Every European city quietly charging Brits £175 more in unexpected costs

Brits looking to escape the dreary UK with a cheeky city break have been warned over hefty hidden charges. Following a year of - hotspots across the EU are introducing sky-high tourist taxes, which can end up adding hundreds to your trip.

Data from YouGov shows entry fees for cities could deter over 40 per cent of Brits, and yet more hotspots appear to implementing such taxes. Sayush Khandelwal of argues this can turn a seemingly 'budget-friendly' trip can quickly turn into a 'costly surprise'.

"Since travel costs are climbing fast, and popular tourist hotspots are becoming even pricier, it's crucial for Brits to be informed of tourist spots with hidden costs that are inflating their spending," they said in a statement sent to the . "Flexibility is the key here in navigating this busy holiday season smoothly."

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Barcelona

With anti-tourist sentiment spreading like wildfire across Spain, it's no surprise one of its most popular cities is clamping down on holidaymakers. Barcelona is no exception, with the iconic city recently extending a .

The city, which is part of the Catalonia region, currently has two mandatory fees: a city tax and a regional tourist tax. As of 2025, the city tax has risen to €4 (£3.35) per person, per night - while tourist tax depends on the type of accommodation visitors are staying in.

This is a sliding scale from €1.70 a night for basic hotels to €3.50 for more luxury accommodations - and combined with the city tax means holidaymakers could be forking out €7.50 per person, per night. For a family of four staying in Barcelona for one week, this works out at an eye-watering €210 (£175.63).

Legislation signed by the government early this year could see Barcelona double its combined taxes to €15 (£12.55). It is believed at least 25 per cent of funds gathered from the tax will be allocated to housing policies, amid residents' cries they've been priced out of the property market.

Venice

It may have once reigned as the most romantic city on Earth, but is slowly drowning with selfie-stick-waving tourists. Located in , Venice saw a staggering 10.9 million overnight stays last year - a number sure to keep on rising.

Every year, footage emerges on social media showing just how unpleasantly crowded the city becomes: with endless queues for attractions and restaurants, and a total lack of personal space. In response to the sheer saturation of holidaymakers, the insatiably popular city has brought in a rather hefty tourist tax.

Following a successful trial in 2024, which reportedly brought in a staggering €2.4 million (£2 million), Venice has extended its day-tripper tax in 2025. The new pilot system will run from April 18- May 4 before continuing every weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) through the end of July for a total of 54 days.

Daytrippers visiting during peak hours (8.30am - 4pm) will be charged €5 (£4.18) if they make a reservation in advance. Those who leave their trip to the last minute will see the levy double to €10 (£8.36). That means a family of four who forget to make a reservation at least four days in advance will have to fork out a staggering €40 (£33.45).

The €5 fee is not for tourists with hotel reservations. However, holidaymakers staying in the city overnight will be subject to a separate tourist tax for the first five consecutive days of stay. This varies from €1-€5 depending on the time of year, the area, and the hotel's classification.

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Amsterdam

We've saved the best until last - and by best... we mean (potentially) most expensive. may have once been a stag dos dream - but the city has had enough of uncontrollable Brits treating the history-rich region as a playground.

As a result, the Dutch capital has introduced a hefty tourist tax that is calculated on the price of your hotel. Visitors will be charged 12.5 per cent of the overnight rate of their accommodation (excluding VAT, which works out around 10.33% of your total bill). For example, a four-night stay at the four-star Social Hub Hotel* costs £952 (based on two people sharing a room from Monday, April 7-11). This would result in a tourist tax of around £109.

*Prices based on Booking.com listings at the time of writing.

Has sky-high tourist taxes put you off holidaying in Europe this summer? Email liam.gilliver@reachplc.com for a chance to share your story