Tourists, beware

Tourist taxes: 10 popular destinations that will charge you for visiting

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.

Places with rhythm

What places inspired these 12 famous American songs?

Some songs do more than climb the charts; they put real places on the map. From dusty highways to bright city skylines, America’s landscapes have shaped lyrics we still hum decades later. For many listeners, especially those who grew up with these classics, the places feel as familiar as the melodies. Take a look at 12 places that helped inspire immortal hits!

Frank Sinatra’s signature anthem turned New York City into a musical symbol of ambition and bright lights. Though written for a 1977 film, Sinatra’s bold rendition made it the unofficial soundtrack of Broadway, Times Square, and towering Manhattan dreams

Visitors still feel that electric energy when walking Fifth Avenue or watching the skyline glow at night. The city’s spirit of reinvention mirrors the song’s promise: if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.

Marc Cohn’s 1991 hit captures the soul of Memphis, name-checking Beale Street and honoring the city’s blues tradition. Inspired by his own visit, Cohn described a spiritual awakening among the rhythms that shaped American music.

Today, travelers tour Sun Studio, stroll Beale Street, and visit Graceland. The city’s blend of gospel, blues, and rock still echoes through its streets.

Bruce Springsteen’s ballad paints a gritty portrait of Atlantic City during its casino-era revival. Beneath the boardwalk lights, the lyrics tell a story of struggle, risk, and hope.

Modern visitors find sandy beaches, historic piers, and neon-lit casinos. Yet the song adds another layer that is rarely seen by tourists.

Johnny Cash was inspired by Folsom Prison long before he performed there in 1968. That live concert turned the song into a legend and made the penitentiary world-famous.

The town of Folsom still honors Cash’s visit with numerous signs and legends of the Man in Black’s time spent there.

Marty Robbins’ 1959 classic tells a tale of love and tragedy set in El Paso’s dusty borderland realm. The city’s desert backdrop gives the song its vivid Western feel.

With sunsets over the Franklin Mountains and a rich Tex-Mex culture, El Paso still carries the frontier spirit that made Robbins’ ballad unforgettable.

Glen Campbell’s hit spotlights a lonely lineman working the plains near Wichita. Songwriter Jimmy Webb imagined the endless Kansas horizon stretching beneath telephone lines.

Wichita today blends aviation history with Midwestern calm. The wide-open skies and rolling farmland still match the song’s mood of quiet dedication and longing.

Gladys Knight & the Pips turned Georgia into a symbol of homecoming and second chances. The song tells of returning south after dreams fade elsewhere.

From Atlanta’s busy streets to small-town rail stops, Georgia’s warmth and musical heritage reinforce the song’s emotional pull toward home.

First popularized in the 1920s and revived by Sinatra decades later, this song captures Chicago’s jazz-age identity and big-city pride.

Walking along Lake Michigan or through the Loop, visitors can sense the rhythm that made Chicago a musical powerhouse.

While Lynyrd Skynyrd’s hit references several Southern themes, it famously mentions Muscle Shoals, home to legendary recording studios that shaped American rock and roll music.

Music lovers will visit the studios where countless classics were recorded. The town’s quiet streets hide an outsized musical legacy.

Gordon Lightfoot’s reflective song takes its name from a real highway near the small town of Carefree. The desert scenery inspired thoughts of freedom and escape.

Driving that stretch today, travelers see golden light over cacti and open sky, evoking the exact same feeling the song transmits.

Written during a cold New York winter, this 1965 hit longed for sunny California skies. Los Angeles became a symbol of warmth and possibility.

From palm-lined boulevards to Pacific beaches, Southern California still embodies the dream that fueled the song’s wistful harmonies.

John Denver’s beloved anthem paints a heartfelt picture of West Virginia’s mountains and winding roads, even though the songwriter first imagined the region from afar.

The state’s Appalachian scenery, with its rolling hills, rivers, and small towns, still makes listeners feel the pull of country roads leading home.