Venice Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 6 November 2025

Venice, known as the City of Canals, The Floating City, and Serenissima, attracts tourists from all over the world with its art, architecture, lagoons, and impressive maze of bridges and canals.

How many tourists visit Venice each year?

Close to 6 million tourists (international and domestic combined) visit Venice in recent years.

• In 2024, Venice welcomed 5.88 million total tourist arrivals, approximately 4% increase from 2023.

• Total visitor arrivals reached 5.66 million in 2023, an increase from 4.65 million in 2022.

• 5.52 million tourists visited Venice in 2019, which dropped to 1.34 million in 2020 and 2.12 million in 2021 during the pandemic.¹
  

How many people visited Venice in 2024?

• Venice welcomed 5.88 million tourist arrivals in 2024.International tourists made up the majority of Venice’s visitors at 87% (5.11 million), while domestic visitors accounted for 13% (0.77 million) of total arrivals in 2024.

How much do tourists spend in Venice each year?

Tourists (both international and domestic) spend over €1.7 billion each year in Venice.

• In 2024, tourists generated approximately €1.9 billion in spending, representing a 27% growth from 2023.

• Annual spending reached €1.5 billion in 2023, an increase from approximately €1.4 billion in 2022.

• €1.7 billion in spending was generated in 2019, which dropped to €780 million in 2020.

How much did people spend in Venice in 2024?

• Tourists spend €1.9 billion in Venice in 2024.International tourists contributed 92% (€1.75 billion), while domestic visitors accounted for 8% (€0.17 billion) of total spending in 2024.

How much does it cost to visit Venice?

• In 2024, Venice’s visitors spent an average of €323 per trip, reflecting its status as a premium travel destination driven largely by international tourism, which accounted for over 90% of total spending.

Note: The above figures represent approximate values, calculated based on available tourism spending and visitor numbers for 2024.

Where do visitors to Venice come from?

The United States was Venice’s largest source of international tourists, and Italy (domestic) was the second-largest market in 2024.

Top International Source Countries by Visitors (2024)

1. United States: 1.04 million visitors
2. France: 383,000 visitors
3. United Kingdom: 333,000 visitors
4. Germany: 321,000 visitors
5. Spain: 264,000 visitors

How long do people stay in Venice?

Visitors stay an average of approximately 2.3 nights in Venice in 2024.

• Domestic visitors: Stay approximately 2.27 nights on average, typically for weekend breaks and short city trips.

• International visitors: Stay around 2.26 nights on average, often as part of a broader Italy or European tour.

When is Venice’s peak season?

Venice is busiest during the summer months of June to August, peaking in July. 

• The city experiences the highest number of tourists in July, with heavy crowds resulting in longer lines at attractions and higher accommodation prices.

• Visitor numbers increase steadily from spring, peak in late summer, and gradually decrease in September and October. 
  

When is the best time to visit Venice?

The best time to visit Venice is during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) and fall (September to October).

• Visiting Venice from April to June or September to October allows travellers to experience the city with a balance of good weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices compared to the peak summer months.

• The city is quieter from December through February, with January, in particular, seeing the fewest visitors, both internationally and domestically. This makes winter ideal for those who prefer cooler temperatures in exchange for a less crowded experience.

• Venice sees its highest and lowest international tourist numbers in July and January, respectively. For Italian visitors, the peak and quietest months are April and January.

Impact of Coronavirus – Venice Tourism Statistics 2020

• In 2020, there were 71.5% fewer tourist arrivals in Venice and 59.7% fewer in Italy compared with the previous year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• This resulted in 1.34 million visitors to Venice, generating €780 million in tourism revenue.

How popular is Venice as a tourist destination?

Venice remains one of the world’s most celebrated tourist destinations, with numerous awards and recognitions reinforcing its appeal across culture, history, fashion, and hospitality.

• In 2025, the city’s hotels featured prominently in the Travel + Leisure “World’s Best Awards”, where Venetian properties ranked among Italy’s most-beloved city hotels.

• The annual Venice Film Festival continues to be one of the globe’s premier cinema events, attracting international attention and elevating the city’s cultural prestige.

• Venice is widely acknowledged as one of Italy’s top two tourist cities, solidifying its status as a global travel icon alongside Rome.

• The city’s luxury retail precincts and heritage locations regularly earn mentions in international travel publications, highlighting its blend of historic charm with high-end visitor experiences.

• Venice’s leadership in arts and design is underscored by flagship events like the Venice Architecture Biennale, which transform the city into a global stage for innovation and culture.

These accolades underline Venice’s enduring strength as a top-tier international tourist spot, defined by its historical richness, artistic legacy, and world-class hospitality.

