From April 2026, daytrippers visiting Venice will face a mandatory entry fee as the city reinstates its Access Fee levy, aimed at curbing the impact of 'hit and run' tourism. This measure targets visitors entering the Italian lagoon city for the day on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout April, May, June, and July.
Expanded Levy Period and Key Details
This year, the levy will be enforced for 60 days, marking an increase from the 54 days scheduled for 2025. Venice attracts between 20 and 30 million tourists annually, with approximately 21 million being daytrippers. The surge in visitor numbers has strained the historic centre's delicate infrastructure, pushing local frustration to a breaking point.
To address overtourism, Venice initially launched a €5 (approximately £4.34) daily fee for day-trippers in April 2024, focusing on the most crowded days. In 2025, the tax remained, but entry fees rose to €10 (around £8.68) for those failing to make reservations up to four days in advance, with the enforcement period extended to 54 days. For 2026, an additional six dates have been added to the schedule.
Specific Dates and Operational Hours
The Access Fee will apply during peak hours from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM on designated days. Access is free at all other times. The levy will be active on the following dates:
- April: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30.
- May: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, and 31.
- June: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28.
- July: 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26.
Exemptions and Payment Process
Select groups are exempt from the tax, including visitors born in Venice, students, those travelling for work, and tourists with hotel or alternative reservations booked. Overnight guests must log their hotel details online to obtain a QR code, which is shown at checkpoints for entry, as the day-tripper fee is covered by their hotel lodging tax.
Travellers can use the dedicated Venezia Unica platform to 'reserve' daily access by paying the €5 Access Fee and obtaining a QR code in advance. This code is required for entry at seven access points across the city, such as Santa Lucia Train Station, Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto Parking, and Vaporetto (water bus) stops.
Penalties and Enforcement
Official staff will check QR codes at major arrival checkpoints. Visitors risk penalties between €50 and €300 (approximately £43 to £261) if they fail to pay the fee online or register as an exemption, as highlighted by Euro News.
Global Context of Tourism Levies
Venice is among many global hotspots implementing levies to manage high visitor numbers and generate extra revenue. Examples include a few euros per night in Rome, a percentage of room rates in Amsterdam, Manchester's City Visitor Charge introduced in 2023, and Edinburgh's planned similar measure from July.
In Amsterdam, tourists pay a 12.5% extra fee on hotel room costs, known as 'Toeristenbelasting', one of Europe's highest visitor fees, increased from 7% plus €3 per person in 2024. In Spain, travellers over 16 pay varying local rates plus 10% VAT in spots like Mallorca, Menorca, Formentera, and Ibiza, with rates decreasing during off-season months from November to April.
The Access Fee was introduced in 2024 to curb surging visitor numbers that have brought Venice's fragile infrastructure to the brink, reflecting a broader trend in tourism management worldwide.
