Portugal’s Evora plans tourist tax from 2025 to address overtourism

Lisbon: Evora, a popular tourist destination in Portugal known for its ancient ruins, plans to introduce a tourist tax in 2025. Visitors will have to pay a fee to stay overnight at the UNESCO World Heritage site, according to the mayor of Alentejo’s capital. Draft regulation approvals from the municipal assembly are expected by December, with the tax set to be implemented by the beginning of 2025.

Before the tourist tax takes effect, explore Evora with our guide to the best things to do in Portugal.

The process for Evora’s tourist tax began in 2019, but the plans were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tax’s goal is to minimise the effects of over-tourism by using its earnings to improve heritage restoration, waste management, and tourism promotion.

Evora’s tourist tax will be exempted for specific groups. Athletes affiliated with sports clubs, hospital patients and members of non-profit organisations (who have to stay overnight) will not need to pay this fee. Furthermore, there are plans to exempt tourists who stay for more than 2-3 days from paying the tax, encouraging them to spend more time in the city, according to SchengenNews.

The proposed tourist tax in Evora was initially suggested to be EUR 1 per night (approximately HKD 8.70) in 2019. However, the final amount is expected to be higher when the tax is implemented in 2025. The city has not yet announced the official rate for the tourist tax.

Besides Evora, many other destinations in Portugal’s Algarve region are imposing tourist taxes for overnight stays. Albufeira is set to launch a tourist tax in May 2025, and during the high season, tourists will have to pay EUR 2 per night (approximately HKD 17.43). Portimão, Olhao, Faro and Vila Real de Santo Antonio also plan to start tourist fees.