Venice doubles its €5 entrance fee for last-minute day trippers

Venice's entrance fee will resume from tomorrow, with the main novelty this year being that last-minute day trippers will pay double.

- Angela Giuffrida

The lagoon city last year became the first major tourist destination to charge people to enter, as part of an experiment aimed at dissuading day visitors during busy periods.

Although the initiative made little impact on curbing numbers, it did raise €2.4m (£2m) for the city's coffers, much more than expected, and Venice authorities still believe it will eventually contribute to helping the Unesco world heritage city tackle its overtourism woes.

The levy this year, bookable online, remains at €5, but will double if purchased within three days before arrival in the city. Furthermore, it has been expanded to apply on 54 dates, mostly weekends, between 18 April and 27 July, almost double the number of days last year. The measure applies between 8.30am and 4pm local time.