You want ice with that? 10 dodgy charges tourists get hit with in Europe

You might get a bigger bill than you bargained for in Europe, especially when eating out. Are the charges justified, or just dodgy grabs for the tourist dollar? You decide.

Ice cubes

Okay, the unexpected fee was only EU20¢, but it seems so stingy that it’s no wonder Erika Chalker, a tourist visiting Spain’s holiday playground Costa del Sol, recently took to social media to complain when she noticed it tacked onto her receipt. She asked for a single ice cube in her white wine and the “cubito de hielo” was duly charged. That’s just not nice.

Condiments

We all know about bread supplements in some European countries, but Czech restaurants, especially in tourist towns, charge extra for salt, pepper and other condiments such as vinegar, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard and tartare sauce. The latter is common with Czech dishes such as the popular deep-fried cheese smazeny syr. Expect to pay around CZK 40 ($2.80) for a little dish of extra goodness, though lunch specials are usually exempt.

Sitting under a heater

The rising cost of fuel in Europe, exacerbated by a ban on Russian imports, is starting to see yet more unexpected additions to restaurant goers’ bills. In Vienna, one restaurant owner has begun charging customers sitting outside on her chilly terrace for the cost of overhead heating at €5 ($8.50) per table of four. And in Zagreb, a restaurateur now charges HRK 2 (40¢) extra for coffee under a heater.

Beach-going

Australians used to extravagant public beaches might be surprised that many sections of Mediterranean beach are privately operated and you’re charged to sit on the sand – or will have to rent a lounger. The bill can be a few euros or as much as €150 ($255) a day in Portofino. Watch out, though: in parts of Spain you can be fined €250 for setting up your own gear on the first six metres of shoreline.

Solo dining

Ever been charged a supplement to dine alone? Of course not. Well, not until you visit two-Michelin-star Hotel Cafe Royal in London at least. In August 2023, it announced solo diners would be charged £330 ($655) for the privilege of a five-course tasting menu that costs anybody else half that price. That brings the notion of a singles tax to a whole new level we hope doesn’t catch on.

Food by the gram

Okay, it isn’t uncommon to have seafood charged by weight, but beware dodgy tourist menus with such small print you finish with a nasty surprise, like a Japanese couple in Rome who paid €429.80 ($733) for two plates of fish and sundry other food. The Italian word all’etto should alert you to a charge per 100 grams of fish or meat – and that’s the weight raw, not cooked.

Sharing dishes

Often in the social-media headlines are unexpected charges – especially in Italy – for sharing food. One traveller in Lake Como was charged €2 ($3.40) for having his sandwich cut in half; the cafe owner said he had to use two plates. British diners in Sicily were outraged at being charged €20 ($33) to have a birthday cake sliced, while others have called out charges for an extra plate (€2, or $3.30) or teaspoon (€1.50, or $2.50).

Sitting on a terrace

In France, Spain, Italy and elsewhere, food and drink costs more if taken outside at a cafe table rather than inside at a counter. Fair enough: table service costs more, and guests linger longer. Yet few establishments expressly tell you this. The most notorious terraces are on St Marks’ Square in Venice, where travellers on social media have complained about paying €24 ($40) for a coffee. Ouch.

Listening to live music

Diners in the UK recently vented their outrage when they enjoyed cocktails and shared dishes only to be slapped with a charge of £8 ($15) per person for the live music. Of course, a cover charge for bands isn’t unusual, but you should hear about it at the door before deciding whether to dine. Another tourist complained about a €3 ($5) charge in a Vienna restaurant for music.

Staying in a hotel

A small tourist tax added to your hotel bill is common in many European countries. The tourist tax isn’t payable when you reserve via a third-party booking site, but is demanded either when you arrive at your hotel, or more commonly when you check out. In can be a flat fee, or sliding depending on star rating. Expect a euro or two per person per night, but sometimes up to €7 ($12).