Barcelona to Double Cruise Tourist Tax According to Mayor

Barcelona plans to significantly increase the fee charged to cruise passengers visiting the city, according to Mayor Jaume Collboni who reportedly announced that the current four-euro tourist fee for cruise visitors will rise to eight euros within the next few months.

According to Spanish newspaper El País, city authorities had previously agreed to introduce the increase gradually over several years through 2029.

“We’ll raise it from four to eight euros in the next few months and not over four years like we had agreed,” Collboni reportedly said.

I want to discourage the arrival of cruise passengers,” he added, explaining that the charge applies per person, per day.

No additional details about the proposal were released, though the measure is reportedly part of the city’s wider efforts to tackle overtourism.

El País also reported that Barcelona aims to reduce the number of cruise visitors arriving on short transit calls. Local officials are said to favor expanding homeport cruise operations instead, while gradually limiting day-call traffic.

In late 2025, Barcelona revealed plans to reduce the number of cruise terminals operating at the port. Currently one of the world’s busiest cruise destinations, Barcelona has seven cruise terminals, including several privately operated facilities developed in partnership with cruise companies. MSC Cruises became the latest cruise line to open its own terminal in the city when the MSC Barcelona Terminal launched in early 2025.

Alongside plans to reduce terminal numbers, Barcelona also intends to modernize its cruise infrastructure. Three existing terminals are expected to be demolished to make way for a new, larger facility capable of handling up to 7,000 passengers per day.