Rome has begun charging €2 (about $2.36) for access to the stone steps around the Trevi Fountain to ease severe overcrowding. On the first day of enforcement, some tourists avoided the fee by tossing coins from outside the barrier, causing coins to fall among paying visitors. City officials say patrols will be stationed to prevent repeat behavior; the charge is expected to generate over €6.5 million annually.
Rome’s New €2 Trevi Fee Sparks Coin-Flinging Evasion on Day One
Tourists surrounding the Trevi Fountain in RomeJakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty
Rome has introduced a two-euro charge (about $2.36) to access the stone steps around the Trevi Fountain — a measure designed to ease severe overcrowding at one of the city’s most visited landmarks. Enforcement of the fee began on Feb. 2, and officials say the aim is to reduce chaotic crowds while preserving the visitor experience.
Visitors Sidestep Fee By Tossing Coins From Afar
On the first day of enforcement, reporters said a group of tourists declined to pay and instead stood outside the roped-off area and threw coins toward the fountain. Several coins missed the water and fell among other visitors; those who had paid to stand closer reportedly had to dodge the falling coins.
Tourist tossing a coin into the Trevi FountainShutterstock
City Response
City officials told reporters they will station patrols at the fountain to prevent similar behavior moving forward. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri has defended the charge, saying it is a modest levy that will help control flows and reduce congestion. The city expects the new fee to bring in more than €6.5 million annually.
Why It Matters
The Trevi Fountain routinely draws massive crowds: officials estimate roughly 10 million visitors to the site last year and say peak moments in 2025 drew as many as 70,000 people. Overcrowding has previously caused pedestrian jams in the small Piazza di Trevi and prompted some visitors to arrive at dawn for unobstructed photos.
Tourist paying new fee to see the Trevi Fountain up close on Feb. 2, 2026Andreas SOLARO / AFP via Getty
Local Tradition: According to Turismo Roma, tossing one coin into the fountain is said to guarantee a return to Rome; two coins promise romance with an Italian; three coins are said to lead to marriage with an Italian. The fountain’s fame was also popularized worldwide by Federico Fellini’s 1960 film La Dolce Vita.
Under the new rules, paying visitors may enter the stone steps surrounding the fountain to view it up close and perform the traditional coin toss. Visitors who remain immediately outside the basin steps in the Piazza di Trevi can still see the monument for free from a distance.
The city hopes the fee will smooth visitor flows and protect both the monument and the experience of seeing it. Officials emphasize the measure is intended to balance tourist access with preservation and public safety.
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