What is the Paris Tourist Tax? (and how much is it?)
Last Updated on 10th February 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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On a recent trip to Paris, I was pretty shocked to find that we were asked to pay over €16 each when checking into our four-star hotel. The reason why? Well, as of the 1st of January 2024, the city of Paris has implemented a high cost Paris tourist tax for those staying in temporary accommodation in the city. In this article, we’ll dive into how much the tourist tax is and who has to pay it.
Please note that, when you’re booking a hotel in Paris, there will be a note somewhere on the listing of how much the tourist tax is. However, whereas some hotels factor the tax into the overall price you’ll pay (though it will have its own line on the invoice you receive), other hotels will make you pay the cost separately upon arrival.
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What’s the tourist tax for?
By and large the tourist tax is the way of the city making extra money by charging non-resident visitors a compulsory tax to stay in the city. Tourist taxes are common all over France and are meant to aid in the development and promotion of tourism in the areas where they’re implemented.
When travelling around a lot of Europe, you’ll often find a mandatory extra charge known as the tourist tax either when you pay for the hotel or upon checking in. Other places where the tax is implemented include Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Greece.
There was a tourist tax prior to January 2024, but it was a maximum of a few euros per night. In light of the Olympics coming to Paris, the city has decided to up the tourist tax by over 200%!
Who does the tourist tax apply to?
The tourist tax applies per adult (not per room) to visitors staying overnight in the following types of accommodation. Rather egregiously, you even have to pay the tourist tax if you’re camping in a campsite and have brought your own tent along with you!
Children under the age of 18 are exempt from paying the tax. Visitors who are staying with family or friends are exempt from paying the tax. The following places impose the tax:
- Palaces
- Tourist hotels
- Aparthotels
- Furnished rentals
- Bed & Breakfasts
- Holiday villages
- Outdoor accommodation (think tents and yurts)
- Youth hostels
How much is the tourist tax?
The good news is that the tourist tax varies depending on what kind of accommodation you’re staying in, meaning that if you’re travelling to Paris on a budget, then you can stay in a lower tax class accommodation in order to keep your budget down.
If you are staying in a place which doesn’t yet have a tourist tax classification, then you can expect to pay a proportional tax of 5% of the cost of the night excluding tax with a maximum price of €14.95.
| Type of accommodation | NET RATES PER PERSON AND PER NIGHT |
|---|---|
| Palace (some five star hotels are classes as Palaces such as the Shangri La and Hôtel Plaza Athénée) | €14.95 |
| Hotels, aparthotels, furnished rentals: 5 star rated accommodation | €10.73 |
| Hotels, aparthotels, furnished rentals: 4 star rated accommodation | €8.13 |
| Hotels, aparthotels, furnished rentals: 3 star rated accommodation | €5.20 |
| Hotels, aparthotels, furnished rentals: 2 star rated accommodation | €3.25 |
| Hotels and aparthotels, furnished rentals: 1 star. Holiday villages: 1, 2 and 3 stars. Bed & Breakfasts. Youth hostels | €2.60 |
| Campsites: 3, 4 and 5 stars | €1.95 |
| Campsites: 1 and 2 stars | €0.65 |
How do you pay the tourist tax?
The tourist tax will be paid directly to your hotel either by cash (France uses the euro) or by card. As I mentioned, sometimes you will pay the tourist tax at the same time as your room, and at other times you’ll be asked to pay at check in.
