Rick Steves' Practical Tip To Avoid Tourist Crowds When Planning Your Europe Trip

Whether you're a frequent visitor to Europe or taking a once-in-a-lifetime excursion across the pond, getting to experience another country, immerse yourself in a foreign culture, and see historical places in person is a singular experience. Unfortunately, you're not the only one who wants to explore sites like Versailles, the Tower of London, Anne Frank's House, or any of the other attractions that draw visitors to Europe — meaning you'll often run into crowds when sightseeing. The good news: There are ways to spend less of your vacation time standing in line, according to travel pro Rick Steves. On his website, Steves says to avoid visiting major tourist sites on days when many other attractions are closed. 

The guidebook author writes, "In many cities, several sights tend to be closed on the same day of the week (usually Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday). It follows that, in high season, any major sight that's open when everything else is closed is guaranteed to be crowded. For example, Versailles is very crowded on Tuesdays, when many big museums in Paris are closed." You should also, according to Steves, check which days are free museum days and avoid those if you don't want to stand in line or view paintings, artifacts, and the like from the middle of a crowd. A bit of planning can help you get around this issue, whether it's avoiding certain days and finding alternate plans or getting advance, timed tickets for attractions to cut down on endless lines. 

Your best bet is to consider the main attractions you want to see before you actually get to your destination. For instance, if you're visiting Rome, you may have the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain on your list. Then, look at what days many Roman museums are closed, which is generally Mondays. Book advance tickets for the places you want to visit the rest of the week, but have an alternate plan for Monday. You could walk or bike down the Appian Way outside of central Rome, which began construction in 312 B.C.E., or hit a local grocery store to grab items for a picnic. You might take a walk between piazzas to see gorgeous statues like the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, or hit a few local pizza spots to see which is the best one.

Rick Steves also recommends looking at guidebooks (he's written a lot of them) to find underrated sites to explore on days when museums are closed. (The Paris Catacombs are one spot he mentions, but you could also look on Facebook groups and Reddit threads for suggestions.) You could also head out to visit smaller towns on those days, or explore green spaces like El Retiro Park in Madrid or Hyde Park in London. 

Another idea for days when certain sites may be busy comes from Steves as well: This is the perfect time to splurge on a local tour guide in Europe. They can give you some ideas for activities that other tourists may not think of, as well as recommending local spots and restaurants. Finally, Steves has what may be the best tip of all for avoiding tourist crowds. He suggests traveling off-season, in the fall or winter – and besides avoiding standing in lines, you might also save some money.