Venice to charge entry fee for tourists, a first-of-its-kind initiative starts in April

For many years, Venice has been grappling with the problem of excessive tourism. City residents find the large crowds problematic and have difficulty using public transportation. Before the pandemic, this renowned tourist destination accommodated about 30 million visitors annually. By contrast, Venice's permanent population is fewer than 300,000 people.

The Venice authorities have chosen to limit the number of tourists who do not contribute funds to the city. The first significant step was prohibiting cruise ships from entering the Giudecca Bay, a decision influenced by pressure from UNESCO. The organization had threatened to place Venice on its blacklist.

Starting April 25, travelers will encounter additional changes. As the so-called "high season" approaches, Venice plans to implement entry tickets to the city, which will be effective 29 days a year, from 2:30 am to 10:00 am Eastern Time. The first such day is April 25, Italian Liberation Day. Following that, tickets will be mandatory until May 5, and then on weekends until the end of July.

In an interview with the "Corriere della Sera" news portal, Mayor Brugnaro stated: "On April 25, the world's attention will likely be on us, because nobody has ever conducted such an experiment."

Tickets can be purchased online, costing 5 euros per person (roughly $5.88). This fee is only required of people who have not booked accommodation in Venice. Luigi Brugnaro reassures city residents by promising separate entry gates, sparing them the need to queue alongside one-day tourists.