Paris Tourist Tax 2026: Rates, Rules & Exemptions

Paris has the highest tourist tax in all of France, and most of it doesn’t go to Paris – directly, anyway. 

The amount can surprise people who weren’t aware it was coming, or who have traveled to other cities that either don’t have tourist taxes or whose rates are quite low. This guide will talk about the line item you’ll see on your hotel charge, as well as why an apartment rental has the potential to be taxed at the same rate as a 5-star hotel. 

Whether you're traveling on your passport, a French visa, or something else, the tourist tax applies to you if you're paying for accommodation.

What is the Paris Tourist Tax (Taxe de Séjour)?

The Paris tourist tax is a mandatory nightly charge that is added to your accommodation bill. In Paris, the tax is per person (adult), per night, and the rates vary depending on the type of accommodation that you’ve chosen – and it’s not just by a few cents. Rates run from €0.65 to nearly €16 a night. It’s up to your hotel (or host) to collect the nightly tax and pass it on to the authorities. 

This means that the tax you see isn’t just your hotel trying to get you to pay more. It’s legally mandated, so it isn’t something that can be negotiated. The legal basis for this tax sits in the local government policy, and what exactly the rates are is voted on by the Paris City Council each year. Then, the rates are either kept the same or changed come the following January. 

Why does Paris charge a tourist tax?

Across all cities, the point of a tourist tax is to help the city’s infrastructure, for both tourists and residents. This is true with Paris, too, to have visitors contribute to the cost of tourism itself, from signage and promotion to site and monument renovations and upkeep. Residents also have these baked into their taxes. 

In addition to that, since 2025, an additional levy funds Île-de-France Mobilités. Île-de-France is the region that Paris is in, and Île-de-France Mobilités is the authority that runs the region’s trains, metros, and buses. If you take the RER from CDG Airport, for example, Île-de-France Mobilités oversees that. The same is true if you take a train to Versailles or Giverny. Roughly two-thirds of the tax you pay goes to the transport levy. 

Who collects it and how does it work?

There are three steps, but you only have to worry about one of them. You will pay the tax either when you book or when you check out. It depends on where you’re booking, as well as the hotel or accommodation itself. The booking platform, hotel staff, or host is responsible for collecting the tax. Once you’ve paid it, your part is done. The platform/host is then responsible for declaring the tax and then transferring the money to the city on a quarterly cycle. 

Your accommodation will let you know when it’s time to pay, and if you need to pay by card or cash. It’s also good to know that the obligation sits entirely with the booking platform, hotel, or host, not you. If they forget to charge it or collect it, you do not need to volunteer payment or go anywhere to submit it. This also means that the reverse is true. The tax cannot be waived for you. 

Paris tourist tax rates in 2026 by accommodation type

How much is the Paris tourist tax in 2026? It runs from €0.65 to €15.93 per adult, per night, depending on your accommodation’s official classification. Two adults spending three nights in a four-star hotel will owe €50.70. Only “palace” classified accommodations charge the top end of the rate, and Paris only has 13 of them. 

Below, you’ll find the rate that you’ll actually pay, with the approximate share the city gets, and the remainder that goes to the transportation authorities and regional and departmental authorities.

Hotels and classified tourist residences

For tax purposes, the star rating depends on what classification has been awarded by Atout France, France’s national tourism development agency. The stars that you see on a booking website and the stars earned by Atout can differ, but it’s the Atout ones that matter. 

You may have noticed that French hotels have plaques outside their front doors that show a star rating. They’re required to display their classification when they have one, and the stars on the plaque are the accurate “Atout” ones, which determine your bill.

Unclassified rentals and Airbnb apartments

Not all establishments have Atout ratings. This doesn’t mean they have 0 stars. Instead, it means they're unclassified. Getting rated is optional for accommodation sites. If a place of accommodation chooses not to get rated, then a separate taxing system is implemented, which depends on the cost of the accommodation per night. It comes out to 5% of the pre-tax nightly cost per person, with three additional levies applied. Still, it doesn’t exceed €15.93 per person.

