Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France & Netherlands Increase Travel Expenses: Essential 2025 Rule Changes You Need to Know!

Published on March 5, 2025

Planning a trip to Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, and Netherlands? New 2025 travel rules bring higher costs, taxes, and restrictions—stay informed!

Europe is tightening its tourism policies in 2025 with a wave of new rules, fees, and restrictions aimed at controlling visitor numbers and managing over-tourism. Whether you’re planning a city break in Rome, a cruise to Greece, or an Airbnb stay in Spain, you’ll want to be aware of these changes before you go.

From increased tourist taxes to bans on short-term rentals, here’s a breakdown of everything that could affect your trip.

Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Bans in Spain

Spain has introduced strict regulations on short-term rentals in an effort to curb over-tourism. If you’re planning to book an Airbnb or similar accommodation, here’s what you need to know:

• Nationwide Rule: Any flats registered after February 2024 that don’t have their own separate entrances will permanently lose their rental licenses.
• Barcelona: The city plans to completely phase out tourist apartments by 2028.
• Malaga: Short-term rentals have been banned in 43 neighborhoods.
• Alicante & Madrid: New rental restrictions are also in place, though details vary by area.
• Additional Checks: Some accommodations and rental car services now require visitors to provide extra personal details, including nationality, address, phone number, and email.

Cruise Ship Restrictions & Extra Taxes

Many European cities have moved to limit cruise tourism due to concerns about overcrowding and environmental impact.

• Santorini & Mykonos (Greece): Cruise passengers now have to pay a €20 (£16.50) fee due to record-breaking arrivals of over 20,000 visitors per day in 2024.
• Other Greek Destinations: Passengers face a €5 (£4.14) per-person fee in some locations.
• Barcelona (Spain): Cruise passengers staying over 12 hours will be charged €6.25 (£5.17) per person.
• General Cruise Limits: Many cities are capping the number of cruise ships allowed to dock daily, with cruise companies adjusting itineraries accordingly.

Tourist Limits & Entry Restrictions

In an attempt to preserve cultural sites and prevent over-tourism, several top European attractions have set daily visitor caps:

• Acropolis (Athens, Greece): Maximum 20,000 visitors per day – advance booking required.
• Pompeii (Italy): Starting 2025, daily entry is limited to 20,000 visitors.
• Colosseum (Rome, Italy): A strict limit of 3,000 visitors at any given time is now enforced.

If you’re planning to visit these landmarks, it’s essential to book in advance to secure your entry.

Tourist Taxes in Popular Destinations

Several European countries have increased their tourist taxes in 2025, making travel more expensive for visitors.

🇬🇷 Greece: Higher Tourist & Climate Taxes

• General Tourist Tax: €8 (£6.62) per day per person.
• Climate Resilience Tax:
  • Basic accommodations: €1.50 (£1.24) per night.
  • Luxury hotels: Up to €10 (£8.27) per night.
• Off-Peak Season Discount (April–October):
  • Tourist tax reduced to €2 (£1.65) per day.
  • Climate tax reduced to between €0.50 (41p) and €4 (£3.30) per night.

🇮🇹 Italy: Increased City Taxes

Italy’s major cities have raised their tourist taxes, which vary by location and accommodation type:

• Rome: €3 (£2.28) to €7 (£5.79) per night.
• Milan: €2 (£1.65) to €5 (£4.14) per night.
• Florence: €1 (83p) to €5 (£4.14) per night.
• Venice (Day Visitors):
  • €5 (£4.14) for bookings made more than four days in advance.
  • €10 (£8.27) for last-minute bookings.

🇪🇸 Spain: Regional Tourist Taxes & Proposed Fees

• Barcelona:
  • City tax: €4 (£3.30) per night.
  • Regional tourist tax: €1.70 (£1.41) to €3.50 (£2.90) depending on accommodation type.
• Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza, etc.):
  • Eco-tax: Ranges from €1 (83p) for hostels/campsites to €4 per night for luxury hotels.
• Seville: Plans to introduce a €3 (£2.48) to €4 (£3.30) entry fee for the Plaza de España – awaiting final approval.

🇵🇹 Portugal: Local Tourist Taxes

Tourist taxes vary across Portugal, but at least 26 regions now charge a fee.

• Lisbon, Madeira & Faro: €2 (£1.65) per night.
• Azores: Began charging €2 per night in January 2025.

🇫🇷 France: Paris Increases Taxes

• Visitors must pay both a regional and tourist tax.
• Fees range from €1.95 (£1.61) for campsites to €15.60 (£12.90) per person per night for luxury hotels.

🇳🇱 Netherlands: Amsterdam Raises Rates

• The tourist tax has increased from 7% to 12.5% of the accommodation cost.
• Example: A hotel costing €175 (£144) per night will have an additional €21.80 (£18.30) in taxes per night.

Travel Tips for Europe 2025

• Check local rental laws before booking Airbnbs in Spain.
• Book landmark tickets in advance to avoid missing out due to visitor caps.
• Factor in tourist taxes when budgeting for accommodations.
• Verify cruise itineraries as port restrictions may alter routes.
• Stay updated on city-specific rules as tourism regulations continue to evolve.

With these new taxes, restrictions, and entry limits, traveling to Europe in 2025 requires more planning than ever. Stay informed, book ahead, and enjoy your trip hassle-free!