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Alexander Meddings
Verified writer
GUIDED TOURFrom €69.00
Lisbon Food Tour
When planning your trip to Lisbon, Porto, or various municipalities in the Algarve don’t forget to factor the city tax (Taxa Municipal Turística) into your budget. Often referred to as the ‘tourist tax,’ this fee may not be included in your accommodation’s listed price, and you’ll likely be asked to pay it directly to the establishment at the end of your stay.
Informing yourself about Lisbon’s tourist tax is essential to avoid any last-minute surprises.
How much is the city tax in Lisbon?
As of September 1st 2024, Lisbon’s city tax will increase from €2 to €4 per guest, per night for all accommodation types. This fee is applicable for up to 7 consecutive nights. Children under 13 years old are exempt from this tax, and it’s only payable once per continuous stay, regardless of whether you change accommodations within the city.
City Tax in Lisbon – Rates for 2024
If you rent accommodation through Airbnb or Booking.com, the city tax remains the same at €2 per night and will be included in your bill breakdown. This rate is consistent across all types of short-term accommodations within Lisbon’s city limits.
Let’s use a couple of examples to illustrate how Lisbon’s city tax works. A solo traveller staying in a hotel for five nights would pay a tourist tax of €10 (based on the straightforward calculation of €2 x 5 nights).
A family of four (with children aged 15 and 10) staying in an apartment for eight nights would, meanwhile, pay €42. Since the tax is only applicable for the first seven nights and children under 13 are exempt, the total city tax for the family would be €42 (€2 x 3 adults x 7 nights).
Why does Lisbon have a city tax?
Lisbon’s city tax is allocated to enhancing the city’s appeal as a tourist destination and offsetting some of the effects of overtourism by reinvesting in local services.
The Partido Comunista Portuguê has argued that the amount collected by the municipality from the tourist tax since its introduction in 2016 has failed to mitigate the most negative impacts of tourism in the city.
Do children pay city tax in Lisbon?
No. Children under 13 are exempt from paying Lisbon’s city tax. Other exemptions include:
Residents of Lisbon;
Guests accompanying patients for medical treatment;
Those attending medical consultations in the city;
People with disabilities;
Hotel employees staying for work purposes.
It’s important to receive a receipt when you pay Lisbon’s city tax. Failure to get proof of payment could indicate that your accommodation has not properly registered your stay.
Plan your Lisbon Trip with Carpe Diem
Planning a trip this summer? Carpe Diem has you covered. We offer a range of tours and experiences for everyone from first-time visitors to seasoned travellers.
First time in Lisbon? Our Lisbon Tours offer the most comprehensive and convenient way of exploring the Portuguese capital’s world-famous attractions. Our Lisbon food tour has won multiple Viator Experience Awards for 2024 while our Tipsy Tour and Lisbon Walking Tour are firm favourites among travellers. Come and join us in Lisbon and see what all the hype is about!
Alexander Meddings is a professional copywriter and postgraduate in Roman history from the University of Oxford. After graduating with his MPhil, he moved to Florence and then Rome to carry out his research on the ground and pursue his passion at the source. He now works in travel, as a writer and content consultant, and in education as a university lecturer and translator.
