Venice's new mayor, Simone Venturini, has proposed a 900% increase in the tourist fee for day-trippers, raising the cost to €50 ($80) during peak season from the current €5 ($8). The plan, reported by the U.K. Times, is intended as a "stronger deterrent" for travelers "during periods of peak tourist pressure," according to Venturini, who was elected mayor in May after serving as city councillor for tourism.
Background of the entry fee system
In 2024, Venice became the first European destination to introduce a pay-to-enter system for day-trippers, operating between April and July. Last year, the fee was doubled for last-minute travelers who booked within three days of their visit. The city is also expanding the program, increasing the number of chargeable days from 54 to 60 this year.
Venturini said the admission fee is "currently the only effective tool to control daily visitor numbers" and helps "finance city services and support the maintenance and protection of a unique city, built on water, whose costs exceed €100m each year." The increased fee would address daily congestion around railway and cruise entry corridors, overloaded pedestrian networks during peak months, rising maintenance costs for heritage infrastructure, and resident displacement linked to short-term tourism demand.
Exemptions and enforcement
Many visitors are exempt from the fee, including local residents, Venice-born individuals, students, workers, and anyone arriving before 8:30 a.m. or departing after 4 p.m. Overnight guests staying in hotels or rental properties are also not required to pay. The system operates through online ticket purchases, with verification at major access points around the city. Visitors found without valid tickets risk fines of up to €300 ($485).
Criticism and constitutional concerns
The proposal, which will be sent to the Italian government and parliament, has sparked criticism from opponents who call the plan "barbarous" and potentially in breach of constitutional principles. Critics argue that Venice should instead focus on limiting short-term rental properties like those on Airbnb. Former mayor Massimo Cacciari said, "There is no other Italian or European city that you have to buy a ticket to enter, as if it were a museum. This is barbarous, uncivil and in my opinion anti-constitutional." Constitutional expert Ludovico Mazzarolli agreed, telling Corriere della Sera that a €50 entry fee could conflict with the Italian Constitution's principle of free movement within the country.
Mayor's rationale
Venturini insisted the objective is not to deter tourists but rather encourage them to visit at less busy times. "We need to keep an eye on the total number of visitors to Venice, but we do not want to put a maximum limit on tourists, so instead we can aim to get them to spread out and avoid coming on those days when we face the prospect of 80,000 visitors," he told the Times. "The higher the ticket price, the better for us."
