Visitors to the "Serenissima", the proverbially most cheerful city in Italy, will soon no longer have much to laugh about; Venice wants to charge admission on more days of the year in future.
Venice continues to tighten the reins on mass tourism; from next year, visitors will have to pay an entrance fee on even more days. The city is thus continuing its controversial experiment - and expanding it further.
As the city administration recently announced, the access fee, the so-called "
contributo di accesso",
will be levied on a total of 60 days next year - from April 3 to July 26, 2026. The system, which was first introduced in 2024, is now entering its third season.
While there were 29 chargeable days in the first year and 54 by 2025, the number is now rising again. Although the exact amount of the levy for 2026 has not yet been determined, observers expect the price to be higher than before.
This year, short-term visitors had to pay between five and 10 euros, depending on the crowds, to stroll through the alleyways around St. Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge for a few hours. Those staying overnight in Venice remain exempt from the daily fee, but continue to pay the regular tourist tax.
According to the city administration, around 720,000 day tourists have officially registered in the current year. As a result, around 5.4 million euros flowed into the municipality's coffers. However, many visitors continue to avoid the fee, which is why the system is still officially considered a test phase.
The aim of the regulation is to control the number of visitors and improve the quality of life for residents. Fewer than 50,000 people live in the old town today - fewer than there are hotel beds.
Despite the revenue the measure remains controversial. Critics doubt that the entry ticket will actually provide relief. After all, the city is expensive anyway - a cappuccino on St. Mark's Square can cost up to 17 euros.
