Venice's Entry Fee for Day-Trippers: Breaking it Down
Understanding the Venice Fee Structure: A Breakdown of the Ticketing System in Venice
Venice is reintroducing its controversial entry fee for day-trippers on April 18th. Here's the lowdown:
Who gets the fee?
The fee applies to day-trippers (or turisti giornalieri), individuals over 14 who enter the city's historic center between 8:30 AM and 4 PM on 54 designated days. These folks don't stay at accommodations within the Venice municipality overnight.
What's the catch?
Besides the main island, the Venice Municipality includes all the lagoon's smaller islands and the mainland areas of Mestre, Marghera, and Favaro. Accommodations like hotels, B&Bs, hostels, and holiday homes fall under this category.
Historic center boundaries?
The fee applies to Venice's historic center, which encompasses the entire island, excluding the Santa Lucia railway station, Piazzale Roma, and the Tronchetto terminal. Visitors transiting through these areas won't have to pay the fee.
The historic center doesn't include Burano, Murano, or several other small islands in the Venetian lagoon. Day-trippers traveling directly to these islands without entering the historic center won't be charged either.
Who's exempt?
Exemptions include:- Children under 14- Venice residents- Veneto region residents- Students in Venice- Individuals working in Venice (employees and self-employed)- Owners of a second home in the Venice municipality and their household members- Partners, parents, or relatives up to the third degree of kinship of people living in Venice- Visitors of Venice residents
More exemptions and information can be found at xxx.xxx.xxx.
How much is it?
Visitors pay €5 if their visit is booked at least four days in advance. If booking is within three days of the visit, the fee jumps to €10.
How to pay?
Initially, plans included on-site kiosks and info points for fee payment. However, payments can currently only be made via the online booking platform. After payment, visitors receive a QR code, which must be shown to ticket officers upon entering the historic center.
Failure to produce a valid QR code or exemption can result in fines ranging from €50 to €300.
Key dates:
- April 18 – May 4: Every day
- May 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31
- June 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29
- July 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
The Need for the Fee
Overcrowding and its impact on the city's infrastructure and fragile artistic heritage have long plagued Venice. By introducing this fee system, city officials aim to manage tourist crowds and ease the strain on public services and infrastructure.
Critics argue that the fee has failed to meet its goal, with no significant reduction in crowds and no improvement in daily life for residents. For instance, opposition councillor Giovanni Andrea Martini claimed trial dates showed an increase of 5,000 to 10,000 visitors per day during peak periods, demonstrating the system's failure [1].
[1] Author, "Entry Fee Scheme for Day-Trippers in Venice 'a Resounding Failure,'" Our Website, Date Accessed: DD MON YYYY.[2] "Venetian Entry Fee: How It Works," Another Website, Date Accessed: DD MON YYYY.[3] "Frequently Asked Questions About the Venetian Entry Fee," Different Website, Date Accessed: DD MON YYYY.[4] "Taking the Water Bus, Ferry, or Taxi in Venice," Fourth Website, Date Accessed: DD MON YYYY.
- EU residents traveling to Venice will have to pay an entry fee for day-tripping in Venice's historic center, as the system is set to be reintroduced in 2025.
- Residents of Italy's Veneto region, students in Venice, individuals working in Venice, and certain family members of Venice residents are exempt from the Venice entry fee, as listed by the officials.
- Day-trippers traveling directly to Venice's islands like Burano or Murano won't have to pay the fee, even when entering the Venetian lagoon.
- For EU residents staying within the Venice municipality, accommodations like hotels, B&Bs, hostels, and holiday homes are not subject to the fee.
- Those visiting Venice and its historic center must pay €5 if their visit is booked at least four days in advance, while last-minute bookings within three days of the visit will incur a fee of €10.
- Payments for the Venice entry fee can currently only be made online via the booking platform, with fines ranging from €50 to €300 given for failing to produce a valid QR code or exemption.
