These Popular Destinations Are Now Charging Tourists Extra Just to Show Up

Kyoto Hiked Its Tourist Tax by 900%

Kyoto has always taken overtourism seriously, especially in its historic neighborhoods. But in 2026, the city took a much bigger step. Beginning March 1, Kyoto raised its tourist tax significantly, with travelers now paying a nightly surcharge ranging from about $1 to $66 depending on the cost of their accommodations. The steepest increase — a tenfold jump — applies to luxury stays at properties costing ¥100,000 or more per night.

Budget travelers staying in hostels may only notice a small increase. But anyone booking a traditional ryokan or upscale hotel will feel it much more. The fee is automatically added to accommodation bills, so it's now simply another cost travelers need to factor in when comparing places to stay.

Venice Is Now Charging Day-Trippers to Enter

Venice is bringing back its Access Fee program in 2026, charging day visitors to enter the historic city center on the busiest travel dates of the year. The goal is to curb overcrowding and discourage quick day trips that strain the city without benefiting locals.


The fee applies on 60 dates between April and July 2026, mostly Fridays through Sundays plus a few holiday weeks. Day visitors who register at least four days in advance pay €5 (about $6); anyone registering closer to their visit pays €10 (about $12). The fee runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on designated dates.

Overnight guests staying in Venice hotels are exempt from the fee but still need to preregister online, so everyone arriving during an affected date has to take some action before showing up. Travelers passing only through Piazzale Roma, Santa Lucia Station, Tronchetto, or the cruise terminal are exempt, as are the lagoon islands (Murano, Burano, Torcello, and Lido di Venezia).


The 2026 Access Fee dates:

• April: 3–6, 10–12, 17–19, 24–30

• May: 1–3, 8–9, 15–17, 22–24, 29–31

• June: 1–7, 12–14, 19–21, 26–28

• July: 3–5, 10–12, 17–19, 24–26

Visiting outside those dates? No registration or extra fees required.

Paris Museums Just Got More Expensive for Americans

France is also hitting visitors with higher tourism costs in 2026, especially at some of its biggest attractions. The Louvre Museum raised admission prices by 45% for non-European visitors, meaning Americans now pay €32 (about $37) instead of the previous €22 (about $26).

Meanwhile, the Palace of Versailles increased its full-estate Passport ticket to €35 (about $41) for non-European visitors during high season, which is when most American travelers visit. If you’re planning to do both during one Paris trip, you’re already approaching $80 in entrance fees before factoring in meals, transportation, or accommodations.

Rome Now Charges for Up-Close Trevi Fountain Access

Rome has introduced a new fee at one of its most iconic landmarks. Since February 2, 2026, visitors wanting close access to the Trevi Fountain must pay €2 (about $2.35) to enter the basin area directly in front of the fountain, which is the traditional coin-tossing spot.

The good news is that the fountain itself is still free to see from Piazza di Trevi, and nighttime viewing from the square remains free as well. The fee mainly applies to visitors wanting the up-close experience, while also helping reduce crowding at one of the busiest tourist sites in Europe.

Barcelona Added Yet Another Layer of Fees

Barcelona also introduced a new municipal tourist surcharge in 2026, adding another €5 (about $6) per person per night on top of Catalonia’s existing regional tourist tax. For families, the extra costs can add up surprisingly quickly. A family of four staying at a four-star hotel could easily add more than €33 (about $37) per night in combined city and regional taxes before factoring in extras like food, transportation, or resort fees.

And this is only the beginning. The city has already approved future increases, with the surcharge scheduled to rise to €8 (about $9.50) per person per night by 2029.

Amsterdam Quietly Doubled Its Accommodation Tax

The Netherlands introduced one of Europe's steepest accommodation cost increases in 2026. As of January 1, the country raised its VAT rate on hotel stays, vacation rentals, B&Bs, and hostels from 9% to 21% — a national change that applies across the country. In Amsterdam specifically, that increase stacks on top of the city's existing 12.5% tourist tax, bringing the total tax burden on Amsterdam hotel stays to around 33.5%.

The increase did not generate nearly as much international attention as the new fees in Venice or Barcelona, but for travelers, it can make a noticeable difference in the final price of a trip. If you're booking several nights in places like Amsterdam, it's worth double-checking whether taxes are already included in the advertised price before assuming the number you see online is what you'll actually pay at checkout.

Edinburgh Becomes the First UK City With a Visitor Levy

Edinburgh is also joining the growing list of destinations charging visitors more in 2026. Beginning July 24, the city will introduce a new 5% visitor levy on overnight accommodations. The fee applies only to room rates, not extras like food, room service, or hotel amenities, and it’s capped at the first five consecutive nights of a stay.

