Avoiding Crowds & Tourist Lines
There are several ways to help avoid the crowds, or at least the ticket lines at major attractions. Often the long lines you will see are to purchase tickets and not to gain entry.
Crowds on Charles Bridge
Prague Czech Republic

When you plan to visit a major city, and before you depart on your trip, search for tickets and passes for the city. Often you can purchase passes online prior to your departure. Purchasing online means you are not waiting in line or trying to figure out how and where to purchase a ticket or pass when you arrive. You will save valuable time if you already have your ticket or pass in hand.

Search for city passes, attraction passes, specific museum tickets, etc. and purchase them online prior to your trip departure.

You will save money and time waiting in line if you already have a ticket for the attraction you plan to visit. Passes and tickets may cover several days, or may be  good for a specific date and time.  For example, we purchased specific date/time tickets ahead of time for entry to the Uffizi and Accademia museums in Florence Italy, avoiding the long line of tourists waiting to get in.
Florence Italy
City View The David Uffizi  Museum
We don't have a photo of the exterior of the Accademia as it's a relatively plain building, nothing special; other than what's inside.  The main attraction at the museum is Michelangelo's David.  The photo above is a copy, located outside in front of the Palace Vecchio next to the Uffizi.

Off-Peak Seasonal Travel

There are places where you will probably always encounter crowds, and there is not much you can do about it. You may be able to skip the ticket and entry lines, but you will still have to navigate the crowds once inside. In Paris at the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, in Rome at the Vatican and the Museums, you will nearly always encounter large tourist crowds.  If you travel during the off-peak season, or during the Shoulder Seasons, you may find that the tourist crowds are greatly reduced.

We mostly travel during the Shoulder Seasons.  If you have kids in school, your only time of travel may be during the peak summer season.  If you can, travel in the early Spring (May/June) or late Fall (September/October). We have taken several trips during these times, and have had nothing but beautiful weather. Daily temps are typically in the 70's with cooler evenings.  Another plus is that you avoid the summer heat.  The Matterhorn photo below was from a trip to Zermatt Switzerland in October.  We had bright blue skies and mild temps in the 60's-70's, even at high-altitude Gornergrat. 
The Matterhorn from Gornergrat
Zermatt Switzerland

Some trips we have taken during the Spring and Fall Shoulder Seasons include Scotland, Germany and Romania.  We had beautiful weather in the 70's almost every day in Scotland and Germany.  The trip through Transylvania Romania was our Halloween trip in late October, so it was cooler.  On these trips, the peak season crowds were gone, and in some places, we were completely alone, or there were only a few other people around.  We took a Loch Ness cruise that passed by Urquhart Castle and we were the only two tourists on the boat.  We arrived early in the morning at Lichtenstein Castle and were the only two people on the first castle tour; it was like having our own private tour guide.  When we visited Bran Castle, we were the only two people in castle for the first 30 min. before a few others arrived.

Urquhart Castle (Loch Ness) Lichtenstein Castle Bran Castle
Drumnadrochit Scotland Württemberg Germany Bran Romania
(Mid-May) (Early October) (Late October)

We have visited the Louvre on several occasions, during peak travel season as well as winter. During the winter, we were able to walk right into the museum with no waiting as there was no line, and top attractions such as the Mona Lisa were not crowded. On another trip during peak season, the museum was packed and viewing the Mona Lisa was difficult as so many people were crowded into the area.

We have also visited the Vatican Museums during peak travel season and during the winter. When we visited in the winter, we had all the time we wanted in the Sistine Chapel. The Chapel was not crowded, and you could lay down on a bench to view the ceiling. When we visited in summer, it was a different story. It was wall-to-wall people and you were ushered in, given about 20 min., then ushered out.

If you decide to visit the Vatican Museums, and did not purchase a pass, there is still hope to avoid the long entry line.

Vatican Museums Line
Rome Italy

At St. Peter's Square in front of the Vatican, you will see several tour groups recruiting people to join their guided tours of the museums. It will cost slightly more to join a group, but you should be able to haggle on the price somewhat.  When you join a tour group, you will skip the line and gain immediate entrance to the museum with the group.

Once you enter the museum, you are not required to stay with the group. If you find your guide interesting, hang out with the group if you like. If you want to explore on your own, simply walk away.  You can always rejoin your group later...if you can find them.

