Venice entry fee dates for 2024 were revealed today. The fees commence on 25th April, a public holiday in Italy. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro confirmed on Thursday that the fee would exclusively apply to tourists on day trips, exempting those staying overnight in Venice.
The Venice mayor unveiled the schedule for the implementation of its new €5 entry fee system for day-trippers in 2024. The multi-lingual booking system should become operational from January 16.
The designated dates for the entry fee are as follows:
- April 25 to May 5,
- every other weekend in May (May 11-12, 18-19, 25-26),
- the final four weekends in June (June 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30),
- and the initial two weekends in July (July 6-7, 13-14).
During these periods, the entry fee system will be active from 08:30 to 16:00, with penalties of up to €300 for violations.
Luigi Brugnaro described the initiative as an unprecedented experiment globally, emphasising the city’s complexity and fragility. He stated, “The city is alive, and we have the obligation to take measures because in the historic center, at certain times of the year, there is crowding that we must reduce.” Brugnaro acknowledged the trial measure would incur more costs than revenues. However, he emphasised the importance of evaluating the bookability of the city, asserting Venice will never be completely closed.
Fee system has faced multiple delays previously
Originally proposed several years ago, the entry fee system encountered delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and logistical challenges. The objective is to alleviate the pressure on the fragile lagoon city caused by large numbers of tourists. The city council approved the entry fee system on 12th September, intending to test it on days surrounding key public holidays in spring and summer.
Residents of the Veneto region and visitors under the age of 14 are reportedly exempt from the fee. Simone Venturini, Venice’s tourism councillor, stated in September that the aim of the entry fee is to encourage day-trippers to choose off-peak days for their visit. He emphasised the need to test and improve the system, positioning Venice as a trailblazer globally in achieving a new balance between the rights of residents and visitors.
Despite warnings from UNESCO about “irreversible damage” from climate change and mass tourism, Venice avoided being declared an endangered world heritage site in September. UNESCO criticised Italian authorities for a “lack of strategic vision” and insufficient efforts to protect the canal city.
