Venice 2026: Fines and Rules Every Tourist Should Know
In short: Anyone who jumps into a canal in Venice pays €350. Walking through the historic centre in swimwear can cost €250, and feeding pigeons or seagulls up to €500. There is also an important trap around public transport: ACTV and Alilaguna are different operators with different tickets. This guide covers the main rules, current fines and legal sources for visitors to Venice in 2026.
The main fines in Venice in 2026
| Offence | Fine / consequence |
|---|---|
| Feeding pigeons or seagulls | €25–500 |
| Bathing, swimming or jumping into canals | €350 |
| Littering or leaving rubbish behind | €350 |
| Walking around bare-chested or in swimwear | €250 |
| Camping or bivouacking | €200 |
| Sitting/lying or eating in restricted areas | €100–200 |
| Cycling, or even pushing a bicycle, in the historic centre | €100 |
| Riding ACTV public transport without a valid ticket | from €64.50, up to €324.50 if it escalates |
For some offences the authorities can additionally issue an ordine di allontanamento (an order to leave the area).
€350: Bathing and swimming in Venice’s canals
Venice’s canals are not swimming spots. Bathing, swimming and jumping into the water are banned — not only in the Grand Canal, but in the other canals across the city too. Fine: €350. The legal basis is Article 34 of the City of Venice’s Regolamento di Polizia e Sicurezza Urbana. An order to leave the area can also be issued.
Practical tip: Even in the height of summer heat, don’t jump in for a photo or video. If you want to swim, head to the Lido instead.
Up to €500: Feeding pigeons and seagulls
Especially on St Mark’s Square, this is one of the most important rules for visitors: pigeons and seagulls must not be fed — including indirectly, via food scraps left behind. Fine: €25 to €500. The legal basis is Article 24 of the Regolamento Comunale di Igiene Urbana Veterinaria e sul Benessere degli Animali.
€350: Littering
Leaving rubbish on streets, squares or other public spaces can get expensive in Venice. Fine: €350. If you’re eating on the go, take your wrappers and leftovers with you until you find a bin.
€250: Bikini, swim shorts or a bare chest
Venice sits in the lagoon, but the historic centre is not a beach. Walking around bare-chested or in swimwear anywhere in Venice risks a fine. Fine: €250. On the Lido beach, swimwear is of course no problem at all.
€100–200: Sitting and picnicking in the wrong spots
Sitting isn’t banned across the board in Venice — what matters is where. It’s forbidden to sit or lie on the ground, or on and around monuments, bridges, steps, well curbs and certain waterfront areas; eating and drinking in these spots can also fall under the rule. Fine: €100 to €200. An order to leave the area is also possible.
Practical tip: Don’t use a church staircase or a historic bridge as a picnic spot.
€100: Cycling — and generally pushing your bike too
In the historic centre it is generally forbidden to ride a bicycle or even walk one by hand. Fine: €100. There’s an exception on the designated route between Piazzale Roma and Venezia Santa Lucia station. The legal basis is Article 40 of the Regolamento di Polizia e Sicurezza Urbana.
€200: Camping and bivouacking
Public squares, waterfronts or benches may not be used as an improvised campsite. Fine: €200, and an order to leave the area is also possible.
Riding the vaporetto without a valid ACTV ticket: it can get expensive
Anyone caught on an ACTV boat without a valid ticket doesn’t just pay the fare. The sanction adds the fare itself plus processing costs:
| Payment | Sanction | Fare | Costs | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| within 5 days | €50 | €9.50 | €5 | €64.50 |
| 6th–60th day | €100 | €9.50 | €15 | €124.50 |
| maximum possible sanction if it escalates further | up to €300 | €9.50 | €15 | up to €324.50 |
A purchased ticket must be valid for the journey and correctly validated. For all fares, passes and routes: → Vaporetto Venice 2026: All 23 Lines, Tickets, Timetables and Insider Tips
Watch out at the airport: Alilaguna is not ACTV
Alilaguna runs its own waterbus connections between Marco Polo Airport, Murano and Venice — with its own tickets. A normal ACTV ticket does not automatically apply on board an Alilaguna boat. Without a valid ticket, the regular fare plus a €1 on-board surcharge becomes due; if payment is refused, onward travel can be denied.
Rule of thumb: Before boarding, check whether it’s an ACTV or an Alilaguna boat.
What about the Venice entrance fee?
The Contributo di Accesso for 2026 has already ended for this year. It was charged on 60 selected days between 3 April and 26 July 2026, each from 8:30am to 4pm. Since 27 July 2026, no entrance fee applies. Anyone checked without proof on a chargeable day risked an administrative fine of €25 to €150 plus the outstanding fee. For all dates, prices and exceptions: → Venice Access Fee 2026
Which rules should I actually remember?
- Don’t jump into canals or swim in them.
- Don’t feed pigeons or seagulls.
- Don’t leave rubbish behind.
- Don’t walk through the historic centre in swimwear.
- Don’t use bridges, monuments or historic steps as a picnic spot.
- Don’t ride or push a bicycle through the old town.
- Validate your vaporetto ticket correctly.
- Don’t confuse ACTV with Alilaguna.
Frequently asked questions about fines in Venice
How much does swimming in the Grand Canal cost?
Bathing, swimming and jumping into Venice’s canals can be fined €350, and an order to leave the area is also possible.
What’s the fine for feeding pigeons on St Mark’s Square?
Feeding pigeons and seagulls carries a fine range of €25 to €500.
Am I allowed to sit on steps in Venice?
Not all sitting is banned. On certain bridges, steps, monuments, well edges and waterfront areas, sitting or lying is prohibited — fine €100 to €200.
What does fare evasion on the vaporetto cost?
€64.50 if paid quickly; up to €324.50 if it escalates further.
Does my ACTV ticket work on Alilaguna?
Not automatically on regular Alilaguna routes — they have their own tickets and their own conditions of carriage.
Do I currently have to pay an entrance fee for Venice?
No. The 60 chargeable days for 2026 ended on 26 July 2026.
Conclusion
Venice’s rules mostly concern behaviour that’s easy to avoid. What’s surprising is above all how high some of the fines are: €350 for jumping into a canal, €250 for swimwear in the city, up to €500 for feeding pigeons or seagulls, and €100 for a bicycle in the historic centre. On public transport there’s a classic tourist trap on top: ACTV and Alilaguna are not the same thing. Anyone who knows the differences, validates their vaporetto ticket correctly and respects the historic areas can enjoy Venice without any stress.
As of: 30 August 2026. Fines and conditions of carriage can change; in case of doubt, the current information from the City of Venice or the relevant transport operator applies.