Venice to Raise Entry Fee to 50 Euros: What Will Change for Tourists, and Who Is Exempt from the Fee?

Venice’s newly elected mayor, Simone Venturini, plans to raise the tourist tax for day-trippers to 50 euros on peak days. Find out when the new rules will take effect, who is exempt from the tax, and how it works now

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The newly elected mayor of Venice, Simone Venturini, intends to significantly raise the entry fee for tourists visiting the city for just one day. Instead of the current rate, he plans to charge up to 50 euros on days of peak tourist traffic. This was reported by The Guardian.

The right-wing politician, who was elected mayor in late May, emphasizes that the increase will apply primarily on days of peak demand. The city council is currently reviewing the proposal, which it plans to submit to the central government for approval—to obtain permission to raise the fee “on certain days and in cases where the number of advance bookings exceeds established thresholds.”

Read also: The 10 Coolest Countries in Europe for a Summer Vacation—Where to Escape the Heat?

How did Venice’s tourist tax system develop?

Venice became the first tourist city in the world to introduce an entry fee for day-trippers—this happened in 2024. At that time, a 5-euro fee was charged during the 29 busiest days from April through July.

In 2025, the pilot program was expanded: the number of days subject to the fee was increased to 54, and tourists who booked their visit at the last minute paid twice as much. By 2026, the system already covered 60 days.

Although the scheme has not yet led to a noticeable reduction in visitor numbers, the financial results have been better than expected: in the first year alone, the city budget received 2.4 million euros.

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How the fee works now: QR codes and inspectors

The tourist fee can be paid online. After payment, visitors receive a QR code, which must be presented to inspectors at the main entry points to the city—specifically at the Venice-Santa Lucia train station.

If you’re planning a trip to Venice or other popular European cities — don’t forget to purchase travel insurance. You can do this online through Visit Ukraine.

Who is exempt from paying the tax?

Not all visitors are required to pay. The following are exempt from the tax:

● tourists who have booked overnight accommodations in Venice;

● residents of the Veneto region, where most day-trippers come from;

● children under 14 years of age.

However, even guests staying at hotels are required to register their visit on a special website—meaning certain administrative procedures apply to everyone.

Why Venice Is Raising the Fee: The Mayor’s Position

Venturini clearly articulates the goal of the reform. “Currently, the entry fee is the only effective tool for controlling the daily number of visitors. That is why we are working on a proposal that will make it more effective on days with the highest influx of tourists, in order to strike a new balance between the needs of residents, workers, and visitors to the city,” he stated.

The funds collected will be used to finance municipal services, as well as to maintain and protect this unique city on the water. Venice’s annual operating costs exceed 100 million euros.

During his election campaign, Venturini promised to raise the fee to 30–50 euros depending on specific dates. Currently, this idea is in the stage of preparing an official proposal and seeking approval from the government.

We remind you! Researchers analyzed nearly 100,000 reviews of popular tourist attractions and determined which places most often fail to live up to expectations. Read about who topped the list of disappointments and why even famous locations fail to impress tourists.

Photo: diana.grytsku / Freepik

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