Simon Calder: Explaining the cost and process of Venice entry fees

Venice, known for its picturesque canals and historic architecture, has taken a bold step in an effort to combat overtourism. The city has implemented a new admission fee for daytrippers, making it the first city in the world to do so.

Starting on April 25, 2024, visitors to the heart of Venice will have to pay €5 (£4.30) to access the city between 8.30am and 4pm on select days in the spring and summer. This fee is aimed at reducing the number of tourists flooding the city on a daily basis.

Arianna Fracasso, a leading city transport and tourism official, explained that the goal of the new scheme is to “safeguard the city from overtourism.” With around 30 million tourists visiting Venice each year, the city has been facing challenges in preserving its cultural heritage and managing the influx of visitors.

While overnight guests in Venice hotels are exempt from the fee, they still need to register online and obtain a code to pass through checkpoints. The fee will be in place for 29 days during 2024, with exceptions for certain holidays and weekends.

The implementation of this admission fee is part of a pilot scheme to assess its impact on tourism and cover associated costs. Other cities facing similar challenges, such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Dubrovnik, may consider adopting a similar approach in the future.

As Venice pioneers this new approach to managing tourism, the world will be watching to see if this model can be successful in preserving the city’s unique charm and cultural heritage.