The topic isn’t new, but I’ve tried to gather the best-known strategies and apply them to the worst queues. Here’s what I came up with:

Key Strategies

The fastest queue is the one you never joined 🙂

Alternative entrances: less-used doors and side passages. This can be a great hack in some places—like the Louvre. Sometimes these are entrances for guided tours, VIPs, or people with disabilities, but regular visitors can often use them too.

City and museum cards: These may include “skip-the-line” access, but many popular places still require booking a specific time slot. Works great in Madrid, and reasonably well in the Netherlands.

Online booking and timed slots: At almost all high-demand sites, it’s important to know when tickets go on sale and plan accordingly. The Alhambra is a great example. Note: “skip-the-line” tickets don’t let you bypass security checks.

Ticket drops: Some places release additional tickets at set times — knowing when can be critical. Works well for The Last Supper in Milan, less so for the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

Off-peak hours: Use the “popular times” feature in Google Maps to avoid crowds. I wrote more about this in a separate post. Main hack: go right before closing on a weekday, or very early in the morning — like at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

Premium access: Private tours and concierge services sometimes offer early or after-hours access. Typically much more expensive than regular tickets.

Applying these tips to the most crowded places:

Paris

Paris Museum Pass offers free access to over 50 museums and monuments in Paris and the surrounding region. For some sites, like the Louvre, booking a timed entry slot is mandatory.

• Eiffel Tower: Book your tickets online in advance. Visit early in the morning or late in the evening (after 8:30 p.m. in summer) for fewer crowds. Priority access: Visitors with advance tickets use a separate security line. Online ticket sales: Elevator tickets go on sale 60 days in advance at midnight (Paris time); stair tickets — 14 days in advance.
  
• Louvre Museum: Booking a timed slot in advance is mandatory for all visitors, including Paris Museum Pass holders. Visit on Wednesdays or Fridays when the museum is open until 9 p.m. Alternative/Priority entrances: The Pyramid is the main entrance. During peak hours, use the Carrousel or Porte des Lions entrances. Groups and members enter via Passage Richelieu. Online ticket sales: Tickets usually available up to 2 months in advance.
  
• Musée d’Orsay: Timed booking is generally not required except on the first Sunday of each month (free entry). Priority access: Visitors with advance tickets (even without time slots) may use priority queues (Line C1), which are faster than on-site purchase lines (Line C2). Visitors with timed tickets use Line A2. Online ticket sales: Advance booking is not required except on the free-entry Sunday. Tickets available for current and upcoming months.
  
• Palace of Versailles: Purchase skip-the-line tickets. Arrive early (by 8:45 a.m.). Timed-entry tickets are essential. Best days to visit: Wednesday or Thursday. Visit the gardens first (open from 8:00 a.m.), then the palace.
  
• Sainte-Chapelle: Buy skip-the-line tickets in advance. Combo tickets with the Conciergerie are popular. Arrive 50–60 minutes early to pass through security. Priority access: Paris Museum Pass provides free and priority entry. Online ticket sales: Tickets are available for current and future dates.
  
• Sacré-Cœur Basilica: Visit at sunrise (opens at 6:30 a.m.) to avoid the crowds.

London

London Pass (and London Pass Plus) provides access to over 80 attractions and tours, including skip-the-line entry at some sites, plus a hop-on hop-off bus pass.

• Westminster Abbey: Book timed-entry tickets in advance. Visit early in the morning or on Wednesdays (open until 6 p.m.) to avoid the crowds. London Pass includes free and fast-track entry.
  
• British Museum: Entry is free, but timed-entry tickets are recommended for guaranteed access. Some walk-in tickets are available daily but not guaranteed. Alternative entrance: Montague Place (North Entrance) offers elevator access.
  
• London Eye: Buy “Fast Track” tickets to skip standard lines. Book online and in advance for the best price and to secure your spot. Visit during off-peak hours, avoiding school holidays and weekends. Online ticket sales: Tickets available for current and future months.
  
