Venice day-tripper fee tops €5 million as mayor eyes €50 charge

Record revenue from day-trippers

Venice closed its 2026 day-tripper payment season with more than 5 million euros in revenue, the highest since the world-first entry charge was introduced. The city reported that 650,000 visitors paid the fee across 60 chargeable days between 3 April and 26 July. The scheme remains officially a test phase, though few expect it to be rolled back given the chronic pressure of mass tourism on the lagoon city.

How the fee works

Day visitors entering Venice between 08:30 and 16:00 must purchase a QR code online in advance. The standard fee is 10 euros, but those who book at least four days ahead pay only 5 euros. The two-tier system is designed to encourage early reservations and help manage visitor flows. Overnight tourists are exempt from the day fee but pay a separate accommodation tax. Residents of the Veneto region, students and commuters are also exempt, and the charge does not apply to the smaller lagoon islands.

The number of chargeable days has expanded steadily: 29 days in 2024, 54 in 2025, and 60 in 2026. The city will use data from these test years to decide on a permanent introduction.

Mayor proposes steep increase

Mayor Simone Venturini, a centre-right politician, has already signalled that fees could rise sharply. He suggested charging between 30 and 50 euros on certain peak dates. Any such increase would require approval from the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, meaning the decision does not rest with Venice alone.

Criticism and constitutional concerns

Opponents argue the entry fee has done little to deter visitors, with tourist numbers showing no decline. Constitutional experts have also raised alarms: a charge of 50 euros could be interpreted as a restriction on freedom of movement. Critics further point to the numerous exemptions and the absence of a binding cap on daily visitor numbers.

Venice's struggle with overtourism

Venice's old town now has fewer than 50,000 residents, while millions of tourists arrive each year. There are more hotel beds than inhabitants, and the strain is visible in the condition of buildings and the volume of waste. The city first began charging day visitors like a museum in 2014, and the current test phase is the latest attempt to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the need to protect a fragile urban fabric.