Visiting Venice on a day trip?
On our Venice day trips from Rome, Florence and Milan the access fee is included when it applies, together with high-speed train tickets and a private licensed guide.
Venice is the first city in the world to ask day visitors to pay a fee to enter its historic centre on the busiest days. If you are planning a day trip to Venice, this guide explains when the access fee applies, who has to pay and how it works, based on the information published by the City of Venice.
Quick answer
- What it is: a fee that day visitors pay to enter the old city of Venice on selected days
- 2027: selected days between 26 March and 15 August, from 8:30 to 16:30
- Until 26 March 2027: no access fee (the 2026 period ended in July)
- How it works: you pay online and receive a QR code to carry with you
- On our day trips: the fee is included when it applies
What is the Venice access fee?
The access fee (in Italian contributo di accesso) is a contribution that the City of Venice asks from day visitors who enter the old city on the days with the most visitors. The aim is to manage crowds and to make day trips more sustainable for a city where many people still live and work.
When does it apply?
The fee only applies on the days marked in the official calendar, and only during the day. For 2027, the City of Venice has published fee days between 26 March and 15 August 2027, with the fee applying from 8:30 to 16:30. On the other days, and outside those hours, you do not need to do anything.
The 2026 trial period has ended, so there is no access fee in autumn and winter: if you visit Venice before 26 March 2027, you do not pay it. The City has said that the details for 2027 will be published by 31 December 2026, so always check the official calendar on cda.ve.it before your trip.
Who has to pay, and who does not?
The fee is for day visitors who enter the old city of Venice on a fee day. Some visitors do not pay:
- Overnight guests who sleep in Venice are exempt, because they already pay the tourist tax. They need to request a personal exemption QR code and keep it with them.
- People who only pass through Santa Lucia station, Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto without entering the old city do not pay.
- In 2026 the fee did not apply on the lagoon islands such as Murano, Burano and Lido.
There are other exemptions, for example for residents and for people who work or study in Venice: the full list is on the official website.
How much does it cost and how do you pay?
The amount is set by the City of Venice. In 2026 there were two rates: a lower one if you paid by the fourth day before your visit, and a higher one if you paid later. The 2027 rates will be published on the official website, and paying early is the simplest way to pay less.
You pay online on the official website and receive a QR code, which you show if you are checked when you arrive. Keep it on your phone or print it.
Prefer not to think about it?
On our Venice day trips from Rome, Florence and Milan, the access fee is included when it applies, together with round-trip high-speed train tickets and a private licensed guide waiting for you at Santa Lucia station.
The access fee on a day trip
If you visit Venice for the day from Rome, Florence or Milan, you arrive at Santa Lucia station and walk straight into the old city, usually in the late morning: on a fee day, you need your QR code. On our Venice day trip from Rome, our Venice day trip from Florence and our Venice day trip from Milan we take care of it for you when it applies, and we send you all the details before the tour.
Planning your day? Read our one-day walking route in Venice.
Venice day trip by high-speed train
Round-trip high-speed train tickets with reserved seats, about 6 hours in Venice with a private licensed guide, and the Venice access fee when it applies. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
FAQ
Do I have to pay the Venice access fee in winter?
No. The 2026 period has ended and, according to the City of Venice, the fee applies again on selected days between 26 March and 15 August 2027.
What time does the Venice access fee apply?
For 2027, from 8:30 to 16:30 on the fee days. Outside those hours you do not need to pay.
Do overnight guests pay the access fee?
No. Guests who sleep in Venice are exempt because they pay the tourist tax, but they need to request an exemption QR code.
Is the access fee included in your Venice day trips?
Yes. On our Venice day trips from Rome, Florence and Milan, the access fee is included when it applies.
Where can I pay the Venice access fee?
On the official website of the City of Venice, cda.ve.it, where you receive a QR code.