Bremen increases bed tax: tourism levy increases to 5.5 percent!

Bremen increases bed tax: tourism levy increases to 5.5 percent!

Bremen, Deutschland - In Bremen, overnight guests in hotels, holiday apartments or pensions currently have to pay a accommodation tax. This tax, also known as Citytax, is to be raised by half a percentage point to 5.5 percent of the overnight stay. The amendment to the law was decided by the state government on May 20, 2025 and forwarded to the Bremen citizens to officially make the changes. The pressure to increase is caused by the impending budget emergency, reports of the Finance Senator Björn Fecker (Greens), which forces the country to take measures to increase revenue. [Süddeutsche] reports that the increase in bed tax should generate annual additional income of around one million euros.

The city of Bremen has committed itself to the stability council with a renovation agreement. This agreement requires the city to not only dampen costs, but also to achieve additional income in order to stabilize the country's financial situation. It is all the more important to increase the citytax to strengthen the financial foundation of Bremen. It is also planned to use 40 percent of the additional income from 2026 for tourism funding, provided that the additional expenses exceed the forecast income due to increasing overnight stays.

Details on the tax increase

The increase in the citytax affects all overnight stays offered in accommodation companies such as hotels, inns, guest houses and holiday homes. Bookings via internet platforms such as Airbnb, Wimdu or Holidu are also affected by taxation. The current income from the citytax is not earmarked, but they support the financing of the tourism offer in Bremen and Bremerhaven and help the city state to react to the needs of the growing tourism industry.

The decision to increase the accommodation tax is considered necessary by the state government in order to cope with the financial challenges in front of which Bremen faces. This measure should not only improve general budgetary situations, but also to strengthen the tourist infrastructure. [Senate Bremen] emphasizes that the increase must be decided by the citizens so that the city has the urgently needed funds available.