Campsites and hostels

Campsites and hostels have the lowest nightly tax rate. A hostel bed is €2.60 per night; a two-star campsite is €0.65. 

Why was the Paris tourist tax increased for 2026?

The increase wasn’t steep, but still, there was an increase. The City Council raised the municipal share by ten cents for palace-classified and five-star hotels. With the levies, that’s €0.33 to €0.32 more per night. Every other classification stayed at the same rate. 

Now, there was a large increase, but it wasn’t because the tax rate went up. Article 140 of the 2024 Finance Act took effect in 2025, and it included a 200% Île-de-France Mobilités levy. This is what caused the tax rate to jump up so quickly. A four-star room went from a couple of euros a night to €8.45.

When you compare it to the rest of France, Paris is now significantly higher. Outside of Île-de-France, four-star hotels are typically just a couple of euros each night, mostly due to the transit levy. 

Is €15.93 Per Night Normal? Understanding High Hotel Tax in Paris

€15.93 is not the standard Paris tourist tax. This rate applies to accommodations that are classified as palaces, and there are only 13 of them. It does also apply to unclassified rentals that are expensive enough to hit that cap. The average visitor typically pays €3.25 to €8.45 per person, per night. 

Palace classification is not a “6th” star. It’s a separate honor awarded by Atout France, and only a handful of hotels have it. In the Paris area, 13; across all of France, 33. Included are Bvlgari Hotel Paris, Cheval Blanc Paris, and Fouquet’s Paris, among others. This doesn’t include five-star hotels, which can also be quite luxurious, expensive, and taxed at €11.70.

Who is exempt from the Paris tourist tax?

Most people have to pay it, but there are four exemptions: 

• Travelers under the age of 18
• Holders of a seasonal employment contract working in the city
• Travelers in emergency or temporary rehousing
• People occupying an accommodation below a rent threshold set by the council

Those are the only exemptions, so the vast majority of travelers have to pay. 

What is not an exemption

While there is an age exemption, it is for children, not senior citizens. Seniors are still required to pay. Disability also doesn’t exempt you, nor does student status, long stays, or the purpose of your trip (unless it falls into one of the exemptions listed above). 

That said, if you’re staying with friends or family and paying nothing, you do not have to pay the tax. This isn’t exactly an exemption; the tax applies to paid accommodation. 

Is there a cap on the Paris tourist tax?

There is a cap on the nightly rate – €15.93 per adult. There isn’t a cap on the number of nights, however. Some cities and countries have caps for their tourist tax, meaning after so many nights, the tax disappears. The French tax administration hasn’t listed a special regime that exists for longer stays. 

However, if you have a lease, the tax is no longer required. This is because it only applies to people who are not domiciled, meaning they’re not tenants on the lease. If you have a lease, even short-term, the situation completely changes. If you’re planning a long-term trip, make sure you weigh the pros and cons of hotel/short-term rental stays and leasing options. 

How to pay the tourist tax in Paris: practical guide

There are a couple of different situations that can happen. The difference isn’t how much you owe, it’s when you pay. 

Payment at hotels and official accommodations

Oftentimes, hotels collect the tax at checkout (not check in). They will let you know how much you owe, itemized by the number of adults and nights. The rate that you need to pay depends on the rate that was in force during your stay, not the one when you booked. So, if you book your hotel in November, but stay in February, you’ll be charged the rate in February. 

Cash isn’t uncommon at small hotels, but if you’re required to pay in cash, it has to be communicated in advance (pre-booking). You may find it in the hotel description or fine print if it’s the case. Otherwise, you are able to pay by card. 

Payment via Airbnb and short-term rental platforms

If you booked a place through an online platform such as Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking, the tax is typically collected at payment, which means you’ll have already paid it by the time your trip arrives. You’ll see it as a separate line item, so you know how much the total tax is. Check your booking receipt to make sure you’ve already paid it. If not, you will need to pay it at the hotel.

FAQs: Paris Tourist Tax

How much is the tourist tax in Paris in 2026?

Is the tourist tax included in the hotel price?

Do children pay the tourist tax in Paris?

What if I was overcharged for tourist tax?

Can I refuse to pay the Paris tourist tax?