Long Lines at Alcázar, Sevilla
There are two IQs of European travelers: those who wait in lines, and those who don’t. This year I’ve noticed that many of the greatest sights in Europe are attracting more visitors than they can physically contain. Online booking is getting extremely easy, and sights are simply turning their backs on those who show up with no pre-purchased ticket. In my Spain guidebook, I have decided to no longer explain how to try (and likely fail) to get a ticket on the day of your visit. I am writing up certain sights as if the only way you can get in is to pay and book online, well in advance. For 90 percent of the sights, this is unnecessary, and there’s no problem at all. But for the sights you traveled to that destination to see — the Alhambra (Granada), the Picasso Museum and the Sagrada Família church (Barcelona), Dalí’s home (Cadaqués), the Alcázar (here in Sevilla) — you have a choice: be organized, think in advance, take five minutes to go online and book your ticket…or show up, wait several hours, and maybe not get in. Again, there are two IQs of European travelers. Don’t be stupid!
This clip shows hundreds of travelers (without my guidebook) getting only a sunburn. Pick up a guidebook now at https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/guidebooks/spain.
20 Comments
👍good tip !!! Qué buen consejo))
Steve is right. A few years ago when I was in Amsterdam I bought my ticket online (early) for the Anne Frank museum and so glad I did. The line up was insane and some of the people wouldn't be able to get in even after waiting in line for hours. Pro tip!
I was there last year. It was fun but we don’t line we had guide & we had so much fun. 😍
the first second, I was like who is this guy on Steve channel but once I heard this voice… oh no Steve u r getting older now.
the first second, I was like who is this guy on Steve channel but once I heard this voice… oh no Steve u r getting older now.
Great advice.
Or in many larger popular cities, get a City Pass if you stay there for a few days. With the City Pass, many of the museums & sightseeing places' entry fees are waived. No (or little) lineup, no reservation, and probably will save you money. But make sure the places you visit accept it to justify the price (Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam, for example, doesn't take City Pass, Louvre & Musee d'Orsy in Paris however, does)
it is impossible to buy a ticket for the eiffel tower on the official site you have to paid for a "guide" for well over twice the the price ($100 each.) they meet you ..then hand over the tickets then you go up the tower a huge rip off but you dont have to stand in line just pay …
Good advice. Was in Italy in March and each city was jammed packed with tourists. We waited in line for everything even though we had tickets through our tour group. Going to London next month and I am bracing for more crowds.
What is he listening to with the headphones?
Hi Ser from Iraq,
I asked you if you can make for us a report to Madeira island in Portugal especially it's near to Spain,
Thanks Happy traveling.
If you forget to book online like I did when I was in Sevilla, the people will come to the line and ask if you want to cut the line and get a guided tour. It's more money but not too much and it's 100% worth it.
What camera do you use rick? Thanks!
Do the online tickets cost more?
Come at other months. It’s much easier in May or September.
1:25 “None of them have my guidebook” salty Rick😂
Sir you are very lucky that God has given you this travelling job. I have seen your travelling videos a lot. Sir you have shown us very beautiful places on the earth. Thanks a lot.
Long lines…Of course there are! High season being one of the reasons…
I'm one of those who have been there, and done that.
You should have ( included…) mentioned the theory behind the reason why demand is succeeding supply. Look at the demographics…
Firstly, one should know what has happened around the world in recent times with touristic sites as well as countries being targeted by radicals. Hence one reason why people are afraid to visit once popular places like Turkey, Egypt, Israel and parts of Africa and the Indian continent. Booking may one day be the only way to get access to these places like what you can see in Spain.
Since 1982 I have travelled extensively. Repeated my travels and watched as the tourist industry grow to what it has become nowadays.
It was only a matter of time before we encounter more places places like Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga retaliating due to too much demand of its resources. Tourists areas are eating up the resources and at the same time lining the pockets of the wrong people…And it is cheap tourism at that… Cheap accommodation, low cost flight companies and aggressive marketing, which all have damaged the industry where people just want to say I've been there…and done that.
Meanwhile, the Tourist trade has got rich quick. Thanks to the success of the supply and demand we see today.
Your videos are good. But I feel you could go further still. Maybe it is a budget thing, which I understand entirely.
Continue to enthuse.
One of the ladies in line was reading a Rick Steves' book. If only she had looked up she could have seen Rick Steves in the flesh.
Thanks for the tip, Steve. I just booked a guided tour for the Alcázar. I will be there next week!