April 25th, Italy’s Liberation Day and St Mark’s Day, was marked in the Venice by the launch of the city’s new daytripper charge. From now and through the high season to July 14 2024, the five euro fee will be applied on 29 selected dates (see below) to all day tourists arriving in Venice between 8 am and 4 pm.
- 25-30 April
- 1-5 May
- 11-12 May
- 18-19 May
- 25-26 May
- 8-9 June
- 15-16 June
- 22-23 June
- 29-30 June
- 6-7 July
- 13-14 July
How to pay
The fee can be paid on the City of Venice website, where you’ll need to input your desired dates, name, members of your group and children under 14. You can pay online and will be sent a document, listing your initials, your booking code, dates booked and a QR code. You will need to have a working telephone handy, as the system will verify your number by asking you to call a local Venice line. Once verified, your QR codes should arrive, which can be printed to show checkpoint officials, or you can show it on your device.
A booth has also been provided outside the train station for arrivals to pay the fee or register an exemption, but queues are likely to be hellish.
In the face of protests about the fee turning Venice into a theme park, authorities have steered away from calling the charge a ticket, preferring the term “contributo di accesso” (“access contribution”). But checkpoints have been set up outside transport terminals, with residents, exemption-holders and daytrippers corralled into different queuing systems. Anyone found without a valid exemption or proof of payment will be liable for a fine (of up to ten times the entrance fee or 300 euros).
Exemptions
Residents and natives of the Veneto region and overnight visitors are exempt, as well as:
- People travelling to lagoon islands, Murano, Burano, and the Lido.
- Anyone in transit through Piazzale Roma bus terminus, the Tronchetto or the Stazione Marittima.
- Tourists staying overnight in the wider Municipality of Venice, which includes Mestre on the mainland.
- Business visitors or students staying short-term.
- Visitors to residents of the Old City.
- Children under 14.
- Visitors with certified disabilities and their carers.
- People attending a sporting event.
- People entering the city for medical treatment.
- Members of Italy’s armed forces
Anyone with a right to an exemption, still needs to apply for one on the City of Venice website, where you’ll be asked to identify the reason for your visit, enter the dates and the number of people in your party, including children. You’ll also need to enter your name, date and place of birth, home address, email and phone number, as well the place where you’re staying in Venice, if applicable.
The trial will be assessed but authorities are already planning to up the ante, charging more (up to 10 euros) for certain high season dates, with the aim of the scheme not to deter tourists altogether, but to shift their arrival into lower seasons.
