After years of discussions and delays, Venice, Italy’s daytripper tourist tax will finally come into force on April 25. This tourism tax will be followed by a cap of 25 people for tour groups in the summer. Here’s what you need to know about each regulation.
The 5-euro daily tourism tax will be implemented as a pilot run starting on April 25. Initially, the tax will only be in place on certain days between April 25 and July 14 and will cost 5 euros (about $5.45). The tax can be paid prior to entry by visiting the online booking platform provided by the Venice city council. Currently, the Venice tourism tax won’t apply to hotel guests or the city’s many workers, commuters, and students. Visitors traveling to Venice’s lagoon islands, including Murano and Burano, will also be exempt. However, if you’re arriving at these locations via vaporetto ferries from the city center, you will still be required to pay the fee. Children under 14 and those visiting residents of the “Old City” historic center of Venice will not be required to pay the tax. Those transiting through the Piazzale Roma bus terminal, Tronchetto, or Stazione Marittima dock will also be exempt if they’re not passing into the Old City. Additionally, visitors with certified disabilities, along with any caregivers, or those traveling to the city for a sporting event or medical treatment will also be exempt. Eligible visitors will need to register for exemption on the Venice city council’s online booking platform.
The dates on which the Venice tourist tax will be in force in 2024 are as follows: April 25-30, May 1-5, May 11-12, May 18-19, May 25-26, June 8-9, June 15-16, June 22-23, June 29-30, July 6-7, and July 13-14.
To prepay the daytripper tourist tax if you’re visiting Venice, you must book your visit via the Venice city council’s online booking platform. Once on the site, click “Pay the Access Fee” to be directed to the official tourism site for Venice, Venezia Unica. Select your travel dates and the number of people you are traveling with, including children. Enter the names of any travelers who are not exempt before paying the fee. After payment, you will receive an email with your booking details and a QR code to show authorities if asked during your visit. In exceptional circumstances, you will also be able to pay on arrival at the Piazzale Roma bus terminal or the Venezia Santa Lucia train station, but it is advised to pay prior to your visit. If you need to cancel your visit, you can do so up until 11:59 p.m. the day before you’re due to arrive.
Those staying overnight in Venice will not have to pay the daytripper tourist tax if they have a confirmed reservation. They will instead pay an overnight tax as part of their hotel or rental costs. Visitors can register for an exemption on the city council website by providing an exemption reason, the dates of their visit, personal details, and contact information. If successful, they will receive a QR code to show authorities if asked during their visit.
In addition to the tourist tax, a new municipal resolution will cap tour groups at 25 people and ban loudspeakers that may cause confusion and disturbance. These rules will be effective from June 1 and will also apply to groups in Murano, Burano, and Torcello.
Venice is the latest popular tourist destination to add or bolster tourism-related fees in recent years. Leaders around the world have been grappling with the dual effects of immense tourism spending and the toll it takes on the environment and infrastructure. Last summer, UNESCO recommended putting Venice on its list of endangered heritage sites, citing the impacts of tourism, severe weather, and climate change.