Venice Just Got More Expensive

With its beautiful views, large array of tourist attractions and Mediterranean climate, Venice, Italy attracts nearly ​20 million​ tourists every year, explains National Geographic. If you're interested in adding this European city to your travel plans, you're probably wondering, "Is Venice expensive?"

The cost of your Venetian trip can be expensive, but it ultimately depends on your specific plans for transportation, accommodation, dining and entertainment. However, a new entry fee could increase your costs further depending on when you come and whether you stay locally.

With so much to offer, Venice has become a premier destination for tourists in Europe, and this has led to a lot of congestion in the city. While some tourists stay overnight at hotels, Airbnbs, vacation rentals or hostels, National Public Radio explains the majority just come for a day trip. For example, some tourists might drop by Venice to explore the Piazza San Marco after visiting other Italian cities like Milan, Rome or Florence.

Not only do these extra crowds cause stress and inconvenience for the city's residents, but day trippers also cut down on the revenue the city receives from lodging taxes. In response, the city will initiate a new system and fee for day trippers to help reduce the influx of tourists and encourage those who do visit to stay overnight locally.

If your Venice trip is on or after ​January 16, 2023​, you'll need to pay anywhere from ​three to 10 euros​ for each person coming for a day trip. However, any children younger than age 6 won't be charged. You can expect to pay on the higher end during the busiest time of year since demand affects pricing. CNN says that the city will have a website where you'll make a reservation for the requested date and get a QR code you can show if questioned.

While the proposed day trip fees aren't very high, they can still add up if you're traveling with a lot of people or you plan to visit on multiple days. You can avoid the fee if you rent a hotel room and stay overnight locally, but you'll want to weigh any added costs before doing so.

You might find it cheaper to stay in another Italian city and just opt for the day trip fee. But if you will be a day tripper, don't think that you can somehow evade the fee and reservation procedures since CNN warns you can get charged up to ​300 euros​ for doing so.

When staying locally, be sure to shop around for good hotel prices since the average cost can vary widely depending on the part of Venice you're visiting and current demand. For example, you'll likely pay a lot more for a luxury hotel in Castello than an economy Airbnb in Murano. Booking.com and similar travel sites can help you compare options and possibly find discounts.

If your Venice trip is on or after January 16, 2023, you'll need to pay anywhere from three to 10 euros for each person coming for a day trip.

Flights, land and water taxi (vaporetto) services, rental cars and public transportation also add to your Venice trip costs. With the St. Louis Fed reporting rising airline fares and overall high inflation, getting your family from the U.S. to the city's Marco Polo Airport could be your most significant expense. You'll also have to consider other trip needs such as travel insurance, restaurant and supermarket costs, attractions and any souvenirs you want to bring home.

You can do plenty in Venice for free such as visiting the Rialto Bridge, taking a walking tour or strolling St. Mark's Square. However, you may also want to budget for paid activities such as enjoying a gondola ride on the Grand Canal to Murano, visiting Doge's Palace or checking out museums in Dorsoduro. You can consider an offering such as the city pass that Venezia Unica offers to save money on attractions.

If you're looking for other ways to reduce the cost to visit Venice, Italy, the University of Utah makes some helpful suggestions. You could redeem credit card points for travel costs, visit the city when it's not the peak season, join a travel club or take advantage of price comparison tools often. Also, be aware of tourist traps where you might end up spending a lot of money.