15 Skip-the-Line Tours of the World’s Most Popular Attractions According to Viator Travelers

Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, so wherever you go, skip-the-line attraction tickets are an important way of saving time. History and archaeology nerds won’t want to miss UNESCO World Heritage Site Pompeii, outside Naples, which was destroyed by nearby Mt. Vesuvius (Monte Vesuvio) almost 2,000 years ago and rediscovered in the 18th century. It has drawn crowds, and the lines, pretty much ever since. Taking a skip-the-line tour is a necessity if you’d rather be eyeballing the ruins rather than shuffling your feet, inch by inch, in a line.

You don’t need to be a devout Catholic to feel the spiritual and cultural charge of Vatican City (Citta del Vaticano), home of the Pope—and perennial lines of tourists. The Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani) and the Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina) are an art history lesson come to life (or the cast of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, if you’re a Gen X-er or Millennial). The only thing better than skipping the long, long lines with Vatican priority entrance is touring after hours, when you’ll get some peace and quiet to contemplate some of Renaissance Europe’s most incredible artistic treasures. Skip-the-line tours in Rome are always a good idea.

Claude Monet’s impressionist paintings were inspired by his colorful gardens in the village of Giverny. You won’t see any snaking lines of tourists in his famed artworks, so do yourself a favor and eliminate them from your trip to Giverny, too. It’s conveniently close to Paris, so you can visit in as little as a morning or afternoon, especially if a skip-the-line tour is on the agenda. Visit the Water Garden and Clos Normand, which includes Monet’s home.

If you’re visiting London with kids, the London Natural History Museum should be a priority. Aside from a shortage of snacks and too much walking, the quickest way to turn a dream family vacation into a nightmare is to have to wait in long lines. On a private guided tour of the museum, your kids can race right past the other less well-organized families and straight to the hanging blue whale skeleton, Sophie the Stegosaurus, the earthquake simulator, or whatever else takes their fancy. (You can even follow along behind, if you have the energy.)

What one reviewer said: “Damiano is extremely informative and wonderful with kids! Makes the whole experience fun for everyone—big thumbs up!” Katharine_K, July 2025

There’s hardly a better place in all of Europe to experience the continent’s cultural and artistic diversity than the Alhambra. The 13th-century Moorish palace and fort is the world’s only surviving Islamic palace, so it quite rightly gets a lot of attention. But there are limits on how many people can visit per day, and you wouldn’t want to miss out due to poor planning. Join a full-day tour from nearby Malaga to enjoy priority access and sightseeing at other Granada and Malaga-area attractions.

What one reviewer said: “Jana was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and open to feedback. Walking is involved but nothing too serious. Our driver from Malaga was also excellent. Money well spent.” Blake_t, November 2025

Enjoy a scenic overview of Lisbon from a couple of its highest points without having to wait for the privilege. This half-day tour gives you quick entry to one of the most famous sites in Lisbon, St. George’s Castle (Castelo de Sao Jorge)—a prominent feature on the city skyline—via the steep, colorful streets of the Alfama neighborhood, and arranges skip-the-line entrance to the castle. Going with a guide also means you won’t get lost in the maze-like Alfama streets: another major time saver.

What one reviewer said: “Fascinating tour of Alfama & St George’s Castle by one of the most knowledgeable tour guides we’ve encountered in years of travel. If you can, request Rui Fernandes who is obviously passionate about his subject. Beautiful views from St Anthony’s Church, as well as Lisbon Cathedral.” Chris_A, November 2025

Linger in the grounds and interior of the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle, rather than the ticket line. This full-day tour from Munich can provide quick entry to the famous site even on short notice, so you don’t need to be an uber-organized traveler to benefit from this perk. All the extra time you save can be put to good use at other places in Bavaria instead, such as the Alpine Coaster toboggan run and the pretty town of Oberammergau, home to lovely frescoes and handicrafts.

What one reviewer said: “Wonderful tour & Stefan was amazing! He was so knowledgeable, answered questions & gave information throughout the entire day, but also gave time to explore on own & ride in silence. Saw Ettal, Linderhof & Neuschwanstein. Gorgeous Castles have their own guides. (...)” Melissa_S, August 2025

India’s Taj Mahal is a UNESCO–listed monument to love, but there’s nothing romantic about waiting in line. Guided tours that skip the queues save you even more time if you’re coming from Delhi, as many visitors do, because there’s no need to navigate your way around the public transit system. Set out early in the morning (or, rather, the middle of the night) so you can reach Agra in time for sunrise at the Taj Mahal, one of the most beautiful times at the Mughal-era white marble mausoleum.

