Going to Venice again, that’s it – but why not now? It’s cold there now, it’s true, dark early, and occasionally the water spills onto the footpaths. But the city is free from mass tourism. No queues at the sought-after locations, and you can also easily find inexpensive hotel rooms. And most importantly, you don’t have to deal with the new entrance fees that are coming soon.
These tickets were decided after years of discussion, and there was a lot of excitement in the local council. The proponents want to fill the city’s coffers (we’re talking about 13 million euros a year) or scare off some of the far too many tourists or both. Opponents doubt that the benefits are greater than the costs, and in general: Is Venice an open-air museum or simply a special and beautiful city? No matter, the battle is over, the fee applies from April 25th. Anyone who wants can register on the relevant website from this Tuesday, January 16th Contributo di Accesso register or just inform.
A lot of things have not yet been clarified, for example how the city wants to check whether visitors to Venice have actually paid. So far there has been talk of spot checks in the old town, but now Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has brought turnstiles at the known entrances, such as the train station, into the discussion. The local government’s planning is entering the hot phase, with only three months left until the start.
One thing is certain: it’s five euros per day, children under 14 are free. The QR code purchased online must be presented during an inspection. Anyone traveling without proof can expect a fine of between 50 and 300 euros. The exact dates have now also been set, because 2024 is a test year with only 29 pay days: continuously from Thursday, April 25th to Sunday, May 5th. Then all weekends from Saturday, May 11th to Sunday, July 14th, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the exception of the 1st/2nd. June, this is the weekend of the national holiday. From 2025 onwards, things should get serious all the time.
However, this only affects day visitors. Travelers who can provide proof of at least one overnight stay in the lagoon city are exempt from the fee. Ideally, you will receive the QR code together with your booking – although you will pay a tourist tax anyway, which is staggered depending on the category of accommodation and is calculated per night.
In addition, from June 1st, the city has banned tourist groups of more than 25 people in the city center and on the sought-after islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Loudspeakers will no longer be allowed to be used during guided tours, and tour companies will no longer be allowed to stop for long periods in narrow streets or on bridges. This gives hope for getting through the bottleneck of the Rialto Bridge and Ponte della Paglia opposite the Bridge of Sighs.
Although, as I said, for those making a last-minute decision, I would like to point out that the streets of Venice are currently more empty than they have been during the rest of the year.