That small charge on your hotel bill, the one you weren’t quite expecting at checkout, has a name in Austria: the Ortstaxe, or Kurtaxe in some provinces. It’s been part of Austrian travel for decades, but 2026 is worth paying attention to. Vienna’s rate is going up mid-year, and Salzburg already raised its fee in 2025 – sharply. A lot of guides still show the old numbers. This one doesn’t.
In this guide:
- How the tourist tax works in Austria
- Tourist Tax in Vienna 2026
- Tourist Tax in Salzburg 2026
- Tyrol, Innsbruck & other regions
- Exemptions & who pays nothing
- 2026 updates & latest news
- Tips to cut costs
- FAQs
1. How Austria’s Tourist Tax Works
There’s no single national rate; each of Austria’s nine provinces sets its own. Vienna ties the tax to a percentage of the room cost. Salzburg and most Alpine regions use a flat fee per person per night. Either way, it applies to hotels, guesthouses, private apartments, hostels, and Airbnbs. Nobody’s exempt just because they booked online.
2. Tourist Tax in Vienna 2026
Until June 30th, 2026, Vienna charges 3.2% of the net accommodation cost after removing VAT, breakfast, and an 11% lump-sum deduction. In real terms, that’s roughly €2.52 on a €100 room. Not a huge amount, but worth knowing.
From July 1st, that changes. The rate rises to 5%, and the formula gets simpler – just VAT and breakfast come off, no extra deduction. Now that the same €100 room will it cost you a €5 tourist tax, and they are also planning to have a jump towards the 8% planned for July 2027, the original plan was of 8.5%, but the people protested so hard that the Council agreed only 8%.
The same €100 room now costs €5.00 in tourist tax. A further jump to 8% is planned for July 2027. The city originally proposed 8.5% in a single step, but the hotel industry pushed back hard enough that the council agreed to phase it in instead.
Period Rate On a €100 net room Until June 30, 2026 3.2% of net cost ~€2.52
From July 1, 2026, 5% of net cost ~€5.00
From July 1, 2027 (planned), 8% of net cost ~€8.00
Airbnb and Booking.com collect and remit the Vienna Ortstaxe automatically. Direct bookings with private hosts are a different story. Confirm upfront whether the tax is included or added at checkout.
3. Tourist Tax in Salzburg 2026
Salzburg’s increase hit in May 2025, and it was a big one. The old rate of around €1.80 per person per night was replaced with €3.00, plus €0.05 for a regional tourism development fund. So the number to
Budget right now is €3.05 per adult per night, and children under 15 still pay nothing.
4. Tyrol, Innsbruck & Other Regions
In Tyrol, the tourist tax rate was raised in the province from around €2 to 2.6 euro at the rate per night per person in May 2025. Individual municipalities, particularly ski resorts like Kitzbühel, can charge above that, and peak-season winter rates sometimes reach €3.50 or higher.
Region Tourist Tax (per person/night) Notes
Vienna 3.2% → 5% from July 1st Percentage-based Salzburg €3.05 Incl. €0.05 regional fund Tyrol / Innsbruck €2.60 base; up to €3.50+ in ski resorts Varies by municipality Carinthia ~€1.80–€2.00 Students sometimes exempt Vorarlberg €2.50–€3.00 Children free
5. Who Is Exempt?
Children under 15 pay nothing, which is consistent everywhere in Austria. Beyond that, Vienna exempts university students whose accommodation is directly tied to their studies, and guests on stays longer than 3 continuous months. Most other provinces offer reductions at 30+ days. Some business travellers can apply for a waiver through their accommodation; it’s worth asking.
6. What’s New in 2026
The big one is Vienna’s July 1st rate change, 3.2% becomes 5%, with another jump to 8% expected in July 2027. Hotels are already adjusting how they display the tax on invoices since the simpler formula makes it easier to list separately. Salzburg’s €3.05 is the correct current number; anything showing €1.75 or €2.00 is out of date. Tyrol continues tweaking at the municipal level, and there’s a “culture euro” proposal floating around Vienna’s city council a flat add-on fee for cultural institution funding – but it hasn’t been passed into law as of March 2026.
7. Tips to Save Money
Book Vienna stays before July 1st you’ll pay roughly half the tourist tax versus later in the year. Kids under 15 are exempt everywhere at €3.05 per adult night in Salzburg, which saves real money across a family trip
Long stays of 30+ days often qualify for reduced or waived rates – ask your host. Check your booking breakdown before confirming; Airbnb typically includes the tax, but direct bookings often don’t
Staying outside city centres means lower base rates and generally lower tourist taxes too
8. FAQs – Tourist Tax in Austria 2026
Q1. How much is the tourist tax in Austria in 2026?
Vienna charges 3.2% of net room cost (rising to 5% from July 1st). Salzburg is €3.05 per person per night. Tyrol starts at €2.60, higher in ski resorts. Other provinces generally fall between €1.80 and €3.00.
Q2. Do children pay the tourist tax in Austria?
No – children under 15 are exempt across all Austrian provinces and cities.
Q3. Is the tourist tax included in my booking?
On Airbnb and Booking.com, usually yes – they handle it automatically in Vienna and Salzburg. Direct bookings with private hosts often add it separately at checkout, so always check.
Q4. Can I avoid paying it?
Only through a genuine exemption can Vienna students, long-stay guests, and certain business travellers. There’s no general opt-out for regular tourists.
Q5. Why is Austria’s tourist tax going up?
Rising visitor numbers and infrastructure costs are the official reasons. Vienna specifically is simplifying its formula at the same time, moving from a complex multi-step calculation to a straightforward percentage, which makes the tax easier to display and understand.
Austria’s tourist tax is still a small charge in the grand scheme of a European holiday. But the current numbers are different enough from last year that it’s worth having them straight before you book – especially if you’re visiting Vienna after July 1st or budgeting for Salzburg without knowing the 2025 rate change happened.
Rates verified March 2026. Tourist tax is set at the provincial and municipal levels and is subject to change. Confirm with your accommodation before travel.