Do you need to book ahead? Skip-the-line, city by city

Paris demands planning. The Louvre strongly recommends a timed slot (the only way to guarantee entry, even with a museum pass), and the Eiffel Tower, the Catacombs and Sainte-Chapelle all have long queues or sell out, so book these online ahead. The Orsay and most museums let you skip a shorter line with a timed ticket.

You can still walk up to Notre-Dame’s exterior, Montmartre and the city’s parks and streets for free. Buy Eiffel and Louvre tickets only from the official sites to avoid resellers.

Book first: Reserve a timed Louvre slot (the only way to guarantee entry) and book the Eiffel Tower ahead; the Catacombs sell out fastest.

Source: Paris je t’aime (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Paris

London is gentler because most of the great museums are free and walk-in. The paid icons are the ones to book: the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and the Churchill War Rooms all have queues a timed ticket skips, and the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour (outside the city) sells out weeks ahead.

The free national museums (the British Museum, the Tates, the National Gallery) are walk-in, though a free timed ticket is recommended on busy days, and blockbuster special exhibitions do sell out. Buy attraction tickets from official sites, not street sellers.

Book first: The free museums are walk-in (grab a free timed slot on busy days); book the Tower, the Eye and especially the Harry Potter Studio Tour, which sells out weeks ahead.

Source: Visit London (official tourism)

Plan things to do in London

Rome rewards advance booking. The Colosseum runs on limited timed entry that sells out, the Vatican Museums have hours-long walk-up queues a timed ticket skips, and the Borghese Gallery requires a reservation with a fixed entry slot, no exceptions.

St Peter’s Basilica itself is free and walk-up (expect a security line), as are the Pantheon’s exterior, the Trevi Fountain and the piazzas. Book the Colosseum and Borghese from their official sites as early as you can.

Book first: The Borghese Gallery is reservation-only, and Colosseum timed slots sell out; book both well ahead.

Source: Colosseum: official tickets

Plan things to do in Rome

Barcelona’s Gaudí sights are the textbook case for booking ahead: the Sagrada Família and Park Güell both run on timed entry and sell out in peak season, and Casa Batlló and La Pedrera get long lines. Reserve all of these online in advance.

The beaches, the Gothic Quarter’s streets and the views from Montjuïc and Bunkers del Carmel cost nothing and need no ticket. Book the Sagrada Família first, as it is the one that sells out earliest.

Book first: The Sagrada Família and Park Güell are timed-entry and sell out in summer; book them as early as you can.

Source: Sagrada Família: official tickets

Plan things to do in Barcelona

Madrid is fairly relaxed. The Royal Palace and the big three art museums (the Prado, the Reina Sofía, the Thyssen) have queues a timed online ticket skips, but they rarely sell out outright, so a day or two ahead is usually fine.

The parks (Retiro), the plazas and the markets are free and walk-up. Note the museums’ free-entry hours if you are on a budget, and book the Royal Palace ahead, as it can close for state events.

Book first: Book the Royal Palace and the big museums to skip the line, but they rarely sell out; the parks are free.

Source: esMadrid (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Madrid

Amsterdam has the single most important booking in Europe: the Anne Frank House sells timed tickets online only, released a set number of weeks ahead, and they vanish within minutes, so set a reminder for the release. The Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum are also timed-entry and best booked in advance.

Canal walks, markets and most of the city are free and spontaneous. For the Anne Frank House there is no walk-up option to rely on, so plan around its release date.

Book first: The Anne Frank House is online-only, timed, and sells out within minutes of release; book the moment tickets drop.

Source: Anne Frank House: tickets

Plan things to do in Amsterdam

Berlin is mostly low-pressure, with one quirk: visiting the Reichstag dome is free but requires advance online registration with your passport details, and slots fill up, so book it before you travel. Museum Island museums are worth a timed ticket to skip the queue.

The Wall memorials, the Brandenburg Gate and the East Side Gallery are open-air and free. Register for the Reichstag dome early, as same-day spots are limited.

Book first: The Reichstag dome is free but needs advance registration with ID, and slots fill; book before you arrive.

