If you’ve been manifesting a Venetian gondola ride, you’ll also need to start manifesting an extra 5€ as Venice has officially just become the first city in the world to charge a “cover fee” for entry.
The entry fee was created in an effort to combat overtourism by reducing overcrowding and encouraging visitors to stay longer. Officials hope that the new fee will make Venice more hospitable for its dwindling residents.
According to a 2024 fee schedule, any tourists that want to visit Venice during peak hours but not stay the night will be charged 5€ (about $5.45).
The Associated Press writes that the announcement of the fee came after “Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage site, narrowly escaped being placed on the U.N. agency’s danger list earlier this year because of the threat that overtourism was having on its delicate ecosystem.”
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro stressed the fact that the fee is “not a new tourist tax or an attempt to bring in extra revenue,” rather an experiment to regulate tourist flows during high-traffic periods.
According to Euro News, as many as 110,000 tourists per day pass through Venice during the summer high season–a number which far outnumbers the local population. This, in turn, contributes to littering, pollution, and potential damage to historic sites.
Brugnaro stated, “Our attempt is to make a more livable city.”
Altogether, 16 days now through July will require the entry fee for day-trippers over the age of 14 looking to visit the city during peak hours, between 8:30 am and 4 pm. Anyone visiting outside of these hours will not have to pay the entry fee.
The dates (most of which fall on weekends) are as follows:
- May 18, 19, 25, 26
- June 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
- July 6, 7, 13, 14
Those exempt from paying the fee include residents and Venetian-born visitors, students and workers, and tourists who have hotel or other lodging reservations.
Additionally, day visitors will need to register before arrival, which can be done here. After paying the 5€ the site will generate a QR code to show upon arrival at any of Venice’s seven entry points.
Venice’s entry fee program was first introduced in 2019 but it was derailed due to the pandemic.
Though it’s now officially in effect, the good news is Venice is stunning year-round, so those who don’t want to pay the fee need only visit during the off-season.
And, for those who are looking to take a trip to Italy and maybe, like, not return, this new visa makes it easier than ever to move there!