Barcelona is doubling the fee per person charged for overnight stays in the city, with the dual aim of decreasing the number of visitors staying in holiday rentals and raising funds to renovate and increase the city’s housing stock. Hotel stay fees will also double.
The new fees for apartment rentals, starting in April, will go from €6.25 per person per night to €12.50, or nearly €90 a week. Hotel fees are based on hotel categories, up to 5-star, with the range of fees changing from €5-7.50 up to €10-15.
The fees for vacation rental apartments are somewhat temporary, as the city has announced a plan to ban all short-term rentals by 2028. Even at the new rate, it’s not Europe’s highest; Amsterdam charges €18.45 per day.
Hotel owners are particularly concerned in Barcelona, one of the world’s top destinations for conventions and business gatherings; the increase might cause events to shift to other cities and possibly lower Barcelona’s visitor total more than intended.
