Nothing sucks the joy out of a vacation like a snaking line of humanity where you can’t see the beginning but you know that you are at the end. Yet, lines are an inevitable part of most vacations. Lines for security at the airport. Lines for passport control. Lines of traffic getting from here to there.
Lines can be even more maddening during a European vacation where you don’t speak the language and are dealing with different cultural norms. NOTE: In certain countries (looking at you Italy) the idea of a single-file (or single-family) line is not a thing. I’ve been in situations where I’ve been waiting for more than an hour to buy tickets only to have a local waltz up with ten friends and they are suddenly best friends with the ticket agent.
And you will find lines at all of the most famous sites in Europe. Simply google “top ten tourist sites in Europe” and you’ll get an idea of where the worst lines are likely to be.
To put a finer point on it: Imagine traveling 5,000 miles to see “The David” by Michaelangelo and walking up to a four-hour line. It has happened to me. Makes you experience that “Wally World is closed” feeling before your jet lag has even worn off.
Editors Note: This post contains fewer pictures than normal because we’ve not made a habit of taking vacation pics of our time spent in lines.
Here are a few tips for making your wait a bit more bearable.
Part 1 — Before you go…
Plan at least a half day for your bucket list sites
It’s a pretty normal, and American, instinct to “see it all” while on vacation. When considering Europe’s relatively smaller size, there is an inclination to see “all” of the sites in as little time as possible. Avoid this temptation while planning. While it is possible to see the Vatican, the Colosseum, and the Forum in a single day, such an itinerary would amount to an eight-hour sprint and guarantee more than a bit of crabbiness from your kids.
A better plan is to pick one “must do” per day and then plan other, shorter activities around it. For example, if you are hitting up Munich, plan a half day for the Alte Pinakothek and then you can also fit in quick stops at the Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, and the Viktualienmarkt for lunch.
If your kids take naps during the day, consider setting up your itinerary to hit a museum around nap time. My favorite trip to the Louvre was spent pushing my sleeping son in a stroller around the works of Delacroix.
If you have room in your bags — check out our post on how to pack for a carry-on-only trip to Europe — grab a few travel guides for you and your kiddos. Read up on where you’ll visit and make some informed decisions before you go.
Here are some of our small-format faves:
DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Dublin (also available in Kindl version)
DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Rome (also available in Kindl version)
DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Paris (also available in Kindl version)
If you have room for a bigger book -- but also available in Kindl version:
Check the Google Maps listing for your top spots before you leave the US
The Google Maps app includes opening hours and info on the busiest times of day for a given place. Red siren alert: Many tourist attractions in Europe — even the most famous ones — are closed at least one day per week, so plan accordingly.
I thought that I had somehow tricked the gods of inevitable long lines when I walked up to the Accademia in Florence only to realize that it was closed on that day of the week. This happened to me not once, but twice.
Side note: the second time it happened we had walked nearly two miles from a different part of Florence to see The David. My ten-year-old was crestfallen, and I felt like a bad dad. However, on a later trip, we took an overnight train arriving in Florence at 6 am. We went straight to the Academia (with our luggage) and managed to be the first visitors of the day. We had the place to ourselves for about ten minutes.
In addition to finding out the opening hours, take a spin through the “Popular Times” feature (just below opening hours) to determine the least crowded times to visit. Fun Florence fact: the Accademia is often very crowded right when it opens in the morning, yet the Uffizi is least crowded on Friday mornings before 10 am.
This is especially helpful to determine if you want to visit a particular place in the morning, after lunch, or as the capper to a day of site seeing.
Buy tickets in advance…before leaving the US
Check to see if the site you are visiting offers timed entry and/or preset reservations. Many major museums started offering timed entries and daily tickets during COVID-19 and have retained some version of this since.
While you can walk up and buy tickets on the spot at the Louvre, paying a few bucks extra for a reservation is well worth it. It will also save you time and frustration, especially with your family in tow.
Consider a tour
If you search any popular site you’ll see tons of listings for tours…many of which promise a “skip the line” benefit.
