Registration first, then the category
Accommodation services in households, in rooms, tourist apartments, and flats and houses rented to tourists, may be provided only on the basis of a decision on entry in the Central Tourism Register. You submit the application to the competent body of your municipality no later than eight days before you start renting, and the municipality issues its decision within eight days.
The application must include proof of ownership or lease, a copy of your ID, a statement that the property meets the minimum technical requirements, and a completed checklist for the category you are seeking. The request for categorisation is submitted to the municipality within five days of the registration decision, and the decision on the category is issued within 15 days. An inspection then checks whether the apartment really meets the requirements.
That is why you should decide on the category before you buy the equipment. The checklist you fill in is the same document the inspection later assesses you against.
Minimum apartment size
| Apartment, with bathroom | 1★ | 2★ | 3★ | 4★ | 5★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For 2 to 3 people | 20 m² | 24 m² | 29 m² | 35 m² | 40 m² |
| For 3 to 4 people | 25 m² | 29 m² | 36 m² | 45 m² | 50 m² |
| Two bedrooms, 4 to 6 people | 30 m² | 36 m² | 42 m² | 50 m² | 60 m² |
The floor area determines how many guests you can host in which category. If an apartment is 30 square metres, for two to three people it can get three stars at most, and for three to four people two stars at most. So before you buy a sofa bed, check whether your floor area even allows an extra guest in the category you are aiming for.
Beds and mattresses
For apartments of one to three stars, a single bed must be at least 90 x 190 cm and a double bed at least 140 x 190 cm. For four stars a single bed of 100 x 200 cm and a double bed of 160 x 200 cm are required, and for five stars a double bed of 200 x 200 cm.
In every category a bed must have a firm mattress, a hygienic mattress protector, a sheet, a pillow and a duvet. From four stars, two pillows per guest, cotton bed linen and a small rug beside the bed if the floor is tile or wood are also required. The mattress and protector are the items on which it pays least to economise, because both their quality and their hygiene are assessed.
Furniture in the room
From one to three stars it is not mandatory for every bed to have its own bedside table. A single table with a lamp between two beds, or a shelf beside the bed, is enough. From four stars every bed must have its own bedside table with a lamp and an extra socket for charging a phone.
From three stars a wardrobe and clothes shelves are needed according to the number of beds, enough identical hangers, and access to the bed from both sides. For apartments of one to three stars a comfortable armchair with a floor lamp is required, and from four stars an armchair and floor lamp per bed, plus a large mirror and a luggage shelf.
For one and two stars a table, a chair and a metal waste bin are enough. From three stars, besides the table and chair, there must also be a mirror, a lamp and a socket at table height.
Kitchen
Every tourist apartment must have a sink with hot and cold water, a fridge, cookware and utensils for preparing and serving food, a cupboard with dishes and cutlery according to the number of guests, a waste bin and washing-up supplies. For one and two stars an electric cooker with two rings is enough, and from three stars the cooker must also have an extractor hood.
From four stars the kitchen must also have an oven or grill, a pantry or cupboard for food, a dishwasher and a smoke detector. If you are planning a custom kitchen, leave room for a built-in dishwasher right away, because it is hard to add later.
Heating, curtains and TV
For one and two stars a fan or heater is enough, and from three stars every accommodation unit must have heating or air conditioning. From three stars all rooms must also have blackout curtains or blinds, which on the coast in summer matters to the guests themselves.
A television is required in all categories, and from three stars with a cable connection. For five stars there must be a television in both the living room and the bedroom.
Room layout and terrace
Every apartment must have an entrance hall. For one and two stars the living area, dining area, kitchen and sleeping area can be in a single space, with a separate bathroom. From three stars the bedroom must be separate, and for four stars the kitchen too. From four stars the terrace must be furnished with quality furniture, and the apartment must also have a washing machine.
Furniture that can handle the season
A rental apartment is used more than a flat you live in, and guests change every few days. Choose sofas and chairs with covers that can be removed and washed, stain-resistant fabrics, and tables with a surface that does not absorb liquid. On a terrace by the sea, choose materials that salt and sun do not damage quickly, such as aluminium, teak or grade 316 stainless steel.
It also pays to make furniture easy to replace. If a chair breaks in the middle of the season, it is easier to find the same one if it comes from a showroom’s regular range than if it was a one-off piece.
What else you must have
The host must display at the entrance the sign for the type and category of the property, display the prices and the amount of the tourist tax, issue the guest a receipt, keep a guest book and keep a complaints book in a visible place. The guest must be insured against the consequences of an accident, and data on the number of guests and overnight stays must be submitted to the municipality, the local tourism organisation and the statistics office by the tenth of the month for the previous month.
The categorisation rulebook dates from 2018, and in July 2026 the Government adopted a proposal for a new law on tourism and hospitality. Before you buy equipment, check with your municipality which checklist currently applies to the category you want.