Venice entry fee launches: You can now book your ticket to visit in 2024

Last November, Venice authorities unveiled a pilot program for their long-term plan to charge day tourists to visit the city.

The tourist tax was due to be launched earlier this year, but has been delayed due to logistical problems and fears it will eat into tourism revenue.

The board has now confirmed the launch of the online payment platform which tourists should use to book tickets.

The portal is live from 12 pm GMT on January 16. Visitors to Venice use the site to receive a QR code to be shown to officials making checks in the city.

The entrance fee aims to reduce crowds, encourage longer visits and improve the quality of life for residents.

Here’s everything you need to know when you have to pay and how much.

Why is Venice introducing a tourist tax?

The rollout of the tourist tax comes after Venice narrowly escaped being placed on UNESCO danger list last year because of the damage caused by overtourism to its delicate ecosystem.

The member states cited the proposed new entry fee to decide to spare Venice from the list.

The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, said that the fee is not an attempt to bring in extra income. Rather, it is a “first experiment of its kind” to regulate tourist flows in one of the countries of the world. the most visited places.

The purpose of the charge is to encourage visitors to avoid periods of high traffic and come on other days.

“Our attempt is to make the city more livable,” he said at a press conference outlining the pilot program.

When do visitors have to pay to visit Venice?

Starting this year, visitors will have to pay a €5 fee to enter the fragile lagoon city.

The charge will be in place on peak weekends and other days between April and mid-July – 29 days in total.

The day trip rate will be in effect during peak hours from 8:30 am until 4 pm, meaning that visitors coming to Venice for dinner or a concert will not have to pay.

Who will book a ticket to visit Venice?

A number of exemptions apply to the entry fee system.

Those who do not need to pay on the day tourist tax includes residents, Venetian visitors, students and workers, as well as tourists who have a hotel or other accommodation reservation.

How can I book my ticket for Venice?

From January 16, visitors can “book” their day in Venice on a dedicated platform.

Day visitors pay €5 and get a QR code that will then be checked at spot controls at seven access points around the city, including at the main train station.

Visitors with hotel reservations enter the hotel information and also get a QR code to view. However, they don’t need to pay, since their hotel bill already includes a Venice accommodation tax.

How to make tourism more sustainable?

After the COVID-19 lockdowns devastated its tourism industry, Venice tried to rethink its relationship with visitors in one more way. sustainable way while also trying to encourage its residents to stay put.

The city was forced to take action in response to the constant exodus of Venetians to the mainland.

After pressure from UNESCO and environmentalists, the authorities finally banned it large cruise ships to cross St. Mark’s Square and cross the Giudecca Canal.

Venice pointed to the long term the tourists as key to their survival since they tend to spend more.

Brugnaro said that in no way the new contribution of the day trip discourages tourism in general, but only tries to manage it better.

He acknowledged that the visitor program probably has glitches and will have to be modified. But he said that after years of study and talk, it was time to spread the word.