We love tours in general because you’ll learn more color and context to the sites that you are seeing…but there are hundreds of tours to choose from and they can vary in terms of quality. Take your time and read the reviews, ask for personal recommendations, and ensure the tour includes all the features you expect. For example, on a recent visit to Sintra outside of Lisbon, we found that many of the tour operators simply drive by the sites rather than devote time to a full visit. We did not read the details for our operator and were unpleasantly surprised that we missed some of the sights we had hoped to see.
There are tour guides and operators to seemingly appeal to any interest. If you’re hoping for a visit to a top destination (Vatican Museum, Colosseum, etc.) without the press of massive crowds, look for “breakfast” or twilight tours that may get you in either before opening or after closing hours.
Here are some examples:
Make a plan with priorities and trade-offs
This is really about time management. Carefully plan out how much time you want to invest in a given place that includes a long-sit line. For example, if you stand in line for two hours at a museum, do you really want to do a four-hour tour of the stuff inside?
Alternatively, would you be willing to instead hit that museum three hours before closing on the likely chance that there will be a shorter line (or none at all) and then know that you need to scoot through a bit more quickly?
Do you just want to see a few key things? In Oslo, you really should see The Scream by Edward Munch. Located in the National Museum, the Munch room shows a quick perspective of his amazingly complex, yet seemingly unfinished work. The entire museum is worth the visit and is unique in its rotating collections of modern art.
That said if you only care about Munch and want to get a pic of your kids doing the Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone face in front of the iconic work, consider going late to avoid crowds and planning on just one hour in the museum.
Part 2 — Once you are in line, there are some additional considerations and steps to make the time more bearable.
Make sure you are on the correct line
The first thing you do…and this is hugely important…is determine if a given line is for tickets or entry or both. At many sites (like the Acropolis in Athens and the Tower of London) there is a line for tickets and then an ENTIRELY different line to enter the monument.
If you bought tickets online (or via an app), you can mosey right past the ticket line and go to the entrance line.
Minimize your stuff for metal detectors
Unfortunately, many sites need to have increased security, so don’t be surprised if you have to scan your bags and walk through a metal detector. You can speed up your security check by consolidating your items into as few bags as possible and putting all phones, chargers, metals, and electronics into the same spot.
Here are some travel-tested bags we recommend to expedite the process and keep your stuff organized:
Baggallini Criss Cross bag: Available in a variety of colors, features numerous zippered pockets to keep items organized and secure.
Herschel Seventeen Waist Pack: Embrace the crossover/fanny pack trend. Easy access for small items — phone, money, lip balm, sunnies. Zippered pockets and adjustable strap for wearing at the waist or cross-body.
The Foldie Foldable Travel Tote: If you need something larger — or plan on making some bigger purchases that day — this travel tote is a great option. It folds out from a tiny pouch and can expand into larger totes.
Look for a family entrance or stroller line
Not all sites have special entrances and accommodations for families, but don’t be shy about walking to the front or asking security if there might be options for you.
Part 3 — If lines are inevitable…
Hopefully, you won’t need any of the tips in this last section, but just in case you are stuck in line:
Bring toys, activities, and coloring books — this should be an obvious one.
Don’t rely too much on a phone or tablet to keep the kids occupied. Not only will this kill your batteries, most sites are not wired for wifi and local cell tower reception can be maddeningly slow.
Take turns taking the kids out of line to get ice cream or a snack. Keeping those little legs moving helps stave off meltdown-worthy boredom
Plan to grab sandwiches and snacks ahead of time and eat in line. It’s not the most picturesque way to have a picnic, but it can help squeeze some extra time out of your sightseeing day.
Play a game of I-Spy or Peekaboo Scavenger Hunt — This game is especially fun in Florence. I have my kids count how many Florentine fleurs-de-lis they can find. Once you start looking, you’ll notice them everywhere from manhole covers to antique frescoes
Let the kids hop out of line to shop for cheap souvenirs. A few Euros invested in cheap trinkets can buy some patience.
Hope these tips help in minimizing the agony of standing in line and that the memories of the amazing sights last a lifetime.
Comments