Best Detailed Map.

The "Streetwise" maps for big cities are very good, laminated and folded so they fit in a hip pocket and stay in shape. They show the urban centers where most tourist destinations are, with a lot of detail, plus a transit map and index. You can find all the cities you listed on the "Travel Store" tab above. They're also sold in many bookstores. You could check them out in a store at home, maybe look at one for a city you know to see how comprehensive and readable they are. (Then buy whichever ones you find there and order the rest above or from Amazon or whatever, so the bookstore gets a sale for its trouble.) For London, I also use the pocket-size Benson "London Visitors' Map," with much detail for visitors. I don't recall ever seeing it on sale in a US store, but Amazon must have it and you can find it easily in London. For Paris, Michelin publishes a "Paris par Arrondissement" pocket atlas, with one or more pages for each district, an index, and transit maps, also available on Amazon and maybe some US bookstores. It's harder to get an overview, like plotting a route across the city, but the detail is terrific. I don't know about your other cities but try Amazon for maps or street atlases. Anything by Michelin is likely to be first-rate.

For Paris and London, I swear by my Penguin Mapguides (both edited - I think - by Michael Middleditch).

I am traveling with an iPad. I will see if google earth works there.

Another vote for the Penguin Mapguide to London. I've carried my 1993 edition around with me even after I had more recent maps and books. Whenever I take my next trip to London (will be my 5th) I'll spring for the latest edition.

For Munich, I would suggest that, if there is one, you look in a bookshop when you arrive for a German-language Marco Polo guide book called "München für Münchner". They are pocket sized and have excellent street maps in the last pages, even if if you can't read German.

I love that Penguin London Map Guide. But I also like the laminated maps as well. Lamination is important so that they survive rain. Pam

I use the Streetwise laminated maps and give them to my guests to use as well. I use cellophane colored post it notes to highlight where I am and another to highlight where I am going. Easy to carry and easy to quickly zero in on where on the map you are. I used to carry one with me daily until I figured out the maps feature on my smarter than me phone!!!

I've given up on paper maps. I use my Ipod Touch with one of the offline map apps, in conjunction with the device's GPS capabilities detailed here: http://tinyurl.com/qjketzq

I have Rough Guide maps of London and Rome that show and name every street and are made of that coated, indestructible paper. And for Paris, the "Paris Pratique par Arrondissement" dark blue booklet you buy at newsstands is unbeatable - every street shown and indexed, Metro, RER, Bus, Trams, etc. It's also lightweight.