It’s the first UK city to officially roll out a tourist tax under new Scottish legislation, and many expect places like London to eventually follow. For travelers staying in mid-range hotels, the added cost works out to roughly £10 (about $13) per night. Not enough to ruin a trip, but definitely another thing travelers now have to account for when budgeting.

At the same time, Americans visiting the United Kingdom for short stays now also need a new Electronic Travel Authorization, known as the ETA. The authorization costs £16 (about $22) and must be approved before travel. Similar to Europe’s upcoming ETIAS system, the ETA covers multiple trips once issued instead of requiring travelers to reapply every time they visit.

Hawaii and Mexico Are Raising Travel Fees Too

It’s not just Europe making travel more expensive. Even destinations closer to home are adding new tourism fees in 2026. Hawaii raised its hotel and vacation rental tax from 9.25% to 10% beginning in January 2026. And while that sounds relatively small on paper, the costs stack up fast on longer stays. A weeklong stay in places like Maui at $400 per night now comes with roughly $280 in accommodation taxes alone over seven nights.

Meanwhile, Mexico is also increasing fees for travelers. The country’s federal cruise passenger tax, which first launched at $5 per traveler in July 2025, is scheduled to double to $10 in August 2026. On top of that, the state of Quintana Roo continues charging its separate Visitax fee for international visitors heading to popular destinations like Cancún, Tulum, and Cozumel. That fee currently sits at around $16 per foreign visitor.

The One Fee Every American Traveler to Europe Needs to Know About

Starting in the fourth quarter of 2026, Americans traveling to Europe will also need to apply for ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorization System. The authorization costs €20 (about $24) and stays valid for up to three years, covering multiple trips during that time.

It’s basically Europe’s version of the U.S. ESTA system. It’s not a visa, and it’s not something travelers will pay every single trip, but it is one more thing Americans will need to handle before departure. The system will apply across 30 European countries, so if Europe is anywhere on your travel radar for late 2026 or beyond, it’s worth knowing about now.

And honestly, none of these fees are likely to stop people from traveling on their own. But together, they absolutely start changing the math of a vacation. A weeklong trip to Paris for two people may now include ETIAS registration fees, higher museum tickets, hotel taxes, and city surcharges that either didn’t exist a few years ago or were much cheaper than they are now.

The reality is that these destinations still want tourists to visit. They’re just increasingly asking travelers to help pay for the infrastructure, crowd management, and preservation needed to keep some of the world’s most visited places functioning in the first place.

FAQ: Tourist Fees in 2026

What is ETIAS and do Americans need it?

ETIAS is the European Travel Information and Authorization System, launching in the fourth quarter of 2026. Americans and other visa-exempt travelers will need to apply and pay €20 (about $24) before entering any of the 30 participating European countries. It's valid for three years and covers multiple trips.

Which destination has raised its tourist tax the most in 2026?

Kyoto, Japan raised its tourist tax by up to 900% in March 2026, with the steepest increases hitting luxury accommodations. Nightly surcharges now range from about $1 to $66 depending on where you're staying.

Does it cost money to visit the Trevi Fountain now?

Yes. Rome now charges a €2 (about $2.35) fee to get close to the Trevi Fountain. You can still view it from Piazza di Trevi for free, but entering the basin area directly in front of the water requires the fee.

How much more does it cost to visit the Louvre in 2026?

The Louvre raised its entrance fee by 45% for non-European visitors. Americans now pay €32 (about $37) to enter, compared to €22 (about $26) previously.

Are tourist taxes the same as entry requirements like visas?

No. Tourist taxes are fees charged on top of your travel costs — for accommodation, attraction entry, or destination access. Entry requirements like ETIAS or the UK ETA are separate pre-travel authorizations required before you can enter those countries.

Is Hawaii also adding new tourist fees?

Yes. Hawaii raised its hotel and vacation rental tax from 9.25% to 10% as of January 2026. An additional cruise ship cabin tax was proposed but is currently blocked by a court ruling and is not yet in effect.

Will these tourist taxes keep increasing in future years?

Most likely yes. Barcelona's new municipal surcharge is already scheduled to rise by €1 per year until it reaches €8 (about $9.50) by 2029. The trend across Europe and beyond is toward more fees, not fewer, as destinations look to manage overtourism and fund local infrastructure.

Do tourist taxes apply to cruise passengers?

Some do. Venice's day-tripper fee applies to cruise passengers who come ashore without staying overnight. Mexico's federal cruise passenger tax is currently $5 per person and is set to rise to $10 in August 2026. Individual ports and destinations vary, so check your cruise documentation before departure.