Travel Tipia

European Travel isn’t the same as it was 20 years ago. You used to be able to show up to major museums and tourist spots on the day and buy tickets but now there is a system of reservations you will need to navigate. Many of the most popular spots will sell out fast so reservations are now essential. Make sure to plan your trip far in advance and check if reservations are recommended for the spots you want to see. Then when the reservations open you can book the time slot that works best for you. It is unfortunately true that this will reduce your flexibility. But it is better to be locked into a more rigid schedule then to miss out on big ticket items that you really want to see. If you want more information on how to juggle reservations with time for exploration without bogging down your trip, make sure to read our advice on itineraries!

One useful strategy for planning is to group reservations by location so that you aren’t spending half your day walking across the city. You should aim to have one or two big items a day which are in relatively close proximity. This will make your day less rushed and help free you up for more spontaneous decision making throughout your trip. This can help you regain some of the freedom that you lost by making reservations by giving yourself the breathing room to wander and explore.