Tourists who want to go on a day trip to Venice will have to pay for the privilege as the city introduces its tourist tax. The city council has finally given the green light to the policy, which is meant to address the over-tourism issues plaguing this visitor attraction.
The booking system launches with a 30-day trial period during spring and summer weekends in 2024.
Whether they arrive in Venice by boat, bus, car, train or plane, Italy's famous floating city will impose a €5 day-tripper fee.
Who has to pay a ticket to visit Venice?
Travelers planning to visit Venice will need to register and pay the tax. On the other hand, those who stay overnight do not have to pay this touristic entrance tax. Visitors arriving by both public transport and private methods must make a reservation in advance.
Those visiting the surrounding islands such as Burano and Murano will also need to register and pay. For those traveling to multiple islands, including Venice, only one ticket and one payment is required.
Some day-trippers are exempt from paying the entrance fee, although they will still need to make a reservation. These include residents of the Veneto region, students and those visiting family members in the city.
How can visitors book tickets for Venice?
A multilingual online booking system will be available for visitors to pre-book their trip to Venice. At the time of booking, visitors will receive a QR code which will act as a ticket and which must be shown to ticket controllers.
For those arriving by public transport, there may be an opportunity to purchase the entry card at the same time as the travel ticket. If this service is not available, public transport operators will make announcements to passengers to remind them of their obligation to book.