Venice entrance fee: a quick guide. Why is requested, who has to pay it and how much?
On 1st May 2019 a Venice entrance fee will come into force as a pilot programme. The dues to Venice gave birth a public debate at a national level for its application and has undergone several changes in its operative mode. Now it is the time for its entrance in service.
Hereafter a quick reference guide for all visitors and a special focus for runners.
What is the Venice entrance fee?
To access ancient Venice and the islands of the Venice lagoon is requested an entrance fee.
- The fee is unique and valid for all the cited area.
- The Venice entrance fee is alternative to the Venice tourist tax that is the local tourism levy paid by tourists sleeping in a hotel/accommodation in the whole City of Venice area (i.e.: Mestre, ancient Venice and the islands of the Venice lagoon). It means that if a tourist sleeps in a hotel/accommodation located in the City of Venice he/she will pay the Venice tourist tax but not the Venice entrance fee.
- No fees are due to access the mainland of the city of Venice (i.e.: Mestre and other districts, Venice airport etc.)
When does the Venice entrance fee come into force?
1 May 2019. Starting from that day, the Venice entrance fee will be applicable to visitors.
Who has to pay the Venice entrance fee?
In general all visitors that access the ancient Venice and the islands of the Venice lagoon using a carrier (e.g.: train, public and private bus, taxi and water taxi, black cab etc.) are subject to the entrance fee.
Visitors accessing by private means of transportation are not subject to the payment of the entrance fee. Therefore, if you access Venice either by any private means or on foot you are not subject to any entrance fee. Of course we suggest you access running! 🙂
In addition to this, that are a lot of exemptions. Below the major ones.
Exemptions – major cases
- Tourists sleeping in hotel/acommodation located in the City of Venice (Mestre, districts of the mainland and islands included)
- Children < 6 y.o.
- Disabled persons and companion
- Residents of the Veneto
- Visitors that access by private means or on foot/bicycle
How much is the Venice entrance fee?
In 2019 the Venice entrance fee will start as a pilot programme with a reduced flat fee of € 3. After the trial period, the charging system will be revised and updated with the best practices. In 2020 it will become a standard system with dynamic fees according to peak tourist season and days.
Generally speaking, less crowded days have lower fees.
The fee allows the access up to 23:59 (11:59pm) of the day in which the fee has been paid, after this time expires and a new fee has to be paid.
| Type of fee | 2019 fee per person |
2020 fee per person |
| Standard fee | € 3 | € 6 |
| Off-peak fee (green label days) | € 3 | |
| Medium-peak fee (red label days) | € 8 | |
| Peak fee (black label days) | € 10 |
The payment is generally made through the ticket of the carrier used to access the city of Venice. In rare cases, the carrier is not responsible for paying the fee: the responsability visitor will pay directly the entrance fee.
Runners and athletes: how does the entrance fee affect you runners of Italy by Run?
If you are going to take a running tour with us it basically means that you are going to stay in the City of Venice. Therefore nothing changes with the introduction of the entrance fee: you will continue to pay the tourist tax and nothing more.
Race and competitions: all the athletes taking part to sport events organized by official sport teams/organisations affiliated to CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) or non-profit sport clubs do not have to pay any entrance fee. Supporters for such events are exempted if using special public transportation means put in place for the event to access Venice.
Why the city of Venice introduced the entrance fee?
The entrance fee has been introduced to increase the monetary resources needed to properly take care of the unique enivronment of the city of Venice and its lagoon islands. The tourist tax is due by visitors spending the night while daily excursionists were using the city but not contributing to its maintanance. For this reason the entrance fee has been introduced.
As the tourist tax, the entrance fee will be used to:
- restore, maintain and allow the fruition of Venice cultural and environmental heritage;
- promote actions aimed to offer higher tourism standards;
- improve Venice public services.
Help us to keep Venice a unique place #EnjoyRespectVenezia
