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This famous European city will charge you an access fee

General

Image: Katarzyna Zygnerska

Image: Katarzyna Zygnerska

Tourists, beware

This famous European city will charge you an access fee

As tourists, we expect to see taxes included in receipts and bills, but have you ever been taxed just for being a tourist? Special tourist taxes are becoming a standard charge around the world, especially in places experiencing tourist overcrowding or in protected environments. These are 10 popular destinations across the world where you are expected to pay an added tourist tax.

For decades, this Italian city has been looking for ways to deal with the excess of tourism, the lack of space, and the costs of city maintenance. As of 2026, they have implemented a €10 ‘access fee' for day visitors on peak tourism days, with a discounted rate for those who book in advance. Exemptions to this tax include children under 14, residents, workers, students, and overnight guests (who already pay a tourist tax as part of their hotel fees).

If you thought that tourist taxes were only an issue for those travelling abroad, you're in for a surprise. Several popular destinations in the U.S. have implemented a local tourist tax, usually in the form of a lodging tax, paid as part of the accommodation fees. U.S. cities with a tourist tax include Los Angeles (12-14% of your room rate), New York City (14.75% + a fixed $3.50 per night), San Francisco (14% for stays under 30 days), Honolulu (11% with a 3% county surcharge), and Washington, D.C. (14.95%).

The rising tourism numbers in Barcelona, one of the most visited cities in Spain, have sparked several controversies surrounding overcrowding, the housing crisis, and the impact of tourism on local culture. As a response, a €5 municipal tourist tax has been implemented on top of the existing regional tourist tax (ranging from €2 to €7). The tax is only applicable to a maximum of seven nights per person, and it excludes children under the age of 16.

If you are planning to visit Mexico for your next vacation, you might have to add a tourist tax to your budget. While not all of Mexico levies a tourist tax, its most popular destinations do. The state of Quintana Roo, home to tourist hot spots like Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, requires all foreign tourists over the age of 4 to pay the $283 MXN Visitax (approximately $16 USD). Recently, the state of Baja California Sur, home to destinations such as Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Loreto, has also implemented the "Embrace it" tax for foreign tourists over 13 staying more than 24 hours. This tax has a cost of $488 MXN (approximately $30 USD).

Bali has been a popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia for several decades, and a main attraction for those interested in Hinduism, yoga, or surf. Since 2024, the Indonesian government has implemented a one-time tourist tax of 150,000 Indonesian rupiah (around $10 USD), which needs to be paid beforehand or upon arrival. The tax revenue is intended to support local culture and environmental conservation.

New Zealand is famous for its natural beauty, which makes it a prime destination for those wanting to experience beautiful landscapes, mountains, geothermal springs, and glaciers. However, experiencing these beauties comes with a price, because the New Zealand government charges an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of NZD $100 (around USD $60), intended to fund infrastructure and environmental protection. This fee is paid online as part of the visa application process.

This South American country is home to many beautiful destinations, but none as popular or famous as the Galapagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago with unique fauna, and the inspiration behind Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution. To access the Galapagos National Park, tourists must pay an entry fee, along with a $20 USD Transit Control Card (TCT), which can be acquired at the airport, paying in cash. For international tourists, the park entry fee is of $200 USD, or $100 USD for those under 12 years old, and it must be paid in cash upon arrival on the islands.

Besides local tourist taxes like the one implemented by the city of Venice, Italian municipalities levy their own tourist tax called Imposta di soggiorno (‘stay tax’), a daily fee for overnight visitors, usually charged through the hotel or accommodation. Rates for this tax will vary depending on the city, season, and hotel star rating, but it usually ranges from €1 to €10 per night, with many cities capping the tax to a certain number of days.

The Argentine capital city is a popular tourist destination due to its mix of European architecture with Latin American culture, its gastronomy, and its cultural life. However, tourists visiting the city are not free from additional taxes. Since 2020, the city government has implemented the Derecho de Uso Urbano (‘Urban Use Right’) tax, a $1.50 USD fee per person per night, paid through the hotel or accommodation. Revenue from this tax is intended to fund tourism infrastructure and promotion.

Since 2019, Japan has been charging tourists an international departure tax, often called the Sayonara tax, with the purpose of combating overtourism. The ¥3,000 (approximately $20 USD) fee is automatically included in the airplane or ship departing ticket. Additionally, cities experiencing tourism overcrowding —such as Kyoto and Tokyo— have significantly raised their accommodation tax, which can range from ¥200 ($2 USD) to ¥10,000 ($65 USD) per night, depending on your room rate.