OTHER Than Accommodation or Transportation, Things to Consider Booking in Advance in High Season

I've normally not made reservations in advance for much of anything in the places you mentioned. When sights need or recommend reservations, then Rick's guidebooks will describe the procedure for each one. For instance, if you're interested in the BMW factory tour in Munich, then do reserve ahead for that. Reservations are recommended in summer for seeing Ludwig's castles near Fuessen. You can reserve ahead for shows such as the Vienna State Opera if you're an opera buff or you can buy standing room tickets the same day if you're only mildly interested, but they don't perform in July and August. This Travel Forum has quite a few other discussions of classical concerts in Vienna and Salzburg.

Hello, I can't speak to those specific locations, but I have certainly searched for concerts and other performances in advance of a trip and bought tickets. Most notably, one time I learned that a really good and well-known fiddler would be playing in Pitlochry, Scotland. I was able to arrange my schedule so I could go and bought tickets in advance.

I've never worried about restaurants. There's always a good place to eat. Maybe if I was doing a foodie tour of Paris....

Pam

Thanks for the replies. We're just over a week away from our departure (*squeeeee!*), and I just wondered if there was something I might be kicking myself for not booking. I'm have no interest in cars, and I'm not sure about the Neuschwanstein castle--we have only 3 nights in Munich--so not quite 3 full days, so I think we should be all right, then. Mostly we like to walk around, look at architecture and art, visit museums, eat, and soak up the atmosphere, anyway.

@BB, for a summer trip there isn't too much to book in advance in Budapest except maybe the Parliament tours: http://hungarianparliament.com/tours/ Even train tickets can be bought for the next destination upon arrival to the previous destination with out much concern. It being summer there aren't many indoor concerts, opera, ballet, etc except in a few pure tourist venues.

Here is a pretty good events list for Budapest http://visitbudapest.travel/budapest-events/

Be sure to pack for the season.

Have fun

BB,

This isn't to answer directly, but my MO is to make reservations (if possible) for anything that my be full/busy or if its something specific i am gong to that place to see/do.

happy trails.