Venice Doubles Entry Fee for Short Visits to 10 Euros

venice - Venice, the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for short visits, has doubled the fee to 10 euros starting this year.

The city council announced that the fee will be spread over a longer period, lasting for 54 days between mid-April and the end of July, compared to 29 days last year. Visitors staying overnight are exempt from the fee, but hotel guests will still have to pay a tourist tax.

In the spring, Venice became the first city globally to charge day-trippers for entry, similar to a museum. The fee during peak hours from 8:30 am to 4 pm is 5 euros. In total, 485,000 paying guests were counted between April and July, generating over 2.4 million euros in revenue.

Those who book early will still pay 5 euros, while those who wait up to three days before their visit will have to pay double. Exceptions include hotel guests, children under 14, and residents. Payment is required online before arrival, and those without a QR code on their phone risk a fine of 300 euros upon arrival in Venice.

The influx of tourists has posed significant challenges for the city in recent years. The revenue from the entry fee will be used to restore and renovate the city's canals, streets, and buildings.