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There are a lot more tourists then there used to be in the past. When I moved to Vienna in 2005 I used to take weekend trips to nearby cities (anything up to a couple hours by train, like Budapest or Brno). I would just go on a train and when I’d arrive I’d find some hostel and get a room on the spot.

Today you really have to reserve, sometimes months in advance if it’s during the high season.

20 years ago I could just walk up to the Eiffel tower ticket office, buy a ticket, and go up after a couple of minutes. On a beautiful summer weekend.

Today I wouldn't even dream of that. You really have to plan ahead for all the major sights that include an entrance.

We almost missed Louvre on a recent visit to Paris. You need to book online and depending on the season weeks in advance.

I didn't even try the Louvre last time I was in Paris--which was OK. But, although I had timed tickets to the Musee D'Orsay, it was really sort of too crowded to be enjoyable. You couldn't get near the cafe behind the clock.