Canadians travelling to popular European city in 2026 will have to pay extra fee

Tourists from Canada who want to explore a beloved city in Italy will soon have to pay a travel fee during the peak travel season.

If you're travelling from Canada to Italy and plan to visit Venice, easily one of the country's most popular destinations, it's going to cost you extra. This year, Venice will bring back the Access Fee for tourists who want to visit the city during the busy travel season.

What is the Access Fee?

According to Euronews, the city introduced the Access Fee to ease the impact of overtourism. As the number of residents declines, the influx of tourists has been putting pressure on the city's infrastructure, clogging its famous alleys and waterways.

"It is a delicate city, it is the most beautiful city in the world, and we have a duty to defend it together," said Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro in a social media post after the announcement in 2023.

How does it work?

In 2025, Venice rolled out its Access Fee on certain days between April and July and plans to reintroduce the fee in 2026.

Tourists who aren't staying in the city are required to pay the daytripper fee in advance if they plan to visit during those designated days during peak hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, you don't have to pay the fee if you plan to explore outside of those hours.

The fee will be in effect on the following days:

April: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

May: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31

June: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28

July: 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

How much will it cost?

In 2025, visitors paid €5 or C$8 per person if they paid the fee online at least four days before their scheduled trip. Any fee paid within the four days before their intended trip to Venice had to pay double at €10 or C$16 per person. The fee can be paid online, and visitors will receive a QR code that will be scanned at several access points.

Although the city has confirmed that it will be bringing back the fee in 2026, it has yet to confirm the amount.