Planning a spontaneous trip sounds thrilling, but for many of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, winging it just isn’t an option anymore. According to new research by travel eSIM app Saily, tickets to some of the globe’s hottest destinations are sold out well into the summer—sometimes even months ahead.
The Saily team analyzed top tourist sites by checking official ticketing platforms for the earliest available tickets for two people. The results reveal that travelers aiming to visit favorites like the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka or Harry Potter Studios in London will need to book at least three months in advance to secure entry.
Some highlights from the study include:
- The Louvre in Paris and Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial in Poland have wait times under a week.
- Spain’s Sagrada Familia requires a two-week advance booking.
- The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel need about a month’s notice.
- London’s Big Ben tickets sell out quickly; no tickets are available for four weeks, with monthly releases.
- The Anne Frank House and Harry Potter Studios require a six-week wait.
- The Ghibli Museum sells tickets monthly, with no availability for six weeks ahead.
- New York’s Statue of Liberty crown access demands over two months’ wait.
- Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper in Milan requires more than four months’ advance booking.
“Once you start planning your holiday, you should also start booking your tickets to places you want to visit,” advises Vykintas Maknickas, CEO of Saily. He recommends booking even earlier for seasonal attractions like northern lights tours or Keukenhof’s tulip season, which already has tickets selling out for 2026.
On the other hand, outdoor landmarks like the Acropolis, Colosseum, and Machu Picchu generally offer more flexible ticket availability, sometimes even same-day entry.
To ensure you don’t miss out, experts suggest:
- Booking indoor and highly sought-after attractions early.
- Reserving tours that require special transportation like buses or boats well in advance.
- Monitoring ticket release schedules and setting reminders for places like the Ghibli Museum.
- Engaging with travel communities for tips and first-hand advice.
- Checking booking sites regularly for cancellations.
- Avoiding risky resale markets by sticking to official sources.