Rome's legendary Trevi Fountain, a magnet for millions of tourists, is set to introduce a controversial entry charge in a bid to control severe overcrowding. Reports from Italy's leading newspaper suggest a two-euro ticket could be implemented for visitors from January 7th, 2025, though the city council has yet to give final approval.
A Tradition Under Pressure
The late Baroque masterpiece, completed in 1762 by architect Nicola Salvi, is famed for the coin-throwing ritual immortalised in the 1954 film Three Coins in the Fountain. Tourists traditionally use their right hand to toss a coin over their left shoulder to make a wish. This daily deluge of wishes sees an estimated £2,600 collected from the water each day, with the annual total of over £880,000 donated to a Catholic charity aiding Rome's needy.
However, the fountain's immense popularity has become its biggest challenge. In the first six months of 2025 alone, more than 5.3 million people descended on the landmark, leading to widespread complaints of unbearable crowding, chaotic queues, and opportunistic pickpockets.
New Measures and Mixed Reactions
In response, authorities have already enforced strict crowd control. Visitor numbers are now capped at a maximum of 400 at any one time, with segregated entrances planned for Romans and tourists from January. A new queuing system is also in place, but it has been criticised for resulting in hours-long waits under the sun.
TripAdvisor reviews, despite an overall rating of 4.4 stars, tell a story of frustration. One visitor lamented the 'hours of waiting,' while another described the area as 'dominated by paddlers, scammers and businesses that will rip you off.' A third warned the 'push and shove spoils the whole experience,' advising those with claustrophobia to stay away.
The €2 Ticket Proposal
The proposed €2 entrance fee, reported by Corriere della Sera, was initially said to be capable of generating around 20 million euros for the city. However, Rome's city council swiftly denied any official decision had been made. In a statement on Tuesday, they confirmed they were 'considering introducing an entrance fee' but stressed there was no official start date for charging visitors.
Whether a modest fee will effectively curb the crowds remains to be seen, as tourism in Rome shows no signs of slowing. The fountain, which won a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best award in 2025, continues to be a must-see, forcing the city to balance public access with the preservation of this iconic site.