What one reviewer said: “Wow! Vinny is (a) Taj & Agra pro. Skip the line we did, we were first to the entrance gate of the Taj Mahal and had about 15 seconds alone with the stunning site. He delivered, took excellent pictures, helped us find a great local photographer and kept us smiling all day. Driver was A+ as well.” Jeanette_C, November 2024

Navigating your way around China can be a little confusing if you don’t speak or read a Chinese language, so priority access sightseeing and queue-free tours are an ideal way of traveling here. After checking out Beijing’s highlights—such as the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) and Tiananmen Square—take a super-fast bullet train through the countryside to Xian to see the incredible Terracotta Warriors. Benefit from an expedited entry tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, then catch an overnight train back to Beijing to further stretch your limited time.

What one reviewer said: “We could not have been happier with our tour! We were nervous about a 17 hour day trip from Beijing to Xi’An but Cathy and Serena were amazing! Cathy communicated so well! (...) Serena was our tour guide once we arrived in Xi’An. Her knowledge about the Terracotta Warriors was exceptional! (...)” Bridget_G, November 2025

Dubai is an ultimate stopover destination when traveling between North America, Europe, and Asia, and there are so many ways to fill your time. Make the most of a limited stay with a handy Dubai parks pass that includes round-trip transport between your hotel and your park of choice: LEGOLAND® Dubai, LEGOLAND® Water Park, or Motiongate Dubai. The LEGOLAND parks are ideal for families with little kids, while the Hollywood-inspired Motiongate is fun for everyone. If you have a bit more time in the emirate, check out the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, too.

Between the Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building, and the One World Observatory, among others, New York City has more skyscraper observation decks than you can lob a bagel at. But if you have limited time in the Big Apple, head straight to the One World Observatory with skip-the-line entry tickets. A handy combo pass will let you go straight to the elevators—which will whisk you up the building’s 102 floors in just 47 seconds—and comes with a Digital Skyline Guide so you can learn more about what you see laid out before you.

What one reviewer said: “Views are awesome, a must visit while in New York. It's my second time visiting the observation deck and I was amazed each time.” Dion_I, August 2025

You don’t need nerves of steel to tackle Universal Studios Hollywood, even during busy school breaks, if you get skip-the-line attraction tickets to the ever-popular park. The Universal Express Ticket gives you VIP access with all-day admission and one-time express access to each ride, attraction, or show within the park, and reserved seating at some events. It’s a massive time saver as you won’t have to line up for hours either outside the park or within it. Limited numbers are released each day, ensuring an even more exclusive tour of this attraction.

What one reviewer said: “Skip the line is definitely worth it. No waiting in long queues. Got to do every ride once and made our day lots of fun.” Rosa_O, September 2025

You’d need weeks to fully explore a city as big and bustling as Rio de Janeiro. But if you don’t have that long for its beaches, bars, mountains, and cultural landmarks, do yourself a favor by saving time where you can. Skip-the-line attraction tickets to the Christ the Redeemer Statue (Cristo Redentor) on Sugarloaf Mountain (Pao de Açúcar) grant you priority access to the cable cars up the mountain and to see the statue up-close. From the top, enjoy magnificent views of the Rio coastline. With the time you’ll save, you can enjoy a leisurely caipirinha or three beside Copacabana Beach (Praia de Copacabana).

What one reviewer said: “Skip the line is 100% worth it. We went early, about 7:30 am, and there was already a line. Not a huge one but still a line. We were able to skip and head right to the front to board the train. Everyone was very nice. The views from Christ the Redeemer are spectacular! Because we went early we got a lot of nice shots without tons of people in the photos. (...)” Hannah_D, November 2025

There are no lines if you just want to peek at the enormous gush of water at Niagara Falls, but come summer and you’ll have to line up to enjoy many of the rides and attractions here. If you’re in a hurry to cool down and get wet at the foot of the falls, purchase skip-the-line boat tickets and enjoy a refreshing ride on the Canada side of the border. If you’re coming from Niagara Falls, New York, there are equivalent attractions on the US side, too.

What one reviewer said: “SMALL Group! Support a small business and enjoy the benefits of a small tour group. This tour takes a maximum of 12 people. We arrived at the end of tourist season, and we were (…) the only ones to book for the day. No waiting in lines. The guide was very knowledgeable and flexible. It's easy to schedule a custom trip. We had a PERFECT day!” Diane_F, October 2025

Wherever in the world you’ve traveled from, it probably took you a very long time to fly to South Africa. Take it easy and streamline your time on the ground on a private day tour of the Cape of Good Hope, including skip-the-line entrance to Table Mountain, from Cape Town. Ride to the top of the dramatic mountain in a cable car without having to line up, and know that entry tickets to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve are also included.

What one reviewer said: “If it’s your 1st time at Cape Town, then this is a must tour to do! It’s a whole day tour and our guide timed each activity perfectly.” Myra_C, November 2025