Venice is set to expand its entrance fee policy for tourists in 2025, doubling the number of days on which the charge will apply, following a “successful” trial last year, according to the city’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro. The initiative aims to alleviate overcrowding by discouraging tourists from visiting on the same days and fostering greater respect for the city’s cultural heritage.
The entrance fee will be imposed on day trippers visiting Venice between April 18 and July 27, 2025, covering weekends and public holidays—a total of 54 days. Those who book their visit at least four days in advance will pay €5 (£4.17; $5.41), while bookings made with less notice will incur a fee of €10. The charge will apply to visitors aged 14 and older, who will need to pay via a mobile platform and present a QR code to inspectors at key entry points, such as the train station. Failure to show a valid ticket could result in fines.
Certain groups will be exempt from the fee, including people with hotel reservations, residents of the Veneto region, university students in Venice, and those visiting local relatives.
The initial fee was introduced in April last year, covering 29 days over a four-month period, primarily targeting weekends and public holidays. By the end of the trial in July, the scheme had collected around €2.4 million (£2 million; $2.5 million) in entrance fees, exceeding initial expectations. However, the program’s costs, including the booking platform and communication efforts, totaled approximately €3 million, prompting further analysis to determine if the scheme achieved its financial goals.
While city councillor Simone Venturini praised Venice for being proactive in addressing overtourism, critics have voiced concerns. Opposition councillor Giovanni Andrea Martini called the initiative a “failure,” arguing that it did not effectively disperse tourist crowds and could transform Venice into a “museum.” He also suggested that raising the fee from €5 to €10 would be ineffective.
The city has faced increasing scrutiny from UNESCO, which recommended adding Venice to the list of endangered world heritage sites due to threats from mass tourism and climate change. In 2021, the city also banned large cruise ships from navigating the Giudecca canal to curb pollution and prevent erosion of the city’s foundations, which are already vulnerable to frequent flooding.
