Visiting Barcelona could soon cost more for some tourists

The cost of cruising to Europe’s busiest port could increase sooner than travelers expected.

Cruise passengers stopping in Barcelona are currently subject to a 4-euro daily municipal surcharge. That's specifically for cruises that spend less than 12 hours in Catalonia's capital, not cruises that start or end their voyages there.

That fee was already scheduled to gradually increase over several years. However, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni is now proposing doubling it within months, according to Spain’s leading newspaper, El Pais.

If approved by the city council, the mayor’s office told USA TODAY the hike would take effect no sooner than 2027.

The mayor also wants to raise the cap on the surcharge beyond 8 euros per day, but that would have to be approved by Catalonia's government.

The mayor’s office notes stopover cruises provide less value to the city and contribute to overcrowding, but tourist taxes help fund city projects like heating public schools with green energy.

Barcelona has been fighting overtourism for years, raising tourist taxes, limiting vacation rentals and more recently, scaling back cruise ship terminals.