I'm traveling to Europe for the first time this summer. I was concerned by postings describing how overbearing the tourist crowds can be during high season. That is until someone said some places get as crowded as New York City where I happen to live. Squeezing my way through Manhattan crowds has become second nature and I barely notice them. Do they get much worst or was I worried unnecessarily?

Geo, <BR>If you can stand summer in Manhattan (and better you than I!)I feel quite confident you can master Venice, Rome, Paris, Milan, and Florence during high season for tourists. <BR><BR>Good luck, remember comfy shoes, & also don't forget to get a room with A/C!

Yes its crowded. It will be hot. In places like Venice, Siena, and other famous places where tourists often just day trip, stay in the city proper and you'll find the crowds really thin out in the evening. Plan small small, undiscovered towns into your itinerary as a way to get away during your trip.And visit big sites like the Louvre, etc, when they open or a couple of hours before closing. I was at Chartres Cathedral at 8:00 and had the place to myself. As I left 8 tour buses had just driven up. You'll never forget it and you'll love it and in the end the crowds probably won't be a big deal.

In general relax. You don't mention exactly where you are going, but lots of places are not that crowded. It mostly depends on exactly where you are going.<BR><BR>I've heard from German cousins that the European countries stagger their kids' summer vacation to ease some of the burden. Many Italian venues are particular hot spots, French Riviera as well. I've been all over German countries and never felt all that crowded at all. Mostly similar in Benelux, Scandanavia, and eastern Europe for sure.

I second Geoff's response. A couple of small parts of Prague can get crowded at peak season, while most of the city and sights are busy without crowding. Budapest is much the same. Outlying cities can be true delights without crowds even at peak times. London may feel crowded any time. It all depends on where you go. But ... if you can deal with New York City, you can deal with Europe.<BR><BR>Rod

Thank you Jenny and Geoff. I guess like anything else the size of crowds is relative. I was imagining having to swim through people. <BR><BR>Thanks for the advice Barney. I will take your advice regarding when to visit museums. I turn into a morning person when I'm on vacation anyway. Any other time I could sleep through an earthquake (wait a minute, I have slept through an earthquake, hehe).<BR><BR><BR>

Geo--<BR>Asking whether Europe is crowded is like asking "how long is a piece of string?" It all depends on where you want to go and what you want to do. Of course, all the tourist "hot spots" will be more crowded than the undiscovered places, as one poster said. But if the places have been advertised as "undiscovered" by any of the tourism authors (Rick Steves, Fodors, Frommers, et al) you can bet that by the time you get there, they will have their share of tourists too. Personally, I like to go out and really "discover" places by going somewhere that no one has recommended. I have found some wonderful spots like that, every bit as good as the places recommended by the experts. If you get a chance, I'd advise you to do the same--not to avoid the crowds, because you won't find them unbearable--but simply to make your own discoveries that you alone can remember and treasure.

Last July we stayed in the Berghotel Truebseehof, half way up the Titlis (in Engelberg near Lucerne). We were the only guests and had a super stay: fabulous dinner and breakfast buffet. During the day the mountain peak was full of Korean daytrippers but at about 3 p.m. it was only us, the owners, and the 140 cows.