Greece increases tourist tax again 🇬🇷

Nightly tourist tax increase

Paying a tourist tax is pretty standard these days, and Greece is no exception. Since 2016, visitors have been charged a fee based on where they're staying. Earlier this year, Greece switched things up, renaming it from an "accommodation tax" to a "climate tax," and bumped up the rates too.

Now, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni has announced that the tax is going up again in early 2025. This means you could be paying up to an extra €5 per night if you're visiting between April and October.

• 1* and 2* hotels: from €1.50 to €2.00 per night

• 3* hotels: from €3.00 to €5.00 per night

• 4* hotels: from €7.00 to €10.00 per night

• 5* hotels: from €10.00 to €15.00 per night

In 2023, the rates were significantly lower at just €4.00 for a 5-star hotel. The tax may be payable when booking or on arrival at the hotel.

The tax is also set to rise during the low season, from November to March, but it won't be as steep. You'll see an increase of €1.50 for 3-star hotels, €3.00 for 4-star, and €4.00 for 5-star places.

Cruise ship tax

Cruise ship passengers heading into Santorini or Mykonos in peak summer season will need to pay a €20 tourist tax at the port. This is in a bid to tackle over tourism during the busiest months at these popular destinations.

Short-term rental ban

On top of that, Athens is planning to follow the trend of other European cities by banning new short-term rental contracts in three key districts. This will affect areas around Omonia and Syntagma Square.

What does it all mean?

The changes are all seen as a positive movement from the Greek government. This increases will aim to benefit climate crisis and generate additional revenue for local communities. It's also said that they will support sustainable practices and infrastructure improvements.

In certainly won't stop us visiting the beloved Greek islands, but it's worth noting when budgeting for your holiday, as the nightly tourist tax would add €105 to a week-long stay at a 5-star hotel.