Vacation on the North and Baltic Seas: a beach day will be an expensive pleasure in 2025!

Vacation on the North and Baltic Seas: a beach day will be an expensive pleasure in 2025!

Vacationing on the popular beaches of the North and Baltic Seas could require a deep dip into your vacation budget in the summer of 2025. A current survey by NDR Schleswig-Holstein shows that both spa taxes and rental prices for beach chairs will increase in many communities. This could hit day guests particularly hard, because in some places they are now also being asked to pay a spa tax.

A look at the current fees makes it clear that some places have seen significant price increases. The daily spa tax in St. Peter-Ording is between 3.00 and 4.00 euros per person. For overnight guests in Sierksdorf, the increase focuses on the spa tax, which will be raised from 2.60 to 3.10 euros, while day guests have to shell out up to 3.80 euros. In other places like Eckernförde, holidaymakers don't have to pay anything for the beach, but the overnight costs include a spa tax of 3 euros. The islands of Amrum and Föhr have also increased the tourist tax - from 2.60 to 3.50 euros. shz.de also reports on the precarious developments.

Family vacations are becoming more expensive

For a family with two adults and two children, a day at the beach can cost more than 20 euros - and that's without parking or restaurants. The situation is made even worse by increased parking fees. A new feature in St. Peter-Ording is camera-based parking and an additional entrance fee of 6.50 euros for a specific section of the beach. It seems as if resorts are trying to cover their expenses, as revenue from resort taxes and beach use fees is often not enough to cover costs. In Großenbrode, despite an increase in the spa tax from 3 to 3.50 euros, there remains a financial deficit, while Neustadt covers at least two thirds of the spa expenses from income.

Where does the tourist tax go?

There are many reasons for charging tourist taxes. As explained on ostsee.de, the income flows into important offers and services for holidaymakers, including lifeguards, security services and the organization of events. The maintenance of the beaches and the provision of waste containers are also financed from these funds. Tourist taxes vary depending on the season and can cost up to 4 euros per day, with some places offering a discount for children up to a certain age.

As in Italy, there are also discussions in Germany about charging beach fees. Despite a ruling by the Federal Administrative Court that establishes fundamentally free access to beaches, prices fluctuate greatly and reflect the different economic circumstances of the regions. Other places such as Rimini also charge a surprisingly moderate tourist tax under certain conditions with a price of 2.50 euros per day.

One thing is certain: If you want to go to the Baltic Sea or North Sea in the summer of 2025, you should not only have the sun with you, but also enough money for beach fees and parking costs. There really is something there!