Aussies hit with new ‘tourist tax’ in France

Heading to France next year? Be prepared to pay more to visit museums, galleries and other attractions, as the country introduces a controversial “differential tariff” on entry fees.

From January 1, 2026, major French museums – including the Louvre and the Château de Versailles – will charge non-European Union visitors an admission fee of €30 (AUD$55), while people from EU countries will pay only €22 (AUD$40).

That €8 (AUD$15) difference is effectively a ‘tourist tax’ for those from outside the EU. The two-tier pricing strategy is legally limited to non-EU countries, since the European Commission rules guarantee equal access to cultural institutions for EU citizens.

Other top tourist destinations expected to roll out a similiar fee structure include the Arc de Triomphe and Opéra Garnier, and the Loire Valley’s Château de Chambord.

More institutions are expected to adopt the model in 2027.

At Versailles, where 42% of some 8 million annual visitors come from outside Europe, the levy is expected to raise an additional €27 million for maintenance and upkeep of the opulent palace and meticulously-designed gardens, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites and date back to the 1600s.

The administrators of Chambord are also considering a €10 increase, even though non-EU tourists account for just 10% of admissions, to help fund €100 million in renovations over the next decade.

The Louvre itself faces a staggering €400 million repair bill stretching through to the year 2040; the €30 non-EU entry fee is expected to raise €20 million per year toward those renovations, or a hefty €300 million over the life of the project.

Also read: Australians face $36 fee to visit Europe