The city is planning a new daily tourist tax and people are soon set to have to fork out when they visit – wherever they stay
The view from the hill in Parque Monte del Castro, park located on a hill in Vigo, the biggest city in Galicia Region, in the North of Spain(Image: Aiselin82 via Getty Images)
British tourists heading to a stunning Spanish destination are preparing for the introduction of a new visitor levy. Vigo, situated in north-western Spain, boasts 45 beaches according to reports and offers convenient access to one of the world’s finest coastal spots.
The city – reachable within two hours in the UK with Ryanair – has also gained international recognition for its breathtaking Christmas illuminations, regarded as amongst the finest globally. Renowned travel journalist Simon Calder has praised the location, characterising it as ‘cultured’ and ‘highly affordable’. Travel website Aviothic has dubbed it ‘Spain’s best kept secret’.
However, local authorities are now finalising arrangements for a new tourist levy, according to Spanish media reports. This follows similar measures introduced by Santiago and La Coruña in late 2025, which attracted criticism from several sources.
View to Vigo hilltop buildings(Image: Getty)
Reports suggest that Vigo City Council is progressing with plans to implement its own visitor charge, designed to ‘redistributing’ profits generated by the tourism sector. The tax is also aimed at alleviating the environmental impact of mass tourism on the region.
Vigo is particularly famous for its spectacular Christmas lighting displays, with over 11 million LED bulbs illuminating the city last year. The city, which has approximately 295,000 inhabitants, is also known for a stunning nearby beach accessible from Vigo – though visitors staying close to the beach will be exempt from the levy. The Guardian previously praised Rodas Beach on the Cíes Islands as the “best beach in the world”. This vibrant port city has also become a favoured stop for cruise liners, reports the Mirror.
This week, Vigo finds itself at the heart of global tourism attention as it welcomes the season’s inaugural triple cruise ship arrival, bringing over 7,500 visitors to its shores within mere hours. Three substantial vessels – the Britannia, the Ventura and the Le Bellot – are docking simultaneously at the port.
Aerial view of Playa de Samil, the main beach of Vigo in Galicia in northwest Spain(Image: Getty)
Yet visitors may soon be required to pay a fee for the pleasure of experiencing this destination. According to El Debate, no type of lodging will be exempt from the charge, with rates varying based on hotel classification.
The publication indicates the levy could reach up to €2 per person per night for 4-star superior and 5-star properties. Tourist accommodation, along with 2-star superior, 3-star and 4-star hotels, would face a proposed daily charge of €1.60.
Under the plans, holiday apartments and rural tourism accommodation – as well as hostels and campsites – would incur a €0.80 per person nightly fee, while guesthouses and 1- and 2-star hotels would pay €1.20. Cruise ship passengers won’t be exempt either.
Buildings in the old quarter of Vigo, located near the port.(Image: Getty)
Abel Caballero, Vigo’s mayor, has confirmed that those stepping ashore at the city’s docks will face a €1.20 charge. He explained: “From when it comes into force until July 1, 2027, the tax will apply to the first two nights of a stay. Therefore, someone visiting Vigo for 4 nights will pay the tourist tax for only the first 2 nights. From July 1, 2027, the tax will apply to a maximum of five nights per stay.”
The tourist levy is set to be introduced “gradually” from October, just ahead of the festive illuminations, he revealed. Health-related exemptions are under consideration, while youngsters and certain people with disabilities are anticipated to be excused from payment.
While the proposal still requires sign-off from the Governing Board before a final ballot takes place, the mayor’s remarks suggest implementation appears likely. Barcelona already combines regional and municipal charges, pushing nightly costs to anywhere between 5 and 12 euros. Meanwhile, in La Coruna, the local hotel trade body has mounted a legal challenge against the proposed fee.
A beach on the Cíes islands – within easy reach of Vigo, according to a reviewer(Image: Carol Yepes via Getty Images)
Travel writer Simon Calder has previously championed Vigo’s attractions for British holidaymakers. In the Independent, he noted: “Vigo claims to be the largest fishing port in the world, and plentiful fresh seafood is a strong attraction. The city is also an excellent starting point for wider exploration of the rias (inlets) that carve the shoulder of Spain so dramatically.”
How can I get to Vigo from the UK?
Ryanair provides a direct route from Britain to Vigo–Peinador airport, departing from London Stansted. Flight duration is roughly 2 hours 10 minutes. Many travellers bound for Vigo choose to fly into neighbouring Santiago de Compostela instead, which sits just 50–60 minutes away by road. Both Ryanair (Stansted) and Vueling (Gatwick and Heathrow) run direct flights to Santiago multiple times each week, providing more options and frequently lower prices.
It’s worth noting, though, that Santiago airport will be shut from April 23 to May 27, 2026 for runway resurfacing work. At the centre of Vigo’s vibrant social life is the Casco Vello (Old Town), a wonderfully preserved labyrinth of narrow granite lanes and lively squares.
People and street cafes bars, near Plaza de la Constitucion square, old town city center of Vigo, Galicia, Spain. (Photo by: Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)(Image: Getty)
Tourists might also want to visit Castro de Vigo, an archaeological location that shows how the area’s earliest residents lived in stone dwellings over 2,000 years ago. The Guardian reports the city boasts 45 beaches, and highlights that a draw for British holidaymakers visiting Vigo is that it places “the Caribbean-like beaches of the Cíes islands within easy reach.
“The islands are an easy day trip from Vigo, adding a relaxing beach element to your Spanish city break,” the newspaper said in a favourable assessment of the destination.