Italy Travel Resources

How many people reside in Venice?

Venice’s local population has seen a consistent decline from about 174,000 in the 1950s to roughly 50,000 in recent years. 

• In addition to those in the historic centre, 30,000 people live on other islands within the lagoon, primarily on Lido di Venezia, Murano, and Burano. 

• While the wider Venice area, including the mainland, counts approximately 200,000 residents. 

• By early April 2024, Venice’s population dipped below 49,000 residents, showing a loss of nearly 1,000 residents compared to the previous year.
  

How does overtourism affect Venice?

Overtourism in Venice leads to several challenges. The high volume of tourists strains the city’s infrastructure, impacts the local population, and threatens the preservation of its cultural and natural heritage.²

Environmental Impact:

• Erosion and Pollution: The constant movement of boats and large cruise ships causes canal bank erosion and water pollution.

• Waste Management: Large volumes of tourist waste strain the city’s systems.
  

Social Impact:

• Population Decline: The population has dropped from about 174,000 in the 1950s to around 49,000 today due to high living costs and tourist accommodation replacing residential areas. 

• Quality of Life: On peak days, Venice can see up to 60,000 tourists, which often causes tourists to outnumber residents, making daily life difficult for locals. 
  

Economic Impact:

• Housing Market: Venice now has more tourist beds than residents and the high demand for tourist accommodation drives up property prices, making housing unaffordable for locals.

• Local Businesses: While tourism supports businesses, it also creates dependency, making the economy vulnerable.
  

• Learn more about Global Overtourism and the efforts of various countries to combat it.

Why is Venice a candidate for the UNESCO “World Heritage in Danger” list?

The strain of tourism extends to Venice’s ecosystem. 

• The UNESCO World Heritage List recognised the “Venice and its Lagoon” site in 1987 for its great cultural traditions that are interwoven with an amazing natural environment, as well as its unique historical, archaeological, urban, and artistic landscape that attracts millions of visitors every year.

• However, it became a candidate for Heritage in Danger in 2016, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable tourism practices to preserve Venice’s cultural and ecological integrity.³

Why is Venice charging visitors an access fee?

Venice was the first city in the world to charge day-trippers. The city has introduced a €5 access fee to manage the negative impacts of overtourism. 

• Control Tourist Numbers: Regulate the influx of tourists, especially day-trippers.
• Fund Maintenance: Use the revenue to maintain and preserve the city.
• Promote Sustainable Tourism: Encourage responsible travel practices.

When did Venice start charging an access fee?

Venice began charging day-trippers a new entry fee on April 25, 2024. 

• Venice’s new €5 (around $5.30) entry fee, is said to apply on 29 peak dates between 25 April and 14 July.⁴

Why does Venice limit tourist groups to a maximum of 25? 

While the entry fee is a step forward, it may not completely prevent overtourism.

• To further mitigate the impact on the city’s infrastructure and reduce congestion in its narrow streets and historical sites, Venice has decided to cap the size of tourist groups at 25 individuals.

• This additional restriction is aimed at managing the flow of visitors more effectively, ensuring a balance between tourist activities and preservation efforts. 

Those approaches reflect the city’s commitment to safeguarding its status as a Heritage Site and improving the quality of life for its residents. 

What are the top destinations to visit in Venice?

• St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco): The central square of Venice, with around 5 million visitors annually. St. Mark’s Square is home to historic buildings such as St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Campanile, and Doge’s Palace.

• Grand Canal (Canalazzo): Venice’s main arterial waterway and the largest canal in the city. The Grand Canal welcomes roughly 4 million visitors every year.

• St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco): Venice’s most influential church, also called the “Golden Church.” St. Mark’s Basilica attracts about 3 million visitors annually.

• Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale): This symbol of Venice’s historical power and splendour draws around 1.4 million visitors annually with its Venetian Gothic architecture and the Bridge of Sighs.

• Murano: Famous for its long-standing glassmaking tradition, Murano attracts about 1.5 million visitors yearly.

• Burano – With its brightly coloured houses and lace craftsmanship, Burano draws around 1 million visitors every year.

• La Fenice Theatre: Venice’s renowned opera house, Teatro La Fenice, attracts approximately 200,000 culture enthusiasts annually with its opera, concerts, and ballet performances.

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References

1.  CV: Yearbook of Tourism – 2011 to 2022 ↩︎
2.  UIB: Overtourism Impacts and policies – The case of Venice ↩︎
3.  UNESCO: Venice and its Lagoon ↩︎
4.  CDA: Venice Access Fee ↩︎