Starting this Friday, Venice is reintroducing its entry fee in an effort to better manage the flow of tourists. The key change this year is a doubled charge for travelers who decide to visit the city at the last minute, according to The Guardian.
A year ago, Venice became the first major tourist city in the world to introduce an entry fee, aimed at reducing the number of day-trippers during peak periods. While the measure had little impact on overall visitor numbers, it brought in €2.4 million to the city’s budget — significantly more than expected — and local authorities remain hopeful that over time it will help preserve sustainable tourism in Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The fee remains at €5 when booked in advance online but rises to €10 if purchased less than three days before arrival. In 2024, the fee will apply on 54 days — mostly weekends — from April 18 to July 27, nearly double the number of days compared to last year.
In 2023, Venice saw a record number of overnight stays in its historic center, with over 3.9 million people staying at least one night. However, the total number of annual visitors is around 30 million, the vast majority of whom visit only for a day.
