Looking forward to discovering the canals of Venice on a gondola ride? Visiting the Rialto Bridge and wandering off into a charming corner of the square to have some real Italian gelato in one of the most romantic cities in the world? If this sounds like you, and you’re planning a day trip to Venice, 29 days during the year will require you to pay a 5 Euro fee – just to enter.
What is the Venice access fee?
Introduced in April of 2024, the 5 Euro fee targets travellers that are visiting the floating city for a daytrip.
The reason for the fee? Overtourism. 20 million people flock to the city each year, while the number of residents is only 49,000. On peak days, 120,000 tourists fill the streets of Venice, and when overcrowding hits highs, one-way traffic systems and diversions are introduced and directed by the police – so nobody gets bumped into a canal, and so Venice’s fragile buildings and strained infrastructure have a chance to breathe. Not to mention the locals, who have trouble going about their business. It all makes for a woeful visitor experience, too.
So, how will a fee help?
Authorities hope that from the introduction of the visitor fee the city will be more livable for residents, and that it will discourage crowds on peak days. Which technically makes your trip to Venice easier, and more pleasant. No more tucking in elbows on the Rialto Bridge. It’s a steep drop, too.
On what days do I have to pay the Venice Access Fee?
Day trippers will need to pay an entry fee on 29 peak days in 2024. This is during the first peak tourism period of 2024 (April 25 to May 5), each weekend in May and June, plus the first two weekends of July.
The Venice Access Fee will only apply during peak hours from 8:30am to 4pm. Those arriving later for dinner or a concert won’t have to pay.
Entry Fee Dates:
April: 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
May: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
June: 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
July: 6, 7, 13, 14
Does everyone have to pay?
No. Children under the age of 14 as well as travellers staying overnight will not have to pay.
If you’re staying in Venice overnight, a city tax of 4 Euro per person applies for each day of your stay.
However, even if you’re staying overnight during the fee access dates and paying the city tax, you will still need to register for an exemption. You can do this through the Venezia Unica website.
Will this fee stay the same?
The city plans to raise the entry fee on days when visitor numbers reach a certain threshold. However, they have never revealed any details of what that threshold number is. For the 29 days planned in 2024, the fee will remain at 5 euro.
How can I pay?
You can visit the official website Venezia Unica to pay online, ahead of your trip. Once you pay, you’ll receive a unique QR access code, accessible through The Venice Pass app.
It’s also possible to pay at the checkpoints located throughout the city – there’s a lot of them, and they cover all entrances, so don’t even think about skipping the fee. Being caught without a pass or exemption results in a fee between 50 to 300 euro.
If you have any extra questions, visit the Venezia Unica ‘But is it True That..’ campaign page.
Looking to visit Venice?
The best, but also busiest time to go is between April-September. This period is also the warmest, but be warned – it’s illegal to swim in the canals.
If you’re looking to avoid crowds caused by warm weather or major festivals, I recommend late March. Winter can be cold and rainy, and the Acqua Alta (the high tide that will prevent you from stepping foot onto St. Mark’s Square) happens between the months of October and January. A good alternative to being trapped on the many elevated plank walkways installed during high tide is to arrive in late December, just in time for the famous masquerade New Year’s Eve balls.
If you’re looking to completely immerse yourself in the spirit of the masquerade, the annual Venice Carnival that paints the streets of Venice in colourful confetti flakes, will take place from 22nd February to 4th March in 2025. Balls are hosted regularly during this season, and you can find them on Vivo Venetia, who also offer carnival costume rental with gowns and suits entirely handmade in Venice.
Interested? Ryanair flies to Venice Marco Polo Airport all year round, and Aer Lingus’s season ends late November and resumes early March. You can book your stay on the floating city through Booking.com. The city is just a short boat ride away from the airport, and you can also grab the bus and transfer onto a train. No matter what way you end up arriving, you might not want to leave.