Venice, one of the world’s most iconic tourist destinations, is tightening its policies on daytrippers once again. Starting in 2025, visitors entering the historic city without an overnight reservation will be required to pay an entry fee of €10 double the amount charged in 2024. The increase is part of an ongoing effort to control mass tourism and ease congestion in the fragile lagoon city.
The new entry fee will apply on 54 selected dates, almost twice as many as the 29 dates designated in 2024. The first round of charges will cover a continuous period from April 18 to May 4, followed by every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from May through the end of July. As before, the charge will apply to visitors entering the city between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., excluding those with overnight bookings.
To encourage advance planning, Venice authorities have introduced a discount for early reservations. Visitors who book at least four days in advance will only need to pay €5, the same rate as last year. However, last-minute daytrippers will have to pay the full €10 fee.
Venice’s tourism councillor, Simone Venturini, described the initiative as a step forward in managing the overwhelming influx of visitors. Speaking at the BIT tourism fair in Milan, Venturini said,
“The aim remains the same: create a new system to manage tourist flow and disincentivize daytripper tourism in several periods, in line with the delicate and unique nature of the city, to guarantee the respect that it merits.”
The pilot project launched in 2024 saw nearly half a million visitors pay the entry fee, generating €2.4 million in revenue. However, authorities have not disclosed the exact cost of implementing the system or how the funds were utilized.
Despite mixed results, the Venice city administration considers the fee a foundation for future tourism management policies. Officials believe that while the charge alone is not sufficient to control visitor numbers, it is part of a broader strategy to implement sustainable tourism practices.
Venice’s approach has attracted interest from other global destinations facing similar challenges with overtourism. Authorities in Formentera, Spain, and Kyoto, Japan, have reportedly reached out to Venice officials to study how the system works.
Data from 2024 indicates that tourists to Venice came from 194 countries, with Italians leading the numbers, followed by visitors from the United States, Germany, and France.
As with last year, overnight guests are exempt from paying the fee but must register online to obtain an exemption. The exemption and fee payment system remains accessible through cda.ve.it.
Certain visitors will also be able to enter Venice without paying, including:
Those transiting through Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto, or Stazione Marittima without entering the city center
Tourists visiting the outer islands such as Lido, Murano, and Burano (though many will have to pass through the city center to reach them)
While the entry fee aims to manage tourism, not all Venetians support the measure. Protesters have voiced concerns that the policy prioritizes revenue collection over addressing the city’s housing crisis and declining resident population.
On April 25, 2024, activists gathered in Piazzale Roma to protest against the initiative, holding banners reading “No to ticket, yes to houses and services for all.” Many residents argue that Venice’s main challenges stem from real estate speculation, rising costs, and the lack of long-term solutions for preserving the city’s way of life.
Despite the controversy, city officials remain committed to refining their tourism management strategy. The expansion of the entry fee in 2025 suggests that Venice is not backing down from its goal of regulating mass tourism. If the scheme proves effective, similar models could be implemented in other popular tourist hotspots worldwide.
For now, daytrippers visiting Venice in 2025 should plan ahead—both to save money and to ensure compliance with the new regulations.
