Following numerous delays, officials have set a new timeline for Venice day trip charges. It means having to pre-book their visit and paying a fee.
Day-trippers to Venice will soon have to pay for the privilege, as the city brings in its delayed tourist tax.
Finally, after many hiccoughs, the city council has greenlit the Venice day trip charges policy. The aim is to tackle over-tourism which has plagued one of Italy’s most visited destinations.
There will be a 30-day trial on spring and summer weekends in 2024.
Initially, the scheme was to start in January of this. However, it was reportedly delayed over logistical issues and fears it will hit tourist revenue.
Who has to book to visit Venice?
Any travellers planning on visiting Venice will have to register their visit. However, if you’re staying overnight, there is no entry fee requirement.
Visitors arriving by both public transport and private methods must pre-book.
If you are visiting one of the other islands in the lagoon, such as Burano and Murano, you will also have to register and pay. The good news is, only one ticket and payment is needed for those travelling to multiple islands, including Venice.
Exemptions from the entrance fee include residents of the Veneto region, students, and those visiting family members in the city. However, they are still required to book.
Previously, the local council said there will be no limit to visitor numbers, only an increase in the entry fee should a certain number of visitors be reached on a particular day.
When will visitors have to pay to visit Venice?
The council executive agreed to a 30-day trial. This will likely be spread out across public holidays and weekends in the spring and summer of 2024.
Final approval of the plan is expected on Tuesday 12 September, when the wider city council meets.
How do I book tickets for Venice?
An online booking system in multiple languages will be made available for visitors to pre-book their trip to Venice. Once you have made your booking, a QR code will act as your ticket and must be shown to controllers.
The process has yet to be completely finalised, if you’re arriving by public transport, there may be the possibility to buy the entry pass at the same time as the travel ticket.
If this service is not available, public transport operators will make announcements to passengers reminding them of the requirement to book.
Booking in advance should result in lower prices.
How much will I have to pay to visit Venice?
The cost of tickets will initially be €5 during the trial period.
During busy periods, visitors will probably be required to pay higher sums. Previousy, the council has said that would happen once the number of visitors booking to arrive in the city goes over a certain threshold. Those threshold limits have not been confirmed.
There will also be some periods when visitors must book but will not be required to pay. This will happen when very low numbers of day-trippers are arriving in the city.
There is the possibility that on days when visitor numbers are very low, you may not have to pay. Booking will still be required.
How will tickets be checked?
Ticket controllers will be spread throughout Venice checking visitors’ tickets or proof of exemption.
Authorities are also considering introducing turnstiles at some access points to the city such as the railway station.
What if I forget to buy my ticket for Venice?
There will be notices and announcements at entry points to the city such as the bus terminal in Piazzale Roma or the railway station to remind visitors to book their tickets.
If anyone is found to be in the city without having booked, they will be subject to fines (€50-€300) and have to pay a larger entrance fee of €10.
How will the money from entrance fees be used?
In a statement, the Venice authorities said the fee is “not a tool for making cash”.
Aside from the costs of running the system, any proceeds from the entry fees will go towards services that help the residents of the city. These include maintenance, cleaning and reducing living costs.
UNESCO will be interested in seeing just how this goes towards saving a city which they are considering adding Venice to the World Heritage in Danger list.
