Gondala rides around narrow waterways, atmospheric streets, and carnival celebrations; there are so many magical reasons to visit Venice, but you will now have to pay for the privilege after a tourist tax was introduced this month.
Venice authorities have decided to take action after the city narrowly escaped being placed on UNESCO’s danger list in 2023 due to damage being caused to its delicate ecosystem from over-tourism.
Put into place on January 16 this year, day-trippers to the City of Canals on peak weekends and other days between April and mid-July will need to make a €5 online payment to receive a QR code that will be scanned by officials conducting checks at seven access points around the city, including the train station. However, the checks will only be enforced between 8.30am and 4pm on the aforementioned days and will not apply to visitors who come into the city for dinner or a concert.
Other visitors who can escape the charge will include Venetian-born visitors, students and workers, as well as holiday makers who have a hotel reservation. This booking must be entered into the online platform where they will also receive a QR code to present to officials.
It’s not the first time the city council has acted to restrict the unfettered flow of tourists to the city, with big cruise ships banned from sailing past St Mark’s Square and through the Giudecca Canal since 2021.
