Venice is one of the world’s most iconic cities for its tourist appeal, welcoming thousands of visitors every day, which at times creates stress for the local population.
This constant pressure means Venice experiences overtourism for most of the year. For this reason, the city council has introduced a series of measures to preserve its historical and cultural heritage.
Among these measures is the tourist tax for overnight stays in Venice, which we will now look at in more detail.
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The tourist tax is a levy applied to visitors who stay overnight in the city. It was first introduced in 2011 and has been updated over the years, with the latest revision in 2024. The tourist tax is a charge introduced by the city to manage tourism sustainably and limit the negative impact of mass tourism.
In 2025, Venice extended the application of the access fee (Venice City Pass) to 54 high-traffic days, mainly in spring and summer, with a standard rate of €10 per person per day, reduced to €5 if booked at least 4 days in advance via the official website. Children under 14, residents, workers and tourists staying overnight in the city are exempt from this access fee; overnight guests only pay the standard “tassa di soggiorno” based on their stay.
The standard tourist tax for overnight stays (tassa di soggiorno) remains in place for those who sleep in the city. Its value ranges from €1.50 to €5 per person per night depending on the area, type of accommodation and season. Children under 9 are exempt, and those between 9 and 16 pay half the applicable rate.
It is important to note that Venice is the first city in the world to apply a tourist charge simply for entering the city centre.
There are two types of tourist charges in Venice.
First, there is the city access fee, also known as the Venice City Pass. This fee applies to visitors who do not stay overnight in the city and is designed to regulate day tourism, which creates the greatest pressure at peak times.
In 2025, this fee applies on specific high-traffic days:
The fee is charged between 8:30 and 16:00 and has a variable cost:
Bookings must be made via the official platform cda.ve.it, where you obtain a mandatory QR code that must be shown upon entering the city. Those who have already paid the overnight tourist tax are exempt from this access fee.
You do not have to pay the Venice City Pass if you do not enter the historic centre.
From 28 July onwards, the first phase of the access fee ended, so for the rest of 2025 no access charge is applied. It is expected to be reintroduced on specific high-traffic days in 2026, subject to the official calendar. This pioneering system aims to regulate access and protect the city’s heritage by managing tourist pressure on the historic centre more effectively.
Secondly, there is the tourist tax on overnight stays. This charge is applied per person, per night for guests staying in tourist accommodation within the municipality of Venice. If you pay the overnight tourist tax, you do not have to pay the City Pass or access fee. The Venice tourist tax works in a similar way to those in other cities: the amount varies according to hotel category, location and whether it is high or low season.
In high season, the tourist tax ranges from €0.70 to €5 per night, depending on the area (historical centre, Lido and islands, or mainland) and type of accommodation (hotels, hostels, villas or tourist residences).
In low season, the tax ranges from €0.50 to €3.50. Children between 9 and 16 years old pay half the amounts indicated above per night. Children under 9 are fully exempt.
Example: If you stay 1 night in a 5-star hotel in Venice’s historic centre in high season with 2 adults, the tourist tax will be €10. If you stay 1 night in a 5-star hotel on the mainland with 2 adults, the tax will be €7. If you add a teenager aged between 9 and 16 in the latter case, the total tax payable would be €8.70.
Children under 9 are exempt from the tourist tax. In addition, for the city access fee, the following are also exempt:
Those who fail to pay the access fee may face fines of between €25 and €150, in addition to being required to pay the maximum daily access charge (€10).
Those responsible for collecting the tourist tax are tourist accommodation providers, who must pay the amounts collected over to the municipal authorities. They must keep receipts and invoices as proof of payment by guests.
It is crucial that hotel and accommodation owners maintain proper records and tax remittances to ensure compliance.
Automate the calculation and issuing of tourist-tax receipts with Check-in Scan’s guest-management tool.
Allow guests to see the tax amount charged at the same time they complete online check-in, with the tourist surcharge calculated automatically according to the relevant local rate.
At all times, accommodation providers must clearly inform guests about the tourist tax surcharge to avoid misunderstandings and unpleasant situations for either party.
Accommodation providers must ensure they comply with all tax obligations.
The tourist tax contributes to the city’s revenue stream, which is allocated to a range of initiatives, including the maintenance of historical sites, environmental conservation and infrastructure development. By taking part in the collection process, hoteliers play a key role in supporting Venice’s sustainable-tourism goals and in preserving its cultural heritage for future generations.
The tourist tax in Venice presents a new situation for accommodation providers, who must adapt to these requirements and keep accurate records. This tax is designed as a tool for regulating tourism and for helping to preserve the city’s historical and cultural heritage, which is often stretched to the limit by large numbers of visitors.
The tax acts as a mechanism to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the preservation of Venice’s identity and heritage, in a city that is truly unique.
Failure to pay the access fee can result in fines of between €25 and €150, plus the obligation to pay the maximum daily charge. To avoid penalties, all accommodation providers must clearly explain tax obligations, be transparent about tourist surcharges and give guests a receipt or proof of payment.
