Venice's last fee‑free Sunday draws global crowds before new policy

Last Sunday, Venice welcomed as many as 60,000 tourists, eager to experience the historic centre for the last time without an entrance fee — a new policy to be introduced imminently.

On April 21, the foreign tourist contingent in Venice primarily consisted of British, French, German, and American visitors.

However, it wasn't only international travellers who seized "the last Sunday" opportunity before Venice's entrance fee was implemented. Italians from various regions also flocked to the city, partly attracted by the ongoing Biennale of Art.

Many tourists spoke of it as "the last Sunday" before the start of an experimental phase involving a booking system and a 5-euro fee for day visitors — a novel approach. Notably, these new regulations will be enforced on 29 selected dates between April 25 and July 14.

During these dates, every visitor over 14 years old must register their arrival on the official website cda.ve.it/en.

It's crucial to mention that while staying in a hotel or another accommodation exempts visitors from the fee, it does not negate the registration requirement.

The anticipation is high for Thursday, the outset of the new regulations in Venice. The local authorities believe these measures will enable better tourist flow management and deter short-term visitors.

The dates requiring reservation and fee payment are as follows:

- April 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,

- May 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26,

- June 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30,

- July 6, 7, 13, 14.