Venice will extend and expand its tourist entry fee in 2026, charging day-trippers on 60 days between April 3 and July 26.
The city administration confirmed the measure, which will apply for a third consecutive season, as part of ongoing efforts to manage overtourism in the historic lagoon city.
The fee was first introduced in 2024 and has since been adjusted to cover more days during peak travel periods. In 2025, visitors paid between €5 and €10 depending on booking time, with higher charges for late registration. While the exact fee for 2026 has not yet been announced, city officials have indicated that an increase is likely.
Expanding regulation of day-tripper tourism
Venice’s access fee applies only to day visitors who do not stay overnight in the historic center. Residents, overnight guests, and some categories of visitors are exempt, although those staying in hotels must pay a separate lodging tax. The system requires visitors to register in advance, with higher costs for those who wait until the last days before arrival.
In 2025, the city counted more than 720,000 registered day-trippers, generating around €5.4 million in revenue. By comparison, in 2024 the system collected approximately €2.4 million from 485,000 visitors. Despite the revenue growth, local media reports that many tourists have found ways to avoid the payment, raising questions about the effectiveness of the scheme. The city continues to frame the program as a test phase while refining its application.
Revenue, criticism, and population decline
Officials have promoted the entry fee as a way to offset the costs of maintaining Venice’s infrastructure and to better regulate tourist flows. Supporters argue that the charge provides useful data on visitor numbers and encourages longer stays that benefit local businesses. Simone Venturini, Venice’s councillor for tourism, has described it in past statements as a “tangible and innovative tool” to manage overtourism.
Critics remain skeptical. They note that the fee has not significantly reduced the volume of visitors on busy days and may contribute to perceptions of Venice as a theme park rather than a living city. As Bild reported, some tourists view the fee as negligible compared with other costs, such as a cappuccino at St. Mark’s Square that can reach €17. Opponents argue that structural measures, such as limiting short-term rentals, are more important for sustaining quality of life.
Venice’s resident population continues to shrink, with about 50,000 people living in the historic center—fewer than the number of available hotel beds. The demographic decline underscores the tension between the city’s dependence on tourism and the challenges of preserving local life. While the entry fee targets only day-trippers, overnight guests remain subject to existing accommodation taxes, which also contribute to municipal revenues.
Looking ahead to 2026
The extension of the access fee into 2026 confirms the city’s determination to refine the model despite ongoing debate. The expanded period of application will again cover weekends and public holidays in the spring and early summer tourist season, specifically between April 3 and July 26. The fee will apply during daytime hours, typically between 08:30 and 16:00, when day-trip traffic is heaviest.
The city has not yet disclosed the new price levels, but expectations point to higher charges for next year. Officials argue that stronger economic disincentives may be needed to reduce the “hit-and-run” style tourism that brings large crowds with limited economic benefit. At the same time, revenue from the program provides resources to maintain the city’s fragile infrastructure, which continues to face the combined pressures of mass tourism, flooding, and depopulation.
As Venice prepares for the third season of the entry fee scheme, the city remains at the center of international discussions on how to manage overtourism in heritage destinations. Whether the expanded fee will succeed in changing visitor behavior or merely boost municipal revenues remains under scrutiny. For now, Venice will continue experimenting with the contributo di accesso as part of its broader strategy to balance global demand with local sustainability.
Photo Credit: oneinchpunch / Shutterstock.com
