Tourist tax rate Cologne

Explore the current tourist tax rates in Cologne, Germany's fourth-largest city, which boasts a stunning Gothic cathedral, rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts scene, and serves as a major Rhine port. This page offers up-to-date information on taxes applied to short-term accommodations in this economic hub.

Tourist tax rate in Cologne

These are the current applicable Tourist Tax rates in Cologne in 2026. To keep the information simple and clear, we present below the rates applicable during the high season and for adults. The tax is calculated as a percentage of the total booking amount (based on the accommodation price including VAT and excluding services), not as a fixed per person per night charge, so the percentage is shown for comparison with other jurisdictions. It applies to non-business stays of fewer than 62 consecutive days; business trips and stays of 62 or more consecutive days are not charged.

Accommodation type	Cologne
3 star hotel	5%
3 star short-term rental	5%
Bed & Breakfast	5%
3 star camp site	5%

Last updated: 24 Aug 2026

Trippz: the authority on tourist tax

Tourist tax is set locally and rates change without warning. Trippz tracks every change and keeps the data current, which is why travel platforms and property software, including Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia, rely on Trippz to calculate tourist tax and register guests in every market they serve.

How Trippz stays current

Trippz checks tax rules jurisdiction by jurisdiction against official municipal and national sources. When a rate or rule changes, the update happens automatically rather than on a periodic review cycle. This is the same monitoring that travel platforms and software vendors depend on to stay accurate everywhere they operate.

One tax engine, every market

Send a location, get the applicable rate, instantly and correctly calculated. Travel platforms and property software embed this calculation directly into their own product, so every booking is taxed correctly without building or maintaining a rate engine in house. It is the same logic behind every rate on this page.

Explore Trippz for Platforms

Frequently asked questions about the use of Trippz

• How can platforms and software vendors use Trippz?

  Trippz provides tourist tax content and a ready made calculation engine through one API. Platforms and software vendors add accurate tax calculation to their product without maintaining a rate database in house. Guest registration and authority connections are available as a separate capability for those who need it.

• How does Trippz keep tourist tax rates current?

  Trippz checks the jurisdictions it covers against official sources and updates rates automatically when a city or country changes them.

  
  

• Which countries and cities does Trippz cover?

  Trippz maintains tourist tax data across a wide range of countries and cities. See the full overview in our tourist tax guides.

• Is Trippz's data and infrastructure secure?

  Yes. Trippz is SOC1 Type 2 and SOC2 Type 2 certified and GDPR compliant, so platforms and software vendors can embed tourist tax calculation without adding security or compliance risk of their own.

• Who uses Trippz for tourist tax?

  Trippz provides tourist tax data and calculation to travel platforms and property software across Europe, including Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia. The same infrastructure that powers stays booked through the biggest platforms in travel is available to any platform or software vendor through the API.