Planning a holiday in Europe this year? All the 2025 tourist taxes, bans and restrictions explained

05.02.2025 - 09:15 / euronews.com / Joanna Bailey

Travel in Europe is getting more complicated to navigate for tourists. Some cities now charge a daily tourist tax that you have to pay on arrival. 

Locals in certain holiday hotspots have made it clear that you’re not welcome with outright bans on beaches or limits to visitor numbers at top attractions. Other destinations say you’re welcome - as long you follow the rules. 

With a simple holiday in Europe getting harder to book as you navigate the increased tourist restrictions, Euronews Travel shares a lowdown on all the year’s travel watchouts.

There’s been a good deal of press about Spain’s struggle with overtourism. From high-profile protests to new rules and regulations, it’s easy to think tourists are no longer welcome in Spain.

While some have called the actions of the Spanish government a ‘tourist ban,’ it’s not that at all. Policies are in place to curb overtourism in the most popular destinations like Mallorca, Tenerife and Barcelona, but the moves are more about managing tourism rather than stopping it.

Holiday rentals including Airbnb-style rentals and apartments, can still be booked. The only accommodations affected by the changes are flats registered after February 2024 that don’t have their own entrances. For those lets, licenses will be permanently cancelled.

Various cities are introducing curbs on new rental properties entering the market, including in Malaga, where short-term lets are banned in 43 neighbourhoods. Barcelona plans to phase out tourist apartment rentals by 2028, and restrictions are in place in Alicante and Madrid.

The main difference you’ll notice if you’re heading to Spain this year will be the need to provide extra details when staying at accommodation or renting a car. Expect to be asked for information like your nationality, address, phone number, and email address as part of the new tourism rules.

Cruise passengers are being restricted all over the place. From Ibiza limiting simultaneous docking to Barcelona reducing the number of cruise ships that can visit, several European cities want to curb the influx of thousands of cruise passengers.

For holidaymakers, these new rules won’t affect your trip, as your cruise company will have planned their schedule taking into account rules and restrictions. However, it’s worth being aware of local taxes payable for entering the city, such as in Venice, which is €5 or €10 - more details below.

Some major tourist attractions are limiting visitor numbers to combat overtourism. For example, the iconic Acropolis in Athens is capped at 20,000 visitors a day, and slots need to be booked in advance to visit.

Pompeii was straining under the weight of more than four million visitors in 2024 and, as such, is also introducing a 20,000 visitor cap