Source: visitBerlin (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Berlin

Vienna’s headline palace, Schönbrunn, runs on timed entry and gets very busy, so book a slot ahead, especially in summer. The Spanish Riding School performances and the big special exhibitions also sell out and need advance tickets.

The palace gardens, the city’s churches and the grand streets are free and walk-up. Book Schönbrunn online to lock in your entry time and skip the ticket-desk queue.

Book first: Schönbrunn Palace is timed-entry and busy; book a slot ahead, and reserve the Spanish Riding School separately.

Source: Vienna Tourist Board

Plan things to do in Vienna

Prague is one of the easier capitals: the Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square and the astronomical clock are free and always open, and Prague Castle’s grounds are walk-up, with tickets for the interiors bought on arrival without much trouble.

A few specific exhibitions and tours benefit from booking, but you can plan most of Prague day to day. Go early to the castle and the Jewish Quarter to beat the tour-group crush.

Book first: Little needs pre-booking; just arrive early at Prague Castle and the Jewish Quarter to beat the coach groups.

Source: Prague City Tourism

Plan things to do in Prague

The one to plan in Budapest is the Hungarian Parliament: it can only be visited on a guided tour with a timed ticket, and the English-language slots sell out days ahead, so book online early. The popular thermal baths are also worth pre-booking at peak times.

The riverside, Castle Hill, the bridges and the views are free and walk-up. Book the Parliament tour as soon as your dates are set.

Book first: The Parliament is guided-tour-only and the English slots sell out days ahead; book it first.

Source: Budapest Info (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Budapest

Lisbon’s queues cluster in Belém: the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower draw long lines, so a timed ticket is worth it, and the famous Pastéis de Belém bakery has its own queue. Elsewhere, booking is more about skipping lines than avoiding sellouts.

The miradouro viewpoints, the trams (buy a transit pass) and the neighbourhoods are free to wander. Book the Belém monuments ahead and go early before the tour buses arrive.

Book first: Book the Belém monuments (Jerónimos, Belém Tower) to skip long lines, and visit early before the coaches.

Source: Visit Lisboa (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Lisbon

Porto’s notable booking is the Livraria Lello bookshop, which is ticketed and gets a long queue: buy a timed voucher online (the cost is redeemable against a book). The popular port-wine cellars across the river also fill their tour slots, so reserve the well-known ones.

The riverfront, the bridges and the churches’ exteriors are free and spontaneous. Book Lello’s timed entry and a cellar tour ahead in high season.

Book first: Livraria Lello is ticketed with a real queue; buy a timed voucher online, and book port-cellar tours ahead.

Source: Visit Porto (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Porto

In Venice, the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica both have long queues that a timed or skip-the-line ticket bypasses, and the Basilica’s short paid upgrades (the Pala d’Oro, the terrace) are worth pre-booking. The Secret Itineraries tour of the Doge’s Palace sells out.

Wandering the canals, bridges and squares is free and the heart of Venice. Book the Doge’s Palace and a St Mark’s skip-the-line slot ahead, especially in peak season.

Book first: Book skip-the-line for the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica; the Secret Itineraries tour sells out.

Source: Venezia Unica (official city)

Plan things to do in Venice

Florence has two unmissable, queue-heavy museums: the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia (Michelangelo’s David). Both have brutal walk-up lines, so book a timed ticket well ahead to skip them. Climbing Brunelleschi’s dome at the Duomo does require a reserved timed slot.

The piazzas, the Ponte Vecchio and the church exteriors are free to enjoy. Book the dome climb online (a slot is required), and book the Uffizi and Accademia ahead to skip the long lines.

Book first: The dome climb needs a reserved slot; book the Uffizi and Accademia (David) ahead too, as the walk-up lines are brutal.

Source: Uffizi Galleries: tickets

Plan things to do in Florence

The Acropolis now uses timed-entry tickets with hourly slots and a daily cap, so in summer the popular morning slots sell out and you should book ahead; an early or late slot also dodges the worst heat and crowds. The Acropolis Museum is busy but easier.

The surrounding ancient agora and the city’s hills and squares are walk-up. Book a morning Acropolis slot in advance during the high season.

Book first: The Acropolis runs timed entry with a daily cap; in summer, book a morning slot ahead (and beat the heat).

