Rome's Trevi Fountain Entry System
Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain launched a new entry system that has already welcomed 230,000 visitors in its first month. The initiative better manages crowds while preserving the landmark experience for tourists. It demonstrates how historic cities are adapting urban tourism in the post-pandemic world.
The new system, which began on February 2, 2026, requires non-resident tourists to pay a €2 fee to access the fountain's lower basin. In its first month, this generated €435,194 from 217,597 paying visitors, with proceeds dedicated to supporting free museum access for residents and monument preservation. Access for paying tourists is available daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with later start times of 11:30 AM on Mondays and Fridays to allow for the collection of coins, which are donated to charity. Residents of Rome, children under six, and individuals with disabilities are exempt from the fee. This ticketing system follows a recent €300,000 restoration to clean the 18th-century landmark of calcium deposits and rust in preparation for the 2025 Vatican Jubilee. The fountain's last major restoration, a 17-month, €2.2 million project funded by the fashion house Fendi, was completed in 2015. The entry fee is part of a wider strategy by Rome to manage the impacts of mass tourism, which has seen as many as 30,000 people gather at the fountain daily. The city has also implemented a similar paid entry system for the Pantheon and is capping visitor numbers at 400 at any one time to prevent overcrowding.
