Planning a trip to Venice? The city may soon become significantly more expensive for day visitors. Having introduced an access fee for day-trippers about two years ago, Venice is now considering raising it to as much as €50 per person on certain days. If approved, it would be one of the highest tourist charges in Europe.
From €5 to €50
Under the current system, day visitors pay €5 if they book in advance and €10 if they register at the last minute, on designated peak days. City officials say the fee has failed to achieve its main goal of reducing overcrowding. Venice’s new mayor, Simone Venturini, has proposed raising it to up to €50 on the busiest days.
Why does Venice want to raise it?
Venice is one of the most visited cities in the world and one of the hardest hit by overtourism. Millions of people visit every year, many just for the day, crowding its narrow streets, water buses and main sights.
“The problem is the amounts,” budget councillor Michele Zuin told Italian media. For most tourists, he said, there is little difference between €5 and €10, so the fee has had almost no effect on visitor numbers.
Support from the hotel industry
The proposal has won support from parts of the local tourism industry. Daniele Minotto, director of the Venice hoteliers’ association, said a higher, tiered fee could be an effective way to manage crowds on peak days and encourage visits at quieter times. Note that overnight hotel guests are generally exempt from the day-tripper fee.
Has it been approved?
Not yet. For now it is only a proposal, which needs approval at national level. If adopted, the higher fee would apply only on certain days of exceptional crowding, not all year.
What does it mean for travellers?
If approved, a family of four could pay up to €200 just to enter the city for the day on peak dates. Until a decision is made, the current fee remains in place. One simple way to avoid it is to stay overnight – see our guide to Venice hotels and highlights, and our Lake Garda travel guide for nearby alternatives.
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