Last Updated on: 16th July 2024, 05:22 pm
On April 25th 2024, Venice (Italy) started charging day visitors to the Venetian historical lagoon town 5€ per person, per day, in a trial run to discourage day trip visitors and weekend visitors. Seems like they don’t want visitors at all. The trial ended on July 14th. Here is what the 2024 trial was about.
Venice has introduced a fee to day visitors of the lagoon island in a trial run due to last 29 days.
What is the new fee about?
This long-proposed fee is being charged to day visitors to the Venetian lagoon historical town who do not stay overnight. Venice has long been subjected to over-tourism, especially those who arrive and depart the same day, such as via cruise ships. Tourism officials and some locals state that these kind of visitors use Venetian resources during their visit, but contribute little to the local tourism economy, since cruise ship visitors only stay for short amount of time and return to the ship for food and accommodation.
The fee was been introduced to contribute to the maintenance of Venice and to discourage day trip and weekend tourism.
Who had to pay the fee to visit Venice in 2024?
All day visitors who are not exempt, must pay the fee, including those who arrive on a tour bus.
How much was the fee to enter Venice in 2024?
During the trial phase, the new fee is 5€ per person per day, for visitors 14 years old and over and when travelling to the island between the hours of 8:30am and 4pm. Outside of these hours, the fee does not need to be paid.
When the fee is introduced properly, the fee will range between 3 to 10 Euros per person.
When and how did visitors have to pay the fee to visit Venice?
Visitors can pay online in their official payment website, https://cda.ve.it/it/ before arrival, or upon arrival at ticket booths. A QR code will be generated and when requested, must be shown to ticket inspectors.
When was the fee charged?
The fee was a trial and lasted for 29 days in 2024. They were the following days:
April: 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
May: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
June: 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
July: 6, 7, 13, 14
The fee must be paid for day visitors 14 years and over visiting between 8:30am and 4pm daily. Outside of these days, visitors do not have to pay.
What if I don’t pay?
Although there are no turnstiles blocking entry to the town, random checks will be done, and day visitors caught without paying may be subjected to a fine of 50-300 Euros.
Who is exempt from paying the entry fee to Venice in 2024?
To see the full list of FAQ’s on exemptions to the fee, see their official website: https://cda.ve.it/en/faq
Those who are exempt from paying the fee are required to request an exemption on their official website: https://cda.comune.venezia.it/en/richiestaEsenzione
Here is a summary of reasons for being exempted from paying the fee:
- People who are staying overnight in paid accommodation in the historical lagoon town. You have to visit the official website and request an exemption to the fee and provide the name of the hotel you are staying at. The exemption is valid from the day you arrive to the day you depart Venice.
- Athletes attending a sporting event in Venice
- Any worker (self employed or freelancer included) from outside Venice that work in or occasionally enters Venice for work.
- Students on a school trip to Venice or who attend school in Venice
- People in the police, fire service or army (this may be Italian nationals though)
- Residents of the greater Veneto region or metropolitan city of Venice
- Owner of a property in Venice, including residential rental properties
- Relatives of residents of Venice, and relatives who are attending funerals
- People visiting residents of Venice – the resident must generate an exemption code which the visitor will enter in the exemption area online on their official website
- Other reasons for accessing Venice urgently:
- Disabled visitors and their companion
- Medical practitioners who are visiting to carry out a medical examination or procedure in Venetian healthcare facilities
- People assisting or accompanying visitors to healthcare facilities
- Spouses and relatives to the third degree who are visiting people in a healthcare or social facility
- Public authority visiting for institutional reasons
- Visitors of the prison
- People summoned to Venice for justice, public office or public interest
- Witnesses in proceedings taking place in Venice
Did you pay the fee when visiting Venice? Do you work or live in Venice? Tell us about your experiences below in the comments.
