Venice Doubles Tourist Entrance Fee Starting April 18, With Fines For Non-Payment

Venice doubles tourist entrance fee starting April 18, with fines for non-payment, as the city ramps up its efforts to control overtourism and preserve its fragile infrastructure. This significant policy shift targets day visitors who do not stay overnight in Venice and arrive during selected peak dates and hours.

What You Need to Know About the New Entrance Fee

Key Dates and Times

From April 18 through April 30, 2025, and on every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday until July 27, day-trippers visiting Venice’s main historical center between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. must pay the increased entrance fee. This schedule covers a total of 54 days during the peak tourist season.

Fee Amount and Payment Timing

The cost of visiting Venice during these times varies based on the timing of your payment:

• Early Registration Discount: Visitors who register and pay more than four days in advance will incur a fee of €5 per person per day.
• Standard Fee: Procrastinators, beware. Those who pay three days or fewer before their visit will face a €10 fee.

Who Must Pay?

This fee structure affects day visitors aged 14 and older visiting the city’s historic center without staying overnight. Exemptions are made for overnight guests, children under 14, and people with disabilities. However, note that overnight guests must still register their stay, albeit without paying the access fee.

How to Pay

Payment and registration are conducted online via the official Venice tourism portal. Upon successful registration, tourists receive a personal QR code as proof of payment or exemption. Be prepared to show this QR code during potential spot checks in the city.

Fines for Non-Payment

Venetian authorities will enforce compliance through random spot checks across the city. Those who cannot produce proof of payment or claim an exemption will face significant fines. Although specific penalty amounts are variable, the enforcement aims to reinforce adherence to the fee system.

Affected Areas and Exemptions

The entrance fee applies strictly to Venice’s main historical center. Visitors transiting through Mestre station or the mainland airport and those visiting smaller islands such as Murano or Burano are exempt from this requirement.

This initiative is a strategic move by Venice to manage its booming tourist numbers, safeguard its infrastructure, and maintain the integrity of its cultural heritage. This fee structure especially targets periods when visitor numbers are at their peak, ensuring a more sustainable tourism model for the city.

For comprehensive details regarding these changes and how they might impact your visit to Venice, consider referring to Traveling to Venice in 2025? Here’s What You Should Know.