Barcelona’s city council has given the green light to a proposal to triple the fees charged to cruise passengers during their visits to the popular tourist destination. The levy for cruise travelers will see an increase from €8 to €24 per person, on top of the existing €6 regional tourist tax for visitors spending less than 12 hours in Barcelona. This change will bring the total cost for cruise passengers visiting the city to €30 per individual, approximately £26.
This decision, spearheaded by Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni, aims to reduce the impact of cruise tourism on the Catalan city. In 2025, Barcelona hosted approximately 16 million visitors, with almost 4 million arriving via cruise ships. Concerns have been raised by advocates about the strain on public services and overcrowding, particularly during the busy summer months. The intention behind the fee hike is not just to decrease the number of cruise visitors but to discourage cruise ships from stopping in Barcelona altogether.
To achieve this goal, the city council initially approved a gradual increase in passenger levies over four years starting in July 2025. However, reports from cruise industry sources suggest that this timeline could be expedited, with higher charges possibly being enforced as early as 2027.
Cruises originating from or ending in Barcelona will be exempt from the increased fee, as these voyages are viewed as having a positive impact on the city compared to day trips. A study on the sustainability of cruises in Barcelona revealed that day-trippers from cruises typically spend an average of 5.7 hours in the city, often visiting popular attractions like the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.
In efforts to manage overtourism, Barcelona reduced its number of cruise terminals from seven to five last year and redirected larger cruise ships away from central ports, prioritizing smaller vessels and local marine traffic.
Beyond cruise passengers, visitors to Barcelona will also face higher fees as of April 1, with general accommodation tourist taxes witnessing an increase. These charges, among the highest in Europe, now range from €7 to €12 per person per night when factoring in both regional and municipal surcharges.
Barcelona has been at the forefront of overtourism protests in Spain. In June 2025, demonstrators took to the streets with messages denouncing the impact of tourism, with actions like squirting water pistols at people on outdoor terraces. More protests, including those by groups like Menys Turisme Més Vida (Less Tourism More Life), are anticipated this summer, including demonstrations in Palma, Majorca, starting on July 26 to coincide with the beginning of the school holiday season.
