Sight-seeing advice

For those who want to escape the throngs of people when soaking up the historic sights during a city break, planning is absolutely essential.

Whether visiting the Uffizi art gallery in Florence or climbing the steps of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it’s enough to make anyone a little hot under the collar if it takes hours to get to the front of the queue.

As crowd control specialists and avid culture vultures ourselves, we know a thing or two about tourist attractions – follow these top tips from our team for a hassle-free holiday:

• Visit a site towards the end of the day when the crowds are diminishing.
• Alternatively, if more time is needed, visit during the midday sun as people will most likely seek shelter or start thinking about lunch – just cover up and once inside, the heat won’t be a bother.
• Book entry tickets in advance for fast-track queuing options.
• Exit and navigate around attractions through side or rear-entrance doors instead of the main doors where most people gravitate.
• Avoid weekends where possible, and be careful on Sundays and Mondays (including bank holidays) as some sites may be closed.
• Take advantage of early evening and late night opening times for cool and un-crowded experiences.
• Make full use of local tour guides by booking in advance, as they will be able to take shortcuts, show points of interest and take routes off the beaten track that tourists may not necessarily know about.
• Finally, choose maps that have easily identifiable landmarks and clear street names.