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Should Popular Cities Charge Tourists an Entry Fee? Lessons From Venice

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Should Popular Cities Charge Tourists an Entry Fee?

Lessons from Venice

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Good afternoon. I'm a tour guide from Lisbon, a city that is also very busy with tourists. Today, I'd like to look at a question many cities are asking: should tourists pay just to enter? Venice gives us a real example.

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  • a question many cities are asking

    A topic that many cities are thinking about.

  • gives us a real example

    Shows a true case we can study.

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  1. 01Should Popular Cities Charge Tourists an Entry Fee?

    Good afternoon. I'm a tour guide from Lisbon, a city that is also very busy with tourists. Today, I'd like to look at a question many cities are asking: should tourists pay just to enter? Venice gives us a real example.

  2. 02What Venice Did

    On April 25, 2024, Venice started charging day-trippers a five-euro fee to enter the old city on selected busy days. People staying overnight didn't pay this fee. In 2025, the city decided to continue it on even more days.

    Sources: NPR, "Venice tests a 5-euro fee for day-trippers as the city grapples with overtourism" (April 25, 2024); CNBC, "Venice: City becomes first in the world to start charging an entry fee" (April 25, 2024); Fortune, Venice extends day-tripper fee to more days in 2025 (February 11, 2025)

  3. 03For: Managing the Crowds

    Supporters say a fee helps manage crowds. If visitors must book and pay in advance, some may choose a quieter day, or stay overnight and spend more in local businesses.

  4. 04For: Protecting Local Life

    They also argue that cities belong to the people who live there. Fees send a message that a city is a home, not a theme park, and the money can help pay for cleaning and services.

  5. 05Against: Too Small to Matter

    On the other hand, critics say five euros is too small to change behavior. If someone has already paid for a trip to Italy, a small fee probably won't make them stay away.

  6. 06Against: Turning a City Into a Ticket

    Other critics, including some residents, feel uncomfortable with the idea itself. They worry that charging an entry fee treats a living city like a museum, and that it makes travel harder for people with less money.

  7. 07My View

    In my view, an entry fee can be one useful tool, especially because it makes visitors plan ahead. But on its own, it won't solve overtourism. Cities also need limits on cruise ships, short-term rentals, and tour group sizes.

  8. 08Conclusion

    To conclude, Venice's experiment is worth watching. An entry fee may be part of the answer, but not the whole answer. As travelers, we can help too, by visiting quieter places and quieter seasons. Thank you.

Cover photo by bogitw on Pixabay