Is This Popular Tourist Staple In Italy Overpriced? You Make The Call

If you've ever dreamed of traveling to Italy, chances are that a few iconic Italian views dance in your head. Visions of the sun-drenched Amalfi Coast may beckon you, featuring the stacked pastels of Positano curving around the jewel-blue Mediterranean Sea. Or perhaps the ruins in Rome, with the Colosseum looming large over the domed capital city. The rolling hills and green trees of Tuscany call to mind glasses of wine, olive oil, and good times.

But there may be no more longed-for Italian landscape than that of Venice, the city built on water. 150 canals crisscross the "floating city," which dates back to Ancient Roman times. Positioned in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, just along the Adriatic Sea, Venice has been a picturesque tourist draw for centuries, as well as a cultural epicenter.

However, savvy travelers looking to spend only the right amount of income on a vacation may be dismayed to learn that daily travel costs in Venice can easily climb into the hundreds. Despite being legendarily pricey to visit, overtourism is also a significant problem. Crowding is such an issue in Venice that the city even charges an admission fee on high-tourist days, which could double in 2025. Taking a gondola ride through the narrow waterways linking Venice's six sestieri (or neighborhoods) full of art, romance, and beauty is the stuff tourist dreams are made of — but this travel dream might come at too high a price.

No one wants to make major money mistakes while traveling, but competing with the crowds that choke Venice might force a few pricey or panicked travel expenses. About 20 million tourists visit Venice each year, with 3 million celebrating Carnival in February and March. Easter and New Year's Eve are also popular, and the high season stretches from April into fall. On many of Venice's busiest days, the city also charges the entrance feeto non-residents who aren't staying the night in Venice.

This tourist tax is around $5. In 2025, that will double to around $10 if tickets aren't booked at least four days in advance. This fee exists to decongest the city and to mitigate the toll overtourism is taking on Venice's infrastructure. Venice is at least slightly crumbling and sinking, which can both add to its Old World charms, and make the sticker shock of staying there all the more eye-watering.

Travel planning site Budget Your Trip says the average daily spend per mid-range traveler in Venice is $301, with $786 being the daily spend per luxury traveler. Mid-range food costs will run tourists around $122 per day, and accommodations around $131 per night, with luxury stays jumping to $331 per night. These estimates don't include the average cost of a 30-minute gondola ride, which, per travel site Introducing Venice, can cost anywhere between $84.80 and $106, plus tips for extra time and romantic flourishes.

There's simply no denying the allure of the city Lord Byron himself wrote an entire ode to. Travelers may feel stuck walking everywhere, paying for expensive hotels in the heart of the city, or economy options in mainland Mestre. Overcrowding can make those who have saved for an authentic experience feel like a lemming in a sea of tourists, rather than an adventurer in a lagoon island city of timeless beauty.

However, travelers prepared for a little discomfort and a lot of walking might get some bang for their buck. Times of "acqua alta" or high tide flood some canals and alleyways during winter, making cross-city travel more difficult, yet less crowded. If this sounds too extreme, booking a shoulder season can save you money in autumn and after busy events like Carnival. Traveling before or during the winter off-season can be a much cheaper (if chillier) time to visit the Bride of the Sea.

Venice also offers beautiful views and cultural experiences for free or very little cost, whatever the season. The iconic St. Mark's Basilica is free to gaze upon, and a tour costs a very small fee. Many museums offer entry for around or under $15. Skip the gondola and ride the much more affordable water bus, or "vaporetto." If you're feeling romantic and patient, hitch a ride on a "traghetto," or group gondola, for a fistful of euros and the spirit of budget travel adventure.