Venice is considering a substantial increase in the fee charged to day-trippers entering its historic centre, with the daily rate potentially rising from the current €5–€10 to as much as €30
($34) from 2027.
The proposal is part of a broader plan to extend the access-fee system across more days of the year as the city seeks to manage large tourist crowds. Any new rate would have to be discussed with and approved by the Italian government, according to Michele Zuin, Venice's councillor for budget and taxation.
Zuin said the existing charge may no longer be strong enough to influence the behaviour of visitors arriving in Venice for a single day. He argued that a fee of €5 or €10 is affordable for most tourists and therefore may have lost some of its intended deterrent effect.
Italian media reported that officials had discussed the possibility of setting the charge as high as €50. Zuin indicated, however, that a maximum of €30 could ultimately be considered for 2027. The figure remains a proposal rather than an approved tariff.
Venice introduced its access fee in 2024, becoming the first major tourist destination to adopt such a system specifically for day visitors. The charge does not generally apply to people staying overnight in the city, while a number of exemptions are available, including for children under 14. Visitors who book sufficiently far in advance can also pay the lower rate.
The 2026 system operated on 60 selected days between April 3 and July 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors paid €5 when they booked by the fourth day before their arrival and €10 for later bookings.
According to provisional figures released by the Venice municipality, the scheme generated €5.215 million from 679,553 paid vouchers during the 2026 trial period. City officials said the system is intended not simply to generate revenue but to improve advance planning and help manage peaks in visitor numbers.
The city is particularly concerned about periods when exceptionally large numbers of tourists arrive at once, including major public holidays. Authorities hope that a higher charge and a longer operating period could encourage some day-trippers to choose less crowded dates or alternative destinations.
Venice's official tourism system says the 2026 trial has now ended and that no access fee currently applies until the municipal authorities approve further measures. The possible 2027 arrangements have not yet been formally adopted.
The debate comes as Venice continues to balance the economic importance of tourism with the pressures created by mass visitor numbers and the city's long-term population decline. Photo by WEEN, Wikimedia commons.
