Overview
- Mayor Simone Venturini has proposed raising Venice’s daily entry fee for day‑trippers to between €30 and €50 and the city council is drafting a proposal that must be approved by the national government.
- The city already runs a pay‑to‑enter scheme from 2024 that charges €5 for advance bookings and €10 for last‑minute arrivals and has been expanded to more high‑traffic days.
- Officials say the existing scheme raised about €2.4 million in its first year and that higher fees would fund waste collection, maintenance and other services whose costs exceed €100 million a year.
- Exemptions cover residents, people born in Venice, students, workers, early arrivals and overnight guests, and critics warn the steep hike raises constitutional and EU free‑movement questions and could face legal challenge.
- Observers note the €5–€10 charge produced only modest visitor drops, residents worry about depopulation and strained infrastructure, and the plan will undergo legal review and political negotiation before any change takes effect.