• Buckingham Palace: Book timed tickets in advance and arrive precisely at your scheduled time. Skip-the-line tickets and guided tours offer faster access. Best to arrive early, around the 9:30 a.m. opening. Be prepared for security checks. Alternative/Priority entrances: Central and North-Central gates (general entry); Gate C (Buckingham Gate) is used for pre-booked tickets. Online ticket sales: Summer opening tickets (July 10 – Sept 28, 2025) were released on Nov 5, 2024.
  
• Tower of London: Visit early in the morning to avoid long lines. London Pass includes free entry and fast-track access. Online ticket sales: Tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys are released monthly at 4:00 p.m. on the first working day of the month (or next Monday if it’s a Friday).
  
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour London (The Making of Harry Potter): Tickets must be booked months in advance due to high demand. Choose a weekday or early time slot. Online ticket sales: Tickets are released several months ahead.

Amsterdam

I Amsterdam City Card offers access to more than 70 museums, public transportation, and a canal cruise. Most attractions don’t require a reserved time slot, though a few do. Note: The Van Gogh Museum is not included.

Museumkaart (Dutch Museum Card): A personal pass valid for one year at over 400 museums across the Netherlands. Available online (for residents) or as a temporary 31-day card at major museums.

• Anne Frank House: Tickets are sold ONLY via the official website. Museumkaart is accepted with an extra €1 fee. Online ticket sales: Tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Amsterdam time for six weeks ahead. Additional tickets for the following week are released the previous Tuesday between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.
  
• Rijksmuseum: The I Amsterdam City Card provides free entry. Priority access: Museumkaart holders must also reserve a time slot online, but admission is free. Online ticket sales: It’s recommended to book tickets 2–3 days in advance.
  
• Van Gogh Museum: This museum is not included in the I Amsterdam City Card. Priority access: Museumkaart holders must book a time slot online, but entry is free. Online ticket sales: Tickets sell out quickly, so booking in advance is highly recommended.
  
• Rembrandt House: Museumkaart holders are advised to reserve a time slot. Alternative entrance: An elevator provides access to the museum’s modern wing. Online ticket sales: Tickets can be booked online in advance.
  
• Royal Palace (Amsterdam): Book your tickets online. Priority access: Museumkaart holders enter for free. The palace is open from June 18 to October 27.
  
• A’DAM Lookout: Book tickets online. Alternative entrance: The free F3 ferry to Buiksloterweg takes you directly to the entrance. Online ticket sales: Online tickets are required during the summer period.

New York

New York CityPASS provides discounted access to six popular attractions and allows you to skip ticket lines. The New York Pass also offers fast-track entry at some of the busiest sites.

• Empire State Building: Purchase an “Express Pass” to skip the lines. CityPASS holders can buy the express upgrade for an additional fee. Online ticket sales: Tickets are available for current and future months.
  
• Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island: It’s crucial to buy ferry tickets ONLY from Statue City Cruises. Pedestal and crown tickets are extremely limited and must be reserved well in advance. Early morning departures are recommended. Alternative departure points: Ferries leave from Battery Park (Manhattan) or Liberty State Park (New Jersey). Online ticket sales: Crown tickets must be booked in advance.
  
• 9/11 Memorial & Museum: Timed-entry tickets must be booked in advance, up to six months ahead. Free admission is available on Mondays (5:30–7:00 p.m.), but tickets are released online at 7:00 a.m. ET that same day.
  
• Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met): Membership offers great perks, including express entry and “member morning hours” on weekends. Members also get priority access to exhibition queues. Priority entrance: Express entrance via the 81st Street member entry. Alternative entrances: Entrances are located at Fifth Avenue & 81st Street, and through the parking garage on Fifth Avenue & 80th Street. Online ticket sales: New tickets are typically released about two weeks in advance.
  
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): Advance booking is required, and pre-booked tickets let you skip the line. Free admission is offered on Fridays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Online ticket sales: Tickets are available for current and future months.
  
