Expect massive crowds, and yes, there’s a queue system.

You will wait. On July 4th or Labor Day weekend, popular towers like the Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, or similar landmarks hit peak capacity. Lines can stretch two to three hours for walk-up tickets. Most towers now use timed entry or virtual queue systems (scan a QR code, get a text when your slot is ready). But even with that, you’re competing with everyone else who planned ahead.

If you don’t have a reservation, show up early—like before opening—or accept that you’ll be standing in a slow-moving line under the sun. The queue system helps, but it doesn’t magically reduce the number of people.

If you hate crowds, skip the holiday and go on a random Tuesday instead.