Join/
Travel Spotlight
Indagare Insights: The Top Sites Around The World Where You Need To Book In Advance
By Avery Carmichael
All across the globe, from Europe to South America to Africa, there are certain special sites that require immediate and advanced pre-bookings to ensure availability. At Indagare, we always seek to highlight these spots for our members, and we’ve compiled a list of some of our top excursions and sites that require the swiftest pre-booking action.Contact Indagare to arrange a visit to any of these sites.
Anne Frank House (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
The house where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Nazi occupation, and where she wrote her beloved Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, is one of Amsterdam's most visited sites. Tickets are available two months in advance and must be purchased online to guarantee entrance at your preferred time.Borghese Gallery and Museum (Rome, Italy)
Located in the former Borghese Villa Pinciana, in the heart of Rome, the Borghese Gallery and Museum is home to a plethora of Berninis and Caravaggios, among other notable works. Tickets are available for each day, with the exception of Mondays, for two-hour visits. As only 360 people are allowed to enter during each time slot, we recommend pre-booking your tickets online as soon as you have your schedule in place.Reichstag Dome (Berlin, Germany)
Visitors can explore the famous Reichstag Dome, notoriously set aflame in 1933, by pre-registering for tickets online. This spot is rich with history and offers some of the most scenic views of Berlin. It’s a popular destination, so we recommend booking at least 30 days prior.Boros Foundation or Sammlung Boros (Berlin, Germany)
Formerly a World War II bunker, the private Boros Foundation now plays host to a rotating selection of 700 pieces of contemporary artwork. Tours are available by appointment only, so art enthusiasts should plan to confirm a guided visit three months in advance. There are options for both English and German guides, and visits are held in small groups.Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)
The consummate destination for a first-time trip to Paris, the Eiffel Tower never ceases to impress. Tickets are available 60 days in advance, and we recommend pre-booking tickets to the top floor, as general admission does not afford access to the summit. While there are skip-the-line tickets available online from touring aggregate sites, these can occasionally be falsified, so we recommend dining at Le Jules Verne, located in the Tower itself, to avoid the line.La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, Spain)
Gaudí's seminal work, and one of Barcelona's most beloved sites, La Sagrada Familia is an architectural gem and an impressive religious monument. Booking tickets in advance is essential, as visitors queue up in the hundreds, even thousands, each day. Tickets are available for purchase two months in advance, and we recommend including a ticket to visit the remarkable towers.Alhambra (Granada, Spain)
Tickets to the Alhambra, an expansive ancient town built in the 13th century and the reported inspiration for the Taj Mahal, are coveted entities, especially during weekends and the warmer months.Tickets go on sale approximately four months in advance, and we recommend reserving a morning visit to avoid most of the crowds.Villa Oasis (Marrakech, Morocco)
The former home of legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé, Villa Oasis is a design aficionado's dream, surrounded by beautiful gardens and brimming with mosaic work. With advance notice (and a required donation to the Majorelle Foundation), visitors can enjoy a behind-the-scenes visit to this special locale. Those who would prefer not to splurge on the donation fee are able to roam about the Majorelle Gardens and YSL Museum.Luis Barragán House and Studio (Mexico City, Mexico)
Architect Barragán's beautifully constructed home and studio is an ode to his inventive aesthetic and life’s work. Filled with natural light and featuring stained glass works throughout, the home has been exquisitely and painstakingly maintained. Bookings are required in advance, and guides will tour you around the home in small groups, allowing for an intimate experience. Pre-book your tickets three months prior to arrival for best availability.Machu Picchu Hikes (Sacred Valley, Peru)
Machu Picchu is a bucket list destination for many travelers, and most of the more extensive on-site hikes require advanced booking, as there is limited daily availability. For hikers seeking the most impressive views of the ancient site, we recommend booking your trek immediately upon confirming your accommodations.Koke-dera (Kyoto, Japan)
Koke-dera, also known as Saihoji or the Moss Temple, is Kyoto's most serene moss-covered garden. Upon arrival, guests partake in a small Buddhist ceremony, then enter this Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple and garden. Visitors must submit a handwritten application several months in advance in order to schedule a visit.Yayoi Kusama Museum (Tokyo, Japan)
To appreciate the full breadth of Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama's exquisite works of art, we recommend a visit to this new Tokyo mainstay. Tickets are quite difficult to come by, given popularity and the museum's limited opening hours. (Tickets cannot be purchased at the door.) With this in mind, we recommend pre-booking your specific time and date several months prior to your arrival. You will be guaranteed a 90-minute visit.The Last Supper (Milan, Italy)
One of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous works, The Last Supper is also one of Milan's hottest tickets. Travelers can gaze at da Vinci’s depiction of Jesus and his 12 disciples during a 15-minute time slot (unless you have arranged a private, after-hours visit). Tickets go on sale online approximately two to three months in advance.Contact Indagare to arrange a visit to any of these sites.
More Inspiration
Safari Tipping Guide
Everything to know about tipping on safari, including how much, when, and whether you need cash.
Just Back: Egypt Eternal: Ancient Treasures & New Wonders
Indagare founder Melissa Biggs Bradley reports on her recent visit to Egypt while hosting an Insider Journey.
Transformative Tanzania
Indagare's Annie Fitzsimmons shares highlights from her transformative trip to Tanzania—including the cuisine, lodges and why returning home from a safari can be difficult.
Tented Dreams: The African Safari Tented Camp Experience
Discover the differences between African safari tented camps with Indagare's resident Safari expert Rose Taylor.
Plan Your Trip With Us
We only feature hotels that we can vouch for first-hand. At many of them, Indagare members receive special amenities.
Get In Touch