Venice revives day‑tripper fee

Venice is charging day-trippers again in 2026, with the fee returning on 60 peak days from April 3 through July 26. (comune.venezia.it, cda.ve.it) The charge applies between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the historic city center on selected Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holiday periods. Visitors who book by the fourth day before arrival pay 5 euros; later bookings cost 10 euros. (cda.veneziaunica.it, cda.ve.it) The city says the fee covers the Ancient City, while transit-only areas such as Piazzale Roma, Santa Lucia station, Tronchetto and the maritime terminal are outside the charge if travelers do not enter the center. The minor lagoon islands, including Murano, Burano and Torcello, are also excluded in 2026. (cda.veneziaunica.it) Venice first tested the system in 2024 with a 5-euro pilot on 29 days, then expanded it to 54 days in 2025. The 2026 calendar pushes it further, turning a short trial into a regular peak-season crowd-control tool. (cnbc.com, en.ilsole24ore.com, cda.ve.it) City officials have framed the measure as a way to manage day-trip surges rather than cap total entries. The official portal says payment or exemption produces a QR code, which visitors are expected to carry for checks. (cda.veneziaunica.it, comune.venezia.it) The policy targets visitors who arrive for a few hours and leave the same day, while residents, overnight guests and other exempt categories do not pay. Hotel guests still need to register for an exemption on fee days. (msn.com), comune.venezia.it) Venice has tied the fee to years of pressure from overtourism in a fragile historic center built for residents, not modern day-trip volumes. Reuters reported when the pilot began in April 2024 that some residents protested, saying they did not want the city turned into a “theme park.” (usatoday.com, rnz.co.nz) Critics have also questioned whether the fee actually deters crowds. Associated Press reported after the 2024 trial that opposition council member Giovanni Andrea Martini called the ticket a failure and pointed to city data showing heavy visitor numbers continued on charge days. (euronews.com) For travelers, the practical change in 2026 is simple: a same-day Venice visit on many spring and summer weekends now requires either payment or an exemption code before entering the historic center. (cda.ve.it, cda.veneziaunica.it)