Three years after Venice first proposed a ticketing system for entry to the city, the start date is now confirmed. Find all you need to know about the new Venice day ticket system, here.
Venice authorities have announced when visitors will have to book their slot and pay an entry fee. The fee applies to daytrippers not those staying overnight in the city as they already pay a tourist tax.
The ticketing system hopes to ease the overtourism problems plaguing the hotspot. The mayor of Venice had intimated at Easter the system would be in place from the summer. However, there is no cap on visitors, simply an increase in price once a certain number of tickets are reached per day.
Read on for a guide on the new ticketing system.
When does the Venice ticketing system start?
The official date from which visitors will have to book is 16th January, 2023.
Who needs to book to visit Venice?
All daytrippers planning on visiting the historic city of Venice and the surrounding islands – Burano, Murano, Lido etc – will have to register their visit. This is regardless of whether they arrive by public or private transport.
Only one ticket/payment is required for those travelling to multiple islands, including Venice.
Exemptions: Residents of the Veneto region, students, and those visiting family members in the city will not need to pay. However, they still need to book tickets.
How can visitors book tickets for Venice?
An online booking system in multiple languages will be available in the autumn for visitors to pre-book.
Once visitors book, they will receive a QR code that acts as their ticket. This should be shown to ticket controllers.
For those arriving by public transport, there may be the possibility to buy the entry pass at the same time as the travel ticket. If that is not available, public transport operators will remind passengers of the requirement to book.
How much will Venice day tickets cost?
The cost of tickets will vary from €3 to €10 depending on the season. Visitors are encouraged to book in advance as ticket prices could be lower.
In particularly busy periods, visitors will pay higher sums. When the number of visitors booking to arrive in the city goes over a certain threshold, the price will increase. The threshold has not yet been announced.
For those who visit out of season, in periods when there are very low numbers of daytrippers, visitors must book but will not be required to pay.
What if I forget to buy my Venice day ticket?
There will be notices and announcements at entry points to the city to remind visitors of the need to book.
Visitors who arrive without having booked and paid will have to pay the full €10 fee. They are also subject to fines from €50 to €300.
How will tickets be checked?
There will be ticket controllers throughout the city checking tickets or proof of exemption. Turnstiles may be introduced at some access points, such as the railway station.
Where does the money from the entry fee go?
As well as covering the costs of running the system, proceeds will go towards services that help the residents of the city. These include maintenance, cleaning and reducing living costs.
