by InTrieste
In a bid to alleviate the strain of mass tourism on its delicate lagoon city, Venice is about to implement a new €5 entry fee for day-trippers, set to be enforced on 29 selected dates in 2024. The introduction of this system marks a significant move by the city, with an online payment platform that went live on Tuesday through the Città di Venezia website.
Active from midday on January 16, the new entry fee mechanism is slated to take effect this spring. The trial scheme is strategically planned for days surrounding Italian public holidays and weekends, specifically between April and July. It’s important to note that this fee applies solely to tourists embarking on day trips, excluding overnight visitors in Venice.
To streamline the process, those who opt to pay will be issued a QR code, subject to random checks during their visit. The specified dates for the entry fee include April 25 to May 5, alternate weekends in May (11-12, 18-19, 25-26), the last four weekends in June (8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30), and the initial two weekends in July (6-7, 13-14).
During these days, the entry fee system will be operational from 08:30 to 16:00, with potential penalties of up to €300 for those found in violation of the regulations. While the concept of an entry fee has been in discussion for years, its implementation was repeatedly delayed due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and various logistical hurdles.