Source: This is Athens (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Athens

Dublin has a few that genuinely sell out: Kilmainham Gaol releases timed tickets that go fast and is hard to get on the day, the Book of Kells at Trinity College uses timed entry, and the Guinness Storehouse is cheaper and quicker booked online. Plan these ahead.

Temple Bar, the parks and the free national museums are walk-up. Book Kilmainham Gaol the moment your dates are fixed, as it is the toughest ticket in the city.

Book first: Kilmainham Gaol sells out fast and is hard to get day-of; book it first, then the Book of Kells and Guinness.

Source: Visit Dublin (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Dublin

New York’s big-ticket sights reward booking: the Statue of Liberty ferry needs advance tickets and the crown sells out months ahead, while the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, the Edge and the 9/11 Memorial Museum all use timed entry that gets busy. Broadway shows should be booked ahead (or queue same-day for discounts).

Central Park, the High Line, the Staten Island Ferry and walking the Brooklyn Bridge are free and need no ticket. Book the Statue of Liberty crown earliest, as it is the longest lead time.

Book first: The Statue of Liberty crown sells out months ahead; book the observation decks and Broadway shows in advance too.

Source: NYC Tourism (official)

Plan things to do in New York City

Las Vegas needs little advance planning beyond shows: the big residencies and Cirque du Soleil productions are the thing to book ahead, while the attractions (the High Roller, the Sphere experiences aside) and the casinos run on the day.

Walking the Strip, the fountains and the casino interiors are free and spontaneous. Book any show you have your heart set on, and the Sphere when a production is on, but the rest is walk-up.

Book first: Only shows and the Sphere really need booking ahead; the Strip and casinos are walk-up and free to wander.

Source: Visit Las Vegas (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Las Vegas

Dubai’s headline view, the Burj Khalifa’s At the Top observation deck, uses timed tickets and the prime sunset slots sell out, so book ahead and pick your time. Desert safaris should be booked in advance, and the popular Dubai Frame and aquarium are smoother pre-booked.

The beaches, the malls and the old Al Fahidi quarter are free and walk-up. Book the Burj Khalifa’s sunset slot earliest, as it is the one that goes.

Book first: The Burj Khalifa’s sunset slots sell out; book a timed ticket ahead, and reserve desert safaris in advance.

Source: Visit Dubai (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Dubai

Istanbul’s queues have grown: the Basilica Cistern gets long ticket-queue lines that booking online skips, Topkapı Palace and its Harem are busy (a skip-the-line ticket helps), and Hagia Sophia’s upper-gallery experience is now ticketed for visitors. Book these ahead in peak season.

The Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and the streets are free to enter (mind mosque prayer times). Book the Basilica Cistern and Topkapı ahead; a guided tour can bundle the skips.

Book first: The Basilica Cistern and Topkapı get long lines; book online to skip the ticket queues for both.

Source: Go Türkiye (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Istanbul

Tokyo has some of the hardest tickets anywhere. The Ghibli Museum sells a fixed number of dated tickets in advance only, and they sell out the moment they are released. The teamLab digital-art museums and Shibuya Sky use timed entry and the sunset slots go fast, so book all of these well ahead.

Temples, shrines, parks and the neighbourhoods are free and walk-up. Target the Ghibli Museum release date first; it is the single toughest ticket in the city.

Book first: The Ghibli Museum is advance-only and sells out instantly; teamLab and Shibuya Sky sunset slots also go fast.

Source: Go Tokyo (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Tokyo

Milan has one of the hardest tickets in Europe: the Last Supper (Il Cenacolo) at Santa Maria delle Grazie runs on strict timed entry in short slots and sells out months ahead, so book the moment tickets release through the official channel. The Duomo rooftop and the cathedral also use timed tickets worth booking to skip the queues.

La Scala's museum and the Pinacoteca di Brera are easier but still benefit from advance tickets in peak season. The Galleria, the Navigli and the city's piazzas are free and walk-up.

Book first: The Last Supper is the must-book: timed slots that sell out months ahead; reserve it before anything else.

Source: Cenacolo Vinciano (official, The Last Supper)

Plan things to do in Milan