Venice increases day tripper admission charges significantly for the year 2025.
For last-minute visitors plotting a day trip to Venice, prepare to fork over ten euros instead of the usual five. This hike in fees is aimed at discouraging last-minute decisions and promoting advanced planning, which in turn helps in reducing the chaos during peak periods.
Venice, having pioneered the concept of charging an entrance fee for day visitors back in 2024, is doubling down on its strategy for the upcoming season. The city has marked a staggering 54 dates for this fee, a significant increase from the 29 dates in the previous year. The fee will kick in on a continuous stretch from April 18 to May 4, followed by every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through July.
As in the past, the fee will be applicable to visitors without a prior overnight booking, between 8.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. However, those who book their visit four or more days in advance will be entitled to a 50% discount on the fee.
The city's tourism counsellor, Simone Venturini, announced at the BIT tourism fair in Milan that the initial pilot project yielded positive results. The objective remains the same: to establish a novel system for managing tourist influx and discourage day trippers in specific periods, mindful of Venice's delicate and distinctive character.
This fee-based strategy has garnered interest from other tourist destinations, including Formentera in Spain and Kyoto in Japan. Last year's visitor statistics reveal that tourists hailed from 194 global nations, with Americans, Germans, and the French making up the largest groups after locals.
Clearly, the fee contributed to a healthy revenue generation, amounting to 2.4 million euros, although expenses and the use of the funds remain unaccounted for. The city authorities assert that the fee itself may not be sufficient to regulate the crowd, but it forms the foundation for upcoming, integrated measures to address the issue of overtourism.
To its credit, this fee system has reportedly seen a slight decline in daytrippers from the Veneto region, although specific numbers have not been disclosed. As with the previous year, those lodging within the city are exempt from the fee, but a prior online registration is mandatory. The site to pay the fee or apply for an exemption remains cda.ve.it.
Interestingly, the fee is not applicable to individuals transiting at Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto or Stazione Marittima (city center port) without actually entering the city center. Moreover, guests visiting the peripheral islands, such as Lido, Murano, and Burano, are also exempt, provided they don't pass through the city center to reach their destinations.
The news of Venice doubling its day trip entrance fee has sparked interest in other tourist destinations, such as Formentera in Spain and Kyoto in Japan. Travelers planning a visit to Venice should consider booking their trip four days in advance to qualify for a 50% discount on the news fees.
