Visitors looking to travel to Venice will soon need to pay a fee aimed at preventing overcrowding, with the city becoming the first in the world to require an entrance fee.
Those visiting Venice for the day will be required to make a reservation for the date they plan to visit and pay a fee ranging from 3 to 10 euros per person beginning Jan. 16, 2023, or risk a fine of up to 300 euros, the equivalent of $307 in U.S. currency.
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“Venice is a living city, and it has to stay that way,” Simone Venturini, Venice’s councilor for tourism, told reporters Friday, according to CNN. “It is not a system to make cash but to manage tourist flows.”
The fee will apply to the center of Venice, as well as several surrounding islands, including Pellestrina, Murano, Burano, and Vignole, and vary based on demand.
Dal #16gennaio 2023 in vigore il contributo d’accesso a #Venezia per i visitatori giornalieri
Una misura per trovare equilibrio tra esigenze dei residenti e dei turisti
Abbiamo presentato il sistema integrato di prenotazione in conferenza stampa
Info ▶ https://t.co/T0W8slJ5Ej pic.twitter.com/F3Tg8FExkz
— Simone Venturini (@SimonVenturini) July 1, 2022
There will be some exceptions to the fee for children under 6, disabled people, homeowners, and those visiting relatives or coming to attend a sporting or cultural event.
The booking system is expected to be unveiled later this year.
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Around 80% of all tourists who visit Venice go for the day, according to the Associated Press. In 2019, roughly 19 million people visited Venice just for the day, though just over 50,000 people reside in the city.
