Canadians heading to popular Italian city could soon pay almost $100 a day to visit

Canadians planning a trip to Venice may soon have to budget a little extra, as the city considers raising its tourist entry fee.

Tourists hoping for the ultimate Venice experience, from visiting St. Mark's Basilica or taking a gondola ride, could soon be on the hook for a steep fee hike. During the busy travel season, travellers are charged the Access Fee, an entry fee of €5 ($8.12), or €10 ($16.24) for last-minute bookings, but that amount could soon go up by five times under the proposed increase, reports The Guardian.

If approved, tourists looking to spend the day in Venice could end up paying a daily rate of up to €50 ($81.16) to visit. According to Mayor Simone Venturini, the fee hike is meant to tackle overtourism during peak travel season.

"The admission fee is currently the only effective tool to control daily visitor numbers," he said. "We are therefore working on a proposal to make it more effective on high-traffic days, with the aim of finding a new balance between the needs of residents, workers, and visitors."

What is Venice's Access Fee?

Tourists who aren't staying in Venice must pay the Access Fee, a daytripper tax that can be paid in advance during designated days from April to July from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee can be paid online, and visitors will receive a code that will be scanned at several access points.

Currently, tourists who pay the fee at least four days before their planned trip will only be charged a fee of €5 ($8.12). Bookings made three days beforehand cost €10 ($16.24). Anyone aged 13 or under is exempt from the fee, but must have an ID to prove their age.

The fee was first introduced in 2024 and did little to curb the number of visitors to the city. However, it brought in €2.4 million in its first year.

Visit the Venice Access Fee website for more information.