Windsor England Tourist Crowds

When we lived in Windsor, a major tourist town due to Windsor Castle and other sites, it was often very crowded during the summer months. On weekends and on summer days, the town could be wall-to-wall people. People arrive by train and there is a large parking area on one side of town where dozens of busses packed with tourists arrive every day.  Tourists arrive in the morning, spend the day, and then depart in the late afternoon.

Daytime Tourist Crowds
Windsor England
Stay the night
What happens when you stay the night?  First, you have the opportunity to visit the sites at night and take some incredible photos.  Second, you're are already at the location in the morning, way before the daily tourist arrive, and third, you are there in the evening after the tourists depart. Shops may begin to close in the evening, but major tourist attractions may still be open as day-tourists begin departing.
Rothenburg Germany Prague Castle
   
 Salzburg Castle - Austria San Gimignano

Rothenburg Germany is one of those places where you need to stay the night.  Most tourists arrive in the morning and depart in the afternoon.  Sure, those people can say they have been to Rothenburg, but they have not truly experienced the town without staying the night.

If it's your first time to Rothenburg, we recommend at least two or three nights depending on your arrival and departure times. If you arrive in the evening, you may need three nights, giving you two full days to explore the town. If you arrive in the morning, then two nights may be enough. There is a lot to see and do, both day and night. The town is one of our favorite places to visit, and we usually stay two nights. One reason is for the food. We always reserve our two favorite restaurants ahead of time.  Zur Höll and Altfraenkischen Weinstube, which is also our favorite hotel in the town.

Zur Höll Altfraenkischen Weinstube

During the day, the town will be crowded with tourists. In the evening, the tourists depart and only the locals and people staying the night can be found strolling the streets. Rothenburg is completely safe, so even in the middle of the night you can stroll around with no worries. There is something magical about the town at night, as you walk down the medieval streets and walk the wall surrounding the town.

When we visit, we always attend the Night Watchman Tour one of our evenings. We know his speech and routine, but there is something about it that makes it worth doing again and again.

Rothenburg Germany
Night Watchman
Website

The Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Pass is a must when traveling through Switzerland. The pass will save you money and time by not having to wait in line to purchase tickets to ride the train or trams.  While traveling with a Swiss Pass through Switzerland, the pass covered nearly all our transportation by train and tram through the entire Jungfrau Region.  See our Swiss Pass page for more information.

Pre-Reservations Required

There are some places that require you purchase a ticket ahead of time or you simply cannot attend as they don't sell tickets at the site.  For example, you must reserve a date and time ahead of your arrival to see DaVinci's Last Supper in Milan Italy. If you want to tour the excavations beneath St. Peter's at the Vatican in Rome, you must also purchase tickets head of time.

Paris Pass for Attractions and Travel

You may notice a long line at the Louvre. The line is more than likely the ticket line, not the entrance line. People wait in line for hours, just to purchase a ticket. With the Paris Pass, at the Louvre and other locations, you skip the line entirely and go right in.  The pass also includes a free travel pass that is valid to use for journeys in central Paris on the Metro, RER, Buses, Trams and SNCF.

Compare the price of the ticket against the total cost of the sites you plan to visit and factor in the time saved by not having to wait in line.
Pass Benefits
  • Free entry to a choice of over 60+ top Paris attractions
  • Save time and skip the ticket line at selected sites
  • Enjoy stress free sightseeing, with one pass to visit all Paris attractions
  • Get free, unlimited use of public transport inside central Paris
  • Simple, quick refunds with our money back guarantee
Edinburgh Castle

You can reserve your castle visit ahead of time online. Simply select your desired date and time and purchase your voucher. When you arrive in Edinburgh, you will find check-in terminals at the entry of the large parking area before the castle. Scan your voucher and print your ticket. On your scheduled day and time, you will find a dedicated line for entry into the castle for people with tickets. The other long line is for people waiting to purchase their tickets. While you are already touring the castle, others are still outside waiting to buy a ticket and enter.
Edinburgh Castle Scotland
See the Crown Jewels first - a tip from a local.

When you enter the castle, you will immediately walk through a narrow corridor. When you see it, make a sharp 180 degree left turn and immediately proceed up a long stone stairway to the top area of the castle. At the top, follow the signs to view the Crown Jewels. The room is small, and a line will form later for entry. If you do this first, you will avoid the line and then can take your time to see the other areas of the castle.

Don't worry that you are not following the recommended viewing route shown on the map you are given, as it starts at the entrance and proceeds up. Once you have seen the jewels, visit the other attractions around the same area, then proceed down stopping at the others.