Venice will charge day visitors on 72 days in 2027, up from 60 in 2026

The 2027 schedule

Venice's city council has decided that day visitors will pay the entry fee on 72 days in 2027, up from 60 days in 2026. The charge runs from Good Friday, 26 March 2027, until mid-August. The daily fee can reach 10 euros, although earlier talk of 30 euros or even more did not lead to a steep rise for now. Any increase would also need approval from the government in Rome. The decision was announced on 16 October.

How the scheme has grown

Venice was the first city in the world to charge day visitors for entry, starting with a pilot in 2024 that applied on 29 high-season days at 5 euros per day. In 2026 the charge applied on 60 days, and more than 650,000 visitors paid, bringing the city more than 5 million euros. Those who booked at least three days ahead paid 5 euros in 2026, while later bookers paid 10 euros. Many visitors still find ways around the payment, and visitor numbers have not fallen since the fee was introduced.

How it works for visitors

Day visitors reserve their visit on a dedicated platform and receive a QR code, which is checked at seven access points across the city, including the main railway station. Hotel guests enter their booking details and also receive a code to show at the checkpoints, but they do not pay the day fee, because their hotel bill already covers the Venice accommodation tax. Overnight visitors are exempt from the entry fee but must pay the tourist tax. According to rmf24, the fee will be collected from 8:30 to 16:30 instead of ending at 16:00, and it will apply on selected holidays and weekends until 15 August. During the intensive periods from 23 April to 2 May and from 28 May to 6 June, the fee applies every day, including holidays such as Liberation Day, Labour Day and Republic Day.

Pressure on the city and the council's rationale

Venice has more hotel beds than residents, and fewer than 50,000 people live in the historic centre, while an estimated more than 25 million tourists arrive each year. City officials insist the aim is to steer visitor flows rather than to raise revenue, which is why a considerably higher entry price had been discussed. Michele Zuin, the official responsible for the city budget, said the fee is only one part of a broader strategy to manage tourist traffic and raise awareness among visitors. Simone Venturini, described by rmf24 as the city's new mayor, had argued for a fee of 30 to 50 euros, a level that was not adopted. For context, a single Vaporetto water-bus ticket costs 9.50 euros, and a half-hour gondola ride starts at 90 euros.

Outlook

The 72-day calendar is set by the council, but any rise above the current 10 euro ceiling would still require approval from the Italian government. The city presents the fee as a further step in an experiment that has run since 2024. The reports say that visitor numbers have so far not dropped because of the charge.