Venice has unveiled the first set of dates for its 2024 entry fee for day-trippers.

Planning a day trip to Venice next year? Be prepared to pay an entry fee.

City officials have now confirmed the dates and prices for the long-awaited entry fee to the UNESCO World Heritage site. The fee will apply on 29 days between April and July 2024.

The first period for the entry fee will run from April to mid-July 2024. The season begins with charges from April 25 to May 5, and continues every Saturday and Sunday through July 14, excluding June 1-2. Dates for the rest of the year are yet to be decided.

The fee will apply to anyone entering Venice between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. without a reservation for overnight accommodation, unless they have an exemption.

The system will operate through an online platform that generates QR code 'tickets' for payment or exemption verification. Kiosks will also be available around the city for direct payment.

Starting January 16, 2024, visitors will be able to register online to secure their QR code.

Those seeking exemptions, including overnight visitors, must also register online to receive their QR code.

Who needs to pay?

In short, all tourists aged 14 and older who are not staying overnight in the city will be required to pay. However, even overnight guests must register online to obtain a QR code confirming their exemption.

There are additional exemptions to the fee, but those who qualify will need to carry a QR code as proof, except for residents and individuals born in Venice. These people must provide proof of residency or birth instead.

Property owners in Venice, students, and daily commuters who work in the city will be required to register on the online platform to receive a long-term QR code that will be valid for the entire year.

Business visitors and short-term students are exempt as well, but they must obtain a QR code valid for a single day. The same applies to tourists staying in the greater Venice area, including Mestre on the mainland, and those visiting residents in the historic center, known as the 'Old Town.'

Children under the age of 14 and individuals with certified disabilities, along with their carers, are exempt from the fee. However, they too must book and receive a QR code free of charge.

Residents of Venice won’t need to pay the entrance fee, as they already contribute through an overnight tax. However, they will need QR codes. It is expected that local hotels will organize these codes for their guests; if not, guests will need to register their exemption prior to arrival.

There will be seven primary entry points for ticket checks, including the airport, train and bus stations, Fusina port, and key waterfront areas like Fondamente Nove and Riva degli Schiavoni, where boats commonly dock. The council confirmed that these won’t be the only checkpoints, but declined to specify additional locations.

Which areas are excluded?

In 2024, most of the lagoon islands, including popular destinations like Murano, Burano, and the Lido, home to Venice’s beaches, are exempt from the fee. However, most visitors to Murano and Burano will still have to pay, as they typically arrive by vaporetto ferries from the city center.

People passing through Piazzale Roma (the bus terminal), Tronchetto, or Stazione Marittima (where smaller cruise ships dock) won’t be charged, as long as they don’t enter the historic 'Old City.'

It's not a never-ending source of money.

The idea for the fee was first proposed in 2019, and was finally approved by the city council on September 23, 2023, with the exact charge amount and applicable dates for 2024 being finalized on November 23.

The city council stated that the entry fee is designed to reduce 'hit-and-run' day trips by encouraging visitors to select alternative dates for their trips.

The goal is to create a new balance between local residents, city users, and tourists in the historic center, ensuring a positive experience for those visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro remarked in the council meeting: 'This isn’t a revolutionary change, but the first step toward managing day-tripper access—an experiment aimed at improving the livability for those who live and work here.'

'Venice is the first city in the world to embark on this journey, which may set an example for other vulnerable cities that need protection,' he said.

He acknowledged that the system might face 'problems' moving forward: 'There’s plenty of room for error, but we’re prepared to make adjustments as needed to improve the process.'

Visitor numbers will be 'constantly monitored' by the city's Smart Control Room, which uses mobile technology and CCTV to track where people are headed. This data helped determine the dates to activate the entry fee program.

The funds raised from the fee will be used to educate tourists on responsible behavior and help them 'live the city' in a more sustainable way, Mayor Brugnaro explained to reporters.

Following the council meeting, Brugnaro clarified that the scheme is not intended to generate profit.

'We hope to collect only a modest amount because that would mean we’ve succeeded in reducing crowds on busy days,' he said. 'Our aim is for visitors who were planning to come on those days to choose a different time. Our goal isn’t to profit, but to manage the daily influxes that overwhelm the city.'

'There are 365 days in the year, after all,' he added.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the start date for the charges in April.