Venice in a nutshell
Venice is built on more than a hundred small islands in a lagoon in north-east Italy. There are no cars in the historic centre: you walk, or you take a vaporetto, the public water bus. The Grand Canal winds through the city, and St. Mark's Square with the Basilica and the Doge's Palace lies at its southern end.
Venice now manages its visitor numbers more actively than any other city in Italy. Day trippers paid an access fee on 60 days in 2026, guided groups are limited to 25 people, and the main sights sell timed tickets. This guide explains the Venice tourism rules as of October 2026.
The access fee: 2026 and 2027
The rules that matter most for day trips.
2026 is over
The 2026 trial ran on 60 days between 3 April and 26 July, from 8:30 am to 4 pm: €5 if paid at least four days ahead, €10 after that. Since 27 July 2026 no fee applies.
Access fee guide →2027 calendar set
On 15 October 2026 the city fixed 72 days from 26 March to 15 August 2027, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, with a maximum of €10. Exemptions and the booking portal are still to be decided.
Dates for 2027 →Overnight guests are exempt
If you sleep in the municipality of Venice, you pay the tourist tax through your accommodation instead. You still need an exemption code for days with the fee. Children under 14 never pay.
Where to stay →Book the big sights
Venice tickets for St. Mark's Basilica are tied to a booked time slot, from €10. For the Doge's Palace a ticket bought online more than 30 days ahead costs €30 instead of €35.
St. Mark's Basilica →Our picks: Venice tours and tickets
A guided tour of the palace and basilica, a lagoon trip and a gondola ride.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Doge's Palace, New Prisons and St. Mark's Basilica guided tour
A guided visit of both buildings with skip-the-line entry, the Bridge of Sighs and the Great Council Hall. The basilica terrace is only an upgrade.
Check availability →
Murano and Burano by boat with glassmaking
A small group of up to 22 with an English-speaking guide, a glass and lace demonstration and headsets.
Check availability →
Grand Canal gondola ride with app commentary
About 30 minutes in a shared gondola, with commentary on an app rather than from the gondolier. A private ride is an extra option.
Check availability →Venice tours and tickets
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's, gondola rides and boat trips to Murano and Burano, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit
Venice travel basics: tickets, boats and the best order for the day.
Things to do in Venice
The sights worth the queue, the quieter districts and what to skip.
Doge's Palace
Tickets, opening hours, the Secret Itineraries tour and the Bridge of Sighs.
Gondola ride
The official fare by day and night, how long it lasts and the €2 traghetto alternative.
Getting around
Single tickets, 1 to 7-day passes and the best water bus lines.
Murano and Burano
Glass, lace and colourful houses, and how to visit both by vaporetto.
Venice in one day
A realistic route for day trippers, including the fee days.
Getting in and around
From Marco Polo airport the ATVO bus reaches Piazzale Roma for about €12 in around 20 minutes. The Alilaguna boat costs €18 and stops near the centre. A water taxi is the fastest option, at about €110 to €160 per boat.
Inside the city, a single vaporetto ticket costs €9.50 and is valid for 75 minutes. If you take more than two or three boats a day, a pass for 24, 48 or 72 hours (€25, €35 or €45) or 7 days (€65) pays off.
When to go
Venice is busy from spring to autumn. These dates shape the year.
Acqua alta
Acqua alta in Venice, or high water, is most common between October and March. Since 2020 the MOSE barriers close the lagoon when a tide above about 110 cm is forecast; they were raised 49 times in the 2025/26 season.
Seasons and high water →Carnival 2027
According to the official carnival website, Carnival 2027 runs from 23 January to 9 February. The programme had not been published by mid-October 2026.
Carnival →Biennale 2026
The Biennale Arte runs until 22 November 2026, with exhibitions in the Giardini and the Arsenale.
Things to do →More independent guides to Venice
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one part of Venice.
St Mark's Square
The square itself: Campanile, Clock Tower, Museo Correr, cafés, acqua alta and Carnival.
Rialto Bridge
The bridge, the Rialto Market, food tours with cicchetti and walks through San Polo.
Grand Canal
Boat tours, gondola rides, vaporetto line 1 and the palaces along the water.
Venice attractions at a glance
Most Venice attractions sit close together. The sights around St. Mark's Square are the Basilica, the Campanile and the Doge's Palace. On the way along the Grand Canal you pass the Rialto Bridge, where the fish market is open Tuesday to Saturday from 7:00 to 14:00. Across the water in Dorsoduro are the Gallerie dell'Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Venice museums and the Museum Pass
If you plan to see several Venice museums, the Museum Pass can pay off. It costs €50 (€25 reduced), is valid for six months and gives one entry to each included museum, among them the Doge's Palace, Ca' Rezzonico, the Murano Glass Museum and the Burano Lace Museum. No reservation is needed.
Murano, Italy: the glass island
Murano, Italy's island of glassmakers, is the easiest lagoon trip. Vaporetto lines 4.1 and 4.2 leave from Fondamente Nove and take about 9 to 10 minutes to Murano Colonna. Day tours from Venice usually combine Murano with Burano by boat, and trips to the lagoon fit into the 75-minute ticket or any pass.
Hotels in Venice, Italy: which district
Hotels in Venice, Italy, are easiest to choose by district. San Marco is the centre, Cannaregio is next to the railway station, Dorsoduro is quieter, and Mestre on the mainland is connected by train, tram and bus. Whether you pick hotels in Venice or a bed and breakfast in Venezia, the tourist tax is paid at the accommodation. Our guide to where to stay compares the districts.
The best gondola tour in Venice depends on your group: the official fare is €90 per boat for 30 minutes, while a shared ride is priced per person.
Venice: frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay to enter Venice?
Only on fee days and only as a day tripper. In 2026 the fee applied on 60 days until 26 July. For 2027 the city has set 72 days between 26 March and 15 August, with a maximum of €10. Overnight guests and children under 14 do not pay.
How much is a gondola ride?
The official fare is €90 per gondola for 30 minutes between 9 am and 7 pm, and €110 for 35 minutes in the evening and at night. Up to five people share one boat.
How much does the Doge's Palace cost?
The St. Mark's Square Museums ticket, which includes the Doge's Palace, costs €35, or €30 online more than 30 days ahead. Reduced tickets cost €15.
Do I need to book St. Mark's Basilica?
Yes. Entry is only possible in a booked time slot. The basilica alone costs €10, the full ticket with Pala d'Oro, museum and terrace €30. Shoulders and knees must be covered.
How do I get from the airport to Venice?
By ATVO bus to Piazzale Roma for about €12, by Alilaguna boat for €18 or by water taxi for about €110 to €160 per boat.