ROME — Making a wish at the Trevi Fountain now comes with a small price.
Starting Monday, tourists who want to step closer to Rome’s most iconic fountain will need to pay a €2 fee — a move city officials hope will ease overcrowding and help preserve the historic landmark.
The rule is simple.
If you stay in the square and admire the fountain from a distance, it’s still free.
But if you walk down the stone steps — the spot where wishes are made and coins are tossed — you’ll have to pay.
A Small Fee for a Better Experience
The access fee applies during peak hours:
• 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays
• 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends
Rome residents are exempt, along with children under six, people with disabilities, and their companions.
For many tourists, the change came as a surprise — but not an unwelcome one.
“I didn’t know we had to pay,” said Valentina De Vicentis, a visitor from Argentina.
“But I have no problem with that.”
She paused, then smiled.
“There are fewer people,” she said.
“And that’s good. Before, you couldn’t take pictures or stay long enough to enjoy it.”
A Fountain Loved by Millions
The Trevi Fountain is more than just a photo stop.
By tradition, tossing a coin over your right shoulder is said to guarantee a return to Rome — a ritual followed by tourists, celebrities, and even world leaders.
It’s also forever etched into cinema history.
Who could forget Anita Ekberg stepping into the fountain in La Dolce Vita, calling out,
“Marcello! Come here!”
That magic draws crowds — lots of them.
Over 10 Million Visitors a Year
Authorities estimate that more than 10 million people visited the Trevi Fountain between December 2024 and December 2025, a period that coincided with a Catholic Holy Year, drawing an estimated 33.5 million pilgrims to Rome.
Fed by an ancient Roman aqueduct and completed in 1762, the fountain is a late Baroque masterpiece depicting Oceanus, the god of all water — powerful, dramatic, and timeless.
A Growing Trend Across Italy
With tourism booming, Rome isn’t alone.
Visitor fees have already been introduced at other major sites, including:
• The Pantheon
• The city of Venice during peak season
• Verona’s courtyard tied to Romeo and Juliet
The goal is balance — protecting heritage while keeping the magic alive.
A Wish Still Worth Making
For €2, the wish remains the same.
A moment.
A coin.
And the hope that someday… you’ll be back.
Only this time, with a little more space — and a lot more time to enjoy it.
