Edinburgh's tourist tax is here - how much is it and who pays?
Summary
Edinburgh has introduced a tourist tax of 5% on accommodation costs for visitors staying overnight. The tax aims to raise about £50 million yearly to help fund city improvements such as housing, culture, and policing.Key Facts
- The tourist tax started on Friday and applies to hotels, B&Bs, self-catering, and certain other accommodations.
- Visitors pay an extra 5% fee on their accommodation cost, capped at five nights.
- The tax is collected by accommodation providers and passed to the City of Edinburgh Council.
- Exemptions include homeless people in emergency housing, those at risk of abuse, refugees, and some disabled people. Exempt individuals pay initially but can claim the tax back.
- Only overnight visitors pay the tax; day visitors to festivals and events are not charged.
- The tax was approved by the Scottish government in 2024 and by the Edinburgh Council in early 2025.
- Edinburgh joins other European cities like Amsterdam and Paris in charging a visitor levy.
- The tax coincides with Edinburgh’s busy summer festival season involving major cultural events and attracts millions of attendees.
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