Barcelona raised its tourist charge sharply on 1 April 2026. It has two parts: the Catalan tourist tax (IEET) and a city surcharge of 5 EUR per person and night that applies to every type of accommodation.
What Barcelona charges per night
- 5-star and luxury: 7 plus 5 = 12 EUR
- 4-star: 3.40 plus 5 = 8.40 EUR
- Licensed holiday flat (HUT): 4.50 plus 5 = 9.50 EUR
- Youth hostel: 1 plus 5 = 6 EUR
- Other accommodation and campsites: 2 plus 5 = 7 EUR
The charge applies to a maximum of seven nights in one continuous stay. Children under 16 pay nothing. The property collects it and shows it separately on the bill. Reports say the city surcharge is meant to rise by 1 EUR a year, but the city has not published the rate for April 2027 yet. Leave some room in the budget for later bookings.
Example: two adults, four nights in a four-star hotel. 2 times 4 times 8.40 EUR is 67.20 EUR.
From El Prat airport to the centre
- Aerobús: about 6.75 EUR one way, about 12 EUR return.
- Metro L9 Sud: about 5 to 6 EUR. Ordinary single tickets are not valid on that line, you need an airport ticket.
- Taxi: about 35 to 45 EUR, often around 39 EUR into the centre.
Car hire
You hardly need a car in the city. It pays off for trips to Montserrat or the Costa Brava. Look at the deposit, excess and fuel policy (full-to-full is best) and ask about low-emission zone rules.