Venice mayor proposes hiking city’s entrance fee to up to €50

Venice’s new mayor has proposed raising the city’s controversial tourist entrance fee to as much as €50 (£43) per person.

Simone Venturini, who was elected last month, said the charge would ease overcrowding by discouraging visits to the city during peak times, according to reports.

In 2024, Venice became the first tourist city in the world to charge people an entrance fee, starting at €5 on peak days between April and July.

The initiative was expanded last year to cover more days, and to charge last-minute arrivals €10.

Tourists staying overnight in hotels or rental apartments are exempt.

Venturini told The Times that raising the ticket price was crucial to easing overtourism in the lagoon city.

“The higher the ticket price, the better for us,” he said.

“We need to keep an eye on the total number of visitors to Venice, but we do not want to put a maximum limit on tourists, so instead we can aim to get them to spread out and avoid coming on those days when we face the prospect of 80,000 visitors.

“That means getting the Italian parliament to approve higher prices, let’s say €30 or €50.

“That will cover the costs of services for tourists, including removing the growing amount of rubbish, but we could also offer ticket holders discounts for museums.”

The Telegraph noted that critics say the current fees have had “little effect” on visitor numbers because most tourists regard them as “relatively insignificant when they can expect to pay far more than that for a single glass of wine or beer”.

Opponents of the plan also argue that Venice should do more to limit the number of apartments that are rented out through Airbnb.  

More: Venice restricts tour group numbers to 25 people

Controversial €5 Venice tourist tax finally approved [Sept 2023]