for 2026) | Kyoto's top tier now up to ¥10,000 at ultra-luxury rates |
| Thailand | 300 THB entry fee (arrivals) | Collected at entry, not the hotel |
| Bali | IDR 150,000 (~$10) per visit | Paid on arrival/online since 2024 |
| Bhutan | $100/night Sustainable Development Fee | The world's steepest, by design |
| New Zealand | NZD 100 IVL (visitor levy) per trip | Charged with visa/NZeTA, not lodging |
Exemptions and Practicalities
- Children are exempt in most European schemes (cut-offs between 10 and 18 — check per city).
- Long stays cap out: many cities stop charging after 7–10 consecutive nights.
- Some cities still require cash collection at small properties — keep €20 handy at checkout.
- Business travellers: a few schemes retain exemptions with employer paperwork, but these are disappearing.
- The tax is government-set — the hotel cannot waive it, and arguing at the desk is wasted breath.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't tourist tax included in my booking total?
Many jurisdictions require or allow local collection, so platforms list it as 'excluded charges'. Read the fine print under the price breakdown — the amount is stated there.
Which European city has the highest tourist tax?
By structure, Amsterdam at 12.5% of the room rate is the steepest for most travellers in 2026; Paris's top palace-category flat rate is the highest per-person flat fee.
Do children pay city tax?
Usually not: most European cities exempt children under a threshold between 10 and 18. The US percentage-based occupancy taxes apply to the room, so age is irrelevant there.
Can a hotel waive the city tax?
No — it's a government levy the hotel merely collects and remits. Only official exemptions (age, long-stay caps, sometimes business travel) reduce it.
