Canadian tourists hit with steep tax hike in popular city in Spain
Travellers from Canada planning to explore one of the most renowned cities in Spain will have to budget extra on their next trip.
If you’re heading from Canada to Spain, you’ll soon have to pay more to stay in Barcelona, which is home to popular attractions such as the BasĂlica de la Sagrada FamĂlia, Park GĂĽell, and Casa BatllĂł. But overnight stays are going to cost you a little more, as the city is set to double its overnight accommodation tax in hotels and other temporary accommodations.
Tourist taxes are set to increase to around €10 to €15 (C$16.13 to C$24) per night per person starting April 1, reports The Independent. The overnight tax rate for holiday rentals per person will also increase from €6.25 (C$10.08) to a maximum of €12.50 (C$20.16) per night.
Four-star hotels can charge up to €11.40 (C$18.38) per person, while five-star hotels may increase their nightly tax to €15 (C$24). The €6 (C$9.68) rate for cruise ship passengers will remain unchanged.
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The tax increase was approved by the Catalan authorities for two reasons: to curb visitor numbers and to raise funds for affordable housing initiatives.
Barcelona is home to 1.7 million and has been overwhelmed by the effects of overtourism. According to the Barcelona Tourism Observatory, the city saw a 2.9 per cent increase in visitors in 2025, welcoming a total of 16 million visitors. Tourists spent a total of €10.375 billion, or C$16.7 billion, during their visits.
The Spanish Ministry of Housing has also been working with online platforms such as Airbnb to crack down on unregistered rentals.
In the summer last year, locals took to the streets of Barcelona to protest against rising housing costs. Some protesters targeted tourists and expats whom they blamed for driving up prices.
Barcelona isn’t the only popular tourist destination to increase tax rates for temporary accommodation.
Starting March 1, Kyoto is set to implement Japan’s highest-ever accommodation tax.