Venice Considers Doubling Tourist Entry Fee to 50 Euros

Venice is considering a substantial hike in its tourist entry fee, with the new mayor proposing to raise the charge for day-trippers from the current five to ten euros to as much as 50 euros on peak travel days. This measure is part of Mayor Simone Venturini's election platform, intended to regulate visitor numbers and offset the expenses incurred by mass tourism.

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The plans of the new mayor are causing a stir in Venice.

Under the proposed system, visitors who book in advance could pay around 30 euros, while last-minute bookings might cost up to 50 euros. Mayor Venturini is scheduled to discuss these plans with relevant ministries in Rome in the coming weeks. The current regulation, established in 2019 and first implemented in 2024, generated approximately two million euros in revenue in 2024, rising to about 5.5 million euros in 2025. A significant increase could dramatically boost the city's income.

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Barbaric, uncivilized, and in my view unconstitutional.

Support for the proposal comes from some business associations, which advocate for year-round collection of the fee. However, the opposition is vocal. Senator Andrea Martella of the Democratic Party has called for the fee's abolition, suggesting better management of tourist flows instead. Former Mayor Massimo Cacciari has sharply criticized the idea, labeling an entry fee for a city as "barbaric" and "uncivilized," and questioning its constitutionality. Constitutional law expert Ludovico Mazzarolli also expressed doubts, noting that a 50-euro fee could infringe upon the freedom of movement guaranteed by Article 16 of the Italian Constitution.

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No one should have to pay to access a city like a museum.