Venice's New Entry Fee for Tourists Just Launched
The fee is an attempt to control crowding caused by overtourism.
If you're planning a trip to Venice, be prepared to pay up. Starting today, January 16, the city is imposing an entry fee for visitors to control the crowding caused by tourism.
According to The Times newspaper, a similar measure was previously announced in 2019 but was put on hold partially because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Per the outlet, lawmakers approved the new package of restrictions in 2021. Then, the city looked to implement the measure in 2022, but it got delayed until 2023.
Now, the city of Venice has made an official decision. Beginning today, visitors will have to pay €5 ($5.36 at the time of writing) to access and visit the Italian city. Tourists can pay the fee via an online platform and will be given a QR code to show upon entry to the city. The fee will be in place on select days and peak weekends between April and mid-July for a total of 29 days, and it will be enforced only during peak hours between 8:30 am and 4 pm.
The new rule, however, won't apply to everyone. Residents, their relatives, children under the age of 14, and people who are staying in hotels locally won't have to pay. Students and workers won't have to pay the fee either.
Overtourism has long been an issue in Venice, forcing officials to get creative in managing the issue and preserving the city and its resources. Residents have been outspoken in opposition to overtourism, too. In addition to imposing fees on tourists entering the city, in 2021 Venice banned cruise ships from entering the city center.