The Edinburgh Visitor Levy is the overnight levy of the City of Edinburgh Council. It is 5 % of the cost of paid overnight accommodation in Edinburgh, for the first 5 nights of a stay only, and applies to stays from 24 July 2026.
It applies only within the City of Edinburgh, not across Scotland. Other councils are introducing their own levies with different rates from 2027.
Edinburgh Visitor Levy: classification
- Entity type
- Local levy
- Category
- Overnight levy (visitor levy)
- German name
- Übernachtungsabgabe Edinburgh
- Geographic scope
- City of Edinburgh
- Levied by
- The City of Edinburgh Council
- Status
- in force since 24 July 2026
Edinburgh Visitor Levy: Core data
- Rate
- 5 % of the accommodation cost, the same every day of the year (The City of Edinburgh Council, About the Edinburgh Visitor Levy)
- Duration
- the first 5 nights only, no levy from the 6th night (The City of Edinburgh Council, About the Edinburgh Visitor Levy)
- Calculation
- before VAT, not on extras such as parking, food, drinks or transport (The City of Edinburgh Council, About the Edinburgh Visitor Levy)
- Accommodation
- hotels, holiday lets, B&Bs, hostels, self-catering and campsites (The City of Edinburgh Council, About the Edinburgh Visitor Levy)
- Example
- 5 nights at £100 each: £25 levy (The City of Edinburgh Council, About the Edinburgh Visitor Levy)
Edinburgh Visitor Levy: Exemptions
- Earlier bookings
- no levy on bookings paid in full or in part before 1 October 2025 (The City of Edinburgh Council, About the Edinburgh Visitor Levy)
- Who pays
- all guests, including those from Scotland (The City of Edinburgh Council, About the Edinburgh Visitor Levy)
- Refund
- for recipients of certain disability benefits, on application after the stay (The City of Edinburgh Council, Visitor Levy: Information for visitors and exemptions)
Distinguishing Edinburgh Visitor Levy
The Edinburgh Visitor Levy is not a Scotland-wide tourist tax. Other councils are introducing their own levies with different rates, according to their council websites for example Aberdeen 7 % from 1 April 2027 and Stirling 3 % from 14 June 2027. It is not a United Kingdom levy and has nothing to do with the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). It applies to overnight stays, not to admission prices, tours or transport.
Further reading on Edinburgh Visitor Levy
- Costs and budget (in German): What a trip to Edinburgh costs.
- Accommodation in Scotland (in German): Levies of other councils from 2027.
- City of Edinburgh Council: Visitor Levy: The city's official page.
- Edinburgh Visitor Levy (German version): This page in German.
Frequently asked questions about Edinburgh Visitor Levy
How much is the Edinburgh Visitor Levy?
5 % of the accommodation cost, calculated before VAT, for the first 5 nights. For 5 nights at £100 each, that is £25. According to the City of Edinburgh Council, no levy is due from the 6th night.
Since when does the Edinburgh Visitor Levy apply?
For stays from 24 July 2026. According to the City of Edinburgh Council, it does not apply to bookings paid in full or in part before 1 October 2025.
Does the Edinburgh Visitor Levy apply to hostels and campsites?
Yes. According to the City of Edinburgh Council, it applies to all paid overnight stays in Edinburgh, including hostels, holiday lets and campsites, but not to extras such as parking or food.
Edinburgh Visitor Levy: sources
- The City of Edinburgh Council, About the Edinburgh Visitor Levy, retrieved on 29 September 2026
- The City of Edinburgh Council, Visitor Levy: Information for visitors and exemptions, retrieved on 29 September 2026
