Venice to Expand Tourist Entrance Fee Days in 2025
Venice plans to significantly increase the number of days it charges tourists an entrance fee starting in 2025, based on a successful trial that took place last year. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro announced that the initiative aims to manage tourist flow more effectively and enhance the city’s experience.
Under the new regulations, day visitors who make advance bookings will incur a fee of €5 for entry on designated days from April to July. This charge will rise to €10 for those booking less than four days in advance. The prior entrance fee system, introduced last April, covered 29 select days primarily during weekends and public holidays.
In 2025, the entrance fee will be in effect every Friday through Sunday and on public holidays from April 18 to July 27, totaling 54 days of access fees. Visitors above the age of 14 will be required to pay through their mobile devices and present a QR code for inspection in common areas such as train stations. Failure to present a valid ticket may result in fines.
Exemptions from the fee will apply to visitors with hotel reservations, residents of the Veneto region, university students, and those visiting family members in Venice. City councillor Simone Venturini emphasized that Venice is actively combatting overtourism, marking its proactive response on a global scale.
Italian media reports suggest that within the first week of the initial fee introduction, Venice authorities collected projected revenue expected for three months. By mid-July of the trial period, approximately €2.4 million was accrued from the entrance fees, though Mayor Brugnaro indicated a thorough analysis would be needed to assess the initiative’s financial viability.
Concerns persist regarding the effectiveness of the entrance fee system. Opposition councillor Giovanni Andrea Martini criticized the initiative as a “failure,” asserting that it has not effectively distributed the tourist influx. He argued that increasing the fee would merely commoditize Venice, transforming it into a museum-like destination.
Last year, UNESCO highlighted the need to place Venice on a list of world heritage sites at risk, citing the adverse effects of climate change and mass tourism. Additionally, in 2021, the city banned large cruise ships from entering its historic center to address concerns over pollution and structural erosion caused by these vessels, exacerbating the city’s ongoing flooding challenges.
