Nighttime’s the right time — and reservations are smart any time — when it comes to seeing the great sights in Northern Italy. With all the crowds heading for the same few attractions, popular sights and destinations are packed, and ticket lines are long. For 2020, officials thankfully have promised longer hours and easier opportunities to book entries in advance.

Here’s the latest:

• At Venice’s St. Mark’s Basilica, it is now easy to reserve an entry time online, even for same-day tickets. While you’ll pay a small reservation fee, you’ll save valuable time with a guaranteed entry.