• Top of the Rock Observation Deck: This attraction uses timed-entry tickets. It’s highly recommended to exchange your voucher for a timed ticket as soon as you arrive in New York to reserve your preferred slot—sunset times fill up fast. Priority access: VIP tickets provide faster security screening and elevator access. Enter at your scheduled time via the glass revolving doors on West 50th Street. Online ticket sales: Tickets are available for current and future dates.

Rome

Roma Pass offers discounted tickets to major attractions and unlimited public transportation. It includes free entry to the first two museums/monuments and a dedicated queue at the Colosseum.

• Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill: Advance booking is always required. Get combo tickets. Guided tours are highly recommended as they usually include skip-the-line access. Priority access: Roma Pass holders use a dedicated line for the Colosseum and fast-track entry to all three sites. Online ticket sales: Tickets for the Colosseum are released 30 days before the visit date at the exact time slot. Full Experience tickets are released 7 days in advance. Tickets to the underground areas are also released 30 days ahead.
  
• Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel: These are among the most crowded sites in Rome. Buy tickets online in advance to skip the regular ticket line. Arrive very early (queues can start as early as 7:30 a.m.) or choose late evening slots. Priority access: Choose a tour that includes access through a special group entrance. Consider hosted entry or a Vatican Gardens tour for a smoother, albeit more expensive, experience. Online ticket sales: Tickets often sell out several days in advance during peak season.
  
• St. Peter’s Basilica: Plan your visit ahead of time. Alternative entrances: Pilgrims’ Gate, Dome entrance, Necropolis entrance (on the left side of the basilica), Treasury entrance, and a discreet door near the Sistine Chapel. Entry is free, but timed-access tickets are available.
  
• Pantheon: Entry now requires a ticket. Purchase online in advance for skip-the-line access. Visit during off-peak hours. Online ticket sales: Tickets are available for booking for current and future dates.

Milan

• The Last Supper (Santa Maria delle Grazie): Advance booking is absolutely required for all ticket types, and tickets are issued by name. Tickets are released in three-month blocks (for example, tickets for August, September, and October 2025 were released on June 17 at 12:00). Every Wednesday at 12:00 p.m., additional tickets for the following week go on sale (online only).
  
• Milan Cathedral (Duomo): Book skip-the-line tickets online in advance. Early morning visits (opening is usually at 9:00 a.m.) are the best way to avoid crowds. Guided tours often include priority access. Alternative entrances: Side doors (for religious visitors), North elevator entrance, entrance to the Crypt (under the cathedral), entrance to the Duomo Museum (separate from the cathedral). Online ticket sales: Tickets are available for booking for current and future months.
  
• La Scala Theatre: Purchase an “Open Ticket” for fast-track access. Group booking is recommended. Alternative entrance: The main entrance is on Piazza della Scala, but gallery ticket holders must enter through the Theatre Museum entrance on Largo Ghiringhelli. Online ticket sales: Tickets for the 2025/2026 season go on sale starting September 18, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.

Florence

• Uffizi Gallery: Long queues are common. Book your visit and buy tickets online via the B-ticket platform for a specific date and time. Alternative/Priority entrances: You can also book by phone or buy tickets at other designated ticket offices in Florence (e.g., Palazzo Pitti or the National Archaeological Museum) to potentially avoid the main queue at the Uffizi. On free admission days, there is no skip-the-line access or reservation service. Online ticket sales: Tickets are available for current and upcoming months.

Madrid

• Paseo del Arte Pass: Grants one-time access to the permanent collections of the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and the Reina Sofía Museum, allowing you to skip the lines.

Granada

• Alhambra: Tickets must be booked online on the official website. They often sell out, especially in spring and autumn. The Nasrid Palaces have strict timed entry—arrive around 40 minutes early. Visiting early in the morning or later in the day (after 3:30 p.m.) is best for avoiding crowds. Weekends tend to be busier. Alternative entrance: The Gate of Justice (Puerta de la Justicia) is an alternative entrance, closest to the Nasrid Palaces. Online ticket sales: Tickets are released 3 months in advance and the best time slots sell out very quickly.