If you’re walking the Via Francigena in Italy, most cities and historic towns along the way charge a small local tourist tax, known in Italy as the tassa di soggiorno (or imposta di soggiorno). It’s a modest nightly charge, but it’s worth understanding before you set off so there are no surprises at check-out.
The short version: the tourist tax is a small per-person, per-night charge collected by your accommodation on behalf of the local town hall (comune). It’s not included in your CaminoWays package, because it’s set by each municipality and paid locally, usually when you check out.
Here’s how it works in Italy, and what pilgrims can expect to pay in the main towns along the Via Francigena.
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What is the tassa di soggiorno and how do you pay it?
The tassa di soggiorno is a tourist tax applied by individual Italian municipalities to overnight stays in registered accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, agriturismi and holiday rentals. A few things are true almost everywhere it applies:
- It’s charged per person, per night.
- It’s collected by your accommodation and paid locally, normally at check-out, by card or cash.
- The amount often depends on the type and category of accommodation — four- and five-star hotels pay more than a guesthouse.
- Children are usually exempt, though the age varies by town (commonly under 12 or under 14).
- Some towns charge the tax all year round, while others only apply it in high season.
Because every comune sets its own rules, rates vary widely — generally between about €1 and €10 per person, per night in 2026, depending on the city and your accommodation.
Tourist tax on the Via Francigena in Tuscany
The Tuscan stretch of the Via Francigena, from Lucca through the hills to Siena, passes through some of Italy’s most beautiful historic towns — most of which apply the tourist tax. Here’s what to expect on the classic Via Francigena in Tuscany route (rates for 2026):
- Lucca — around €3.50 per person, per night, applied year-round, for up to 3 nights; children under 14 are exempt.
- San Gimignano — around €1.50 per person, per night, applied only from 1 March to 31 October, for up to 5 nights; children under 14 are exempt.
- Siena — around €2.00 per person, per night, applied year-round, for up to 4 nights; children under 12 are exempt.
- San Miniato and Monteriggioni — smaller towns that apply their own modest local tax (typically €1–€2 per night); confirm the current amount with your accommodation.
If your trip begins or ends in Florence, a common gateway to Tuscany, note that the city charges a higher tourist tax of around €6 per person, per night (up to €8 for luxury hotels), for up to 7 nights.
Tourist tax on the Via Francigena to Rome
On the final stages of the Via Francigena from Viterbo to Rome, you’ll walk through Lazio towards the Eternal City:
- Viterbo — applies the tourist tax with a small nightly charge, and notably offers the fourth night free; confirm the rate for your accommodation category on arrival.
- Bolsena and Montefiascone — lakeside and hilltop towns that apply their own small seasonal tourist tax (roughly €1–€2 per night).
- Rome — the grand finale of the Via Francigena has one of Italy’s highest tourist taxes, ranging in 2026 from around €3 per person, per night in the most basic accommodation up to €10 per night in five-star hotels, charged for up to 10 consecutive nights.
Quick reference: Tourist Tax on the Via Francigena
Tourist Tax in Italy on the Via Francigena
What pilgrims pay (tassa di soggiorno) — 2026
| Town | Route stage | Tax per person / night | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucca | Tuscany (start) | ~€3.50 | Year-round; up to 3 nights; under-14 exempt |
| San Gimignano | Tuscany | ~€1.50 | 1 Mar–31 Oct only; up to 5 nights; under-14 exempt |
| Siena | Tuscany (finish) | ~€2.00 | Year-round; up to 4 nights; under-12 exempt |
| Florence | Gateway city | ~€6 (up to €8) | Year-round; up to 7 nights; under-12 exempt |
| Viterbo | Viterbo → Rome | Small charge | 4th night free |
| Rome | Viterbo → Rome (finish) | ~€3–€10 | By hotel category; up to 10 nights |
What this means for pilgrims
The tourist tax shouldn’t affect your Via Francigena plans — the amounts are small — but a little preparation helps. Budget a few euros per person for each night in the towns that apply it, carry some small change or a card for check-out, and remember that children are usually exempt.
Important: the tourist tax must be paid in person by each traveller, directly at your accommodation — normally at check-out. It cannot be pre-paid or arranged for you: CaminoWays.com cannot collect it or include it in your tour price, because it is charged locally by each comune and settled on the spot.
Frequently asked questions about the tourist tax in Italy
Yes, in most towns. Italian municipalities charge a tassa di soggiorno on overnight stays, so you’ll pay a small per-person, per-night tax in cities like Lucca, Siena and Rome. It’s collected by your accommodation and paid locally, not through your tour operator.
It varies by town and accommodation category, generally between about €1 and €10 per person, per night in 2026. On the Via Francigena, expect roughly €1.50 in San Gimignano, €2 in Siena, €3.50 in Lucca and up to €10 in Rome for five-star hotels.
Usually, yes. Most towns exempt children, though the cut-off age varies — commonly under 12 or under 14 depending on the municipality.
No. The tassa di soggiorno is set by each town hall and must be paid in person at your accommodation, usually at check-out, so it is separate from your CaminoWays package.
Plan your Via Francigena
If you’re unsure what tourist tax you may need to pay, or you’d like to plan your pilgrimage to Rome, our travel specialists are always happy to help — get in touch with our team or explore our Via Francigena in Tuscany and Viterbo to Rome walking tours.
Walking in Spain or Portugal instead? See our guide to the tourist tax on the Camino de Santiago.
The tourist tax rates in this article are provided as a general reference only and were correct at the time of writing (July 2026). The tassa di soggiorno is set by each Italian municipality (comune) and can change at any time. CaminoWays.com cannot accept responsibility for rates that are no longer up to date. Please confirm the current tourist tax directly with your accommodation or on the official website of each city or comune before you travel.
