Venice has recently initiated the sale of tickets for day visitors as part of a well-planned strategy to manage tourism and impose charges on those who visit the canal city for the day. These tickets, which can be conveniently purchased online, will be mandatory for individuals who wish to explore the city without staying overnight on specific peak days during the spring and summer seasons. The cost of the ticket will amount to €5 ($5.43) and will be applicable to travelers aged 14 and above between 8.30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The introduction of this fee marks an unprecedented experiment aimed at effectively regulating the influx of visitors and safeguarding the city’s distinctive heritage. It serves as a deterrent to discourage fleeting tourism, commonly known as ‘hit-and-run’ tourism. Venezia Unica, the official tourism site of Venice, has expressed that this fee is a significant step towards managing the city’s tourism more efficiently.
The fee will be enforced on the following dates:
1. April 25-30
2. May 1-5
3. May 11-12
4. May 18-19
5. May 25-26
6. June 8-9
7. June 15-16
8. June 22-23
9. June 29-30
10. July 6-7
11. July 13-14
Day visitors who purchase the fee in advance will receive a QR code, which they must present to officials at the main access points of Venice. Those who fail to pay the fee will be subject to a fine ranging from €50 ($54.29) to €300 ($325.72), in addition to a €10 ($10.86) entry fee.
However, tourists who opt to stay overnight in the city will be exempt from the new day fee. They are required to apply online for this exemption. It is important to note that overnight guests who have already booked a hotel stay are subject to a separate tax.
It is worth mentioning that the day fee will not be applicable to travelers visiting smaller islands such as Murano or Burano.
The decision to implement this fee was initially proposed in 2019 but faced multiple delays. It comes after UNESCO, despite recommendations, once again excluded Venice from its list of world heritage sites in danger. Venice has been under UNESCO’s scrutiny for several years and managed to avoid the same fate in 2021.
In recent years, the city has undertaken various preservation initiatives, including designating
