Hello all

I've booked flights hotels and trains and now just making my list of sights, museums and other things to do.
What I am trying to figure out is, should I book guided tours online or should I wait to get to the city and look for a deal.
I'll be going to Venice florence and Rome and doing the major/ most popular sights.
Is there any recommended website where I can get great deals on tours or are some tours just a huge waste of time ( I've read reviews that the Vatican City tour can be long and a lot of it can be skipped).

Thanks for the feedback.

So. I'm not really a tour person. But if you want value rather than the cheapest, I would do at least one tour from Context tours, and I'd book that ahead of time. Tours- especially small group tours- fill up fast, especially in busy seasons.

But if you're talking just random tours you can book at the tourist center, yes, you can probably get deals at last minute, especially through viator, but I wouldn't bother at I don't consider those valuable. And while I would pay her early admission to Vatican, I don't understand what you mean by most of it can be skipped- the Sistine chapel is amazing yes but the rest of the museum is just as amazing and I actually thought the tour was way too rushed!

Additionally..."most popular sights" sounds hellish in Venice and doesn't mean much when it comes to Rome and Florence because there is just so much to see. How much time do you have??

Are there certain sites that you feel you need a guided tour? We used Walks of Italy for several tours in Rome and also hired Daniella Hunt for a trip to Tivoli. Walks of Italy's Pristine Sistine tour was an excellent way to see the Vatican Museums.

You don't have to do tours but they certainly can be valuable. Many of the sites have audio guides that will help you understand the history, etc...I don't think I would book a tour without researching it. So booking something last minute and on the spot seems like a good way to end up disappointed.

Most cities have free walking tours given by locals. You are encouraged to tip if you enjoy it, but it's not mandatory. I've never done one, but some are very highly recommended.

I never take tours. I read a paper guide and use it when sightseeing.
I go at my own pace.

I'm thinking of doing tours for things like Vatican, colloseum, and a few others.

Thanks for the heads up about tours.

Now what about tickets, would you recommend buying tickets at the sights or buying the skip the line Passes?

I'll be going in mid March.

I buy passes to skip the line/or book ahead, whenever possible. I don't like going on vacation to stand in line.

We used Presto tours for Vatican and Appion Way. It was sm group-10 people. It was well worth to hav a guide who was knowledgeable and could negotiate the busy city. Rome is vast and fast paced.
Do what ever it takes to make your trip a pleasurable experience. because it can be stressful and overwhelming.