Visiting Venice has become pricier with the implementation of a day-trip fee, making it the first city globally to take such a measure to address overtourism during peak seasons. The new program, effective from Thursday, requires travelers to pay around €5 (approximately $5.36) per person before exploring the city’s canals and historic sites. Additionally, Venice announced earlier in January that it would limit tourist groups to 25 individuals starting in June and ban the use of loudspeakers in specific areas.
Simone Venturini, Venice’s top tourism official, highlighted the need for a new balance between tourists and residents, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding spaces for locals and discouraging excessive day-trippers on certain days. The fee is currently applicable during 29 days considered the busiest, from April 25 to July 14, with tickets valid from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Children under 14 and guests with hotel reservations can enter for free, although the latter must request an exemption online.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro expressed the city’s intention to secure a future for Venice and preserve its heritage for generations to come through this new system. Despite this, the program faced criticism from residents, leading to protests and unrest outside the train station. Some locals believe that the measure won’t effectively address overtourism and may be challenging to enforce due to its complexity and numerous exceptions.
While Venice takes the lead in introducing a day-trip fee, several other European cities have either initiated or increased tourist taxes to manage large crowds and bolster the local economy. For instance, Barcelona raised its city-wide tourist tax, and Greece implemented an additional “climate crisis resilience” tax to support disaster recovery projects, reflecting a broader trend of destinations seeking sustainable tourism solutions.
