10 attractions where it's worth buying tickets in advance
Because no one likes waiting in line.
1. Empire State Building, New York City
Even on a slow day, you’re going to wait at least 20 minutes in line for the Empire State Building, reaching up to two hours during peak times. The best option is to buy a ticket to the main observation deck on the 86th floor and then you can decide if you want to buy an extra ticket and go all the way up to 102.
2. Anne Frank House, Amsterdam
From 9am to 3.30pm each day, the excellent Anne Frank House is only open to people who have pre-purchased tickets online. No tickets are sold at the entrance, so make sure you plan ahead and book through the official website.
3. Burj Khalifa, Dubai
The world’s tallest building is one of Dubai’s most popular attractions. If you buy tickets in advance you can choose a date and time that suits you, then walk straight through. If you turn up on the day, you could be in for a long wait or even be turned away as all the tickets are sold out.
4. Eiffel Tower, Paris
More than seven million people visit the Eiffel Tower each year and in busy periods you can be waiting in line for several hours. Book tickets online up to two months in advance, pick your time slot and then go straight to the front of the queue. Parfait.
5. The Shard, London
Entry to the tallest building in the UK (and in all of western Europe) is frequently sold out, especially on weekends or public holidays and during school holidays. Buy from the official site and you can also take advantage of a 15% discount.
6. Sistine Chapel, Rome
You can’t actually purchase a ticket for the Sistine Chapel, but instead buy a pass to the adjoining Vatican Museum and walk through. Book online, pay the extra €4 for ‘skip the line’ access and walk straight to the front of the line. But even with these tickets, you’re still likely to face a bit of a wait as security is very tight.
7. The Louvre, Paris
The most-visited museum in the world is famous for the Mona Lisa and for big lines. Buy your tickets online, choose a timeslot and then head for the entrances at Porte des Lions or the Richelieu Wing to save even more time.
8. The London Eye, London
TripAdvisor recently found The London Eye has the longest line of any tourist attraction in the world – and average of 2.5 hours. If you’ve got the cash, pay an extra £12 (on top of the standard £20 ticket) and skip the queue. Or for £36 you can get a glass of chilled bubbles to go with the experience.
9. Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Gaudi’s great unfinished work is Barcelona’s most popular attraction and lines can stretch for at least two hours. Buy tickets online and get a set time to visit or book a guided tour, which comes with fast track entry and a knowledgeable tour guide to explain this fascinating cathedral.
10. Statue of Liberty, New York
If you want to get right up inside Lady Liberty’s crown, you’ll need to book well in advance – just 10 people are allowed in at a time. They can often be sold out for months ahead, so make your booking as soon as you know your dates for NYC. And be aware that you’ll need to climb up around 27 storeys worth of stairs to get there.
Have you been to these attractions?