VENICE, Italy — Ancient and beautiful, it is sometimes referred to as an open air museum and now visitors to Venice will have to pay for an entry fee after the Italian city became the first in the world to introduce a charging system for tourists on Thursday.
In a bid to thin out the crowds that throng to see the canals, bridges and striking architecture during vacation season, day-trippers will have to pay 5-euro ($5.35) to enter the lagoon city on 29 peak days, mostly weekends, as part of a trial phase until July 14.
Tourists who have booked at least one night at a hotel in the city will be exempt from the charge, as will residents, workers and students in the city. Visitors under the age of 14 will also be exempt. But like the day-trippers they will also have to ensure they have registered online and received a QR code.
Those without smartphones will have to go to the city’s Santa Lucia train station to buy a ticket.