Venice, the historical Italian city famous for its canals, will charge 5 euros (174 lira) for daily tourists to enter the city center.
In the city where the number of tourists exceeds the number of residents, the access fee will for now only be applied on 29 peak travel days (mostly weekends) between April 25 and July 14. Online payment can be made via the city’s website. The entrance fee is valid for visitors in the historical center of Venice between 8:30 a.m. and 16:00 p.m. and does not apply to the smaller outer islands. Additionally, children under the age of 14 have free entry into the city.
According to Time’s report, although the application of turnstiles was brought up in the first negotiations regarding the entrance fee, the new system will be implemented through random checks by security personnel. Those who pay the entrance fee will be given a QR code that they can present, while tourists staying in hotels will be able to apply for an exemption QR code. If the entrance fee is not paid, the fines will vary between 50-300 euros (1748-10 thousand 491 liras).
Speaking to Reuters, Simone Venturini, member of the Venice City Council responsible for tourism and economic development, said: “The phenomenon of mass tourism poses a challenge for all tourist cities in Europe” he said, adding that the fee could be increased at different times of the year to deter visitors.
The entrance fee is the latest in a series of plans the Venice government has recently implemented to reduce the effects of overtourism. The city had banned large cruise ships from entering inland waterways in 2021. Earlier this year, a limit of 25 people was imposed on tour groups and the use of loudspeakers was banned in the historical center of the city.
