Museum Advice

Of all the Museums in London I would skip, it would be the Natural History Museum:) IMO, it's of more interest to children.
If you force me to pick just two museums for London they would be the: National Gallery...one of the best Art Museums in the world...and it's free! Imperial War Museum...a must see for anyone with an interest in military history. But like you said it all depends on your interests.

I agree with Brian, it should depend on your interests. I thought the Natural History Museum in London was very geared to kids (no disrespect) and not much different from those in NY, Washington, and other big cities. I believe its counterpart in Paris lacks English labels, but others may know better. The biggest are the Louvre in Paris and the British Museum in London, if you want to limit the number of museums but have the most choices to see in each. But the Louvre doesn't include Impressionists (they're at the Musee d'Orsay) or modern art (at the Pompidou). The Musee Carnavalet is all about Parisian history, somewhat hard to find your way around despite not being very large. Paris has military and naval museums, London has the Imperial War Museum and the splendid Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms where you begin to understand how desperate things were in 1940. Pick your main interests and there will be museums for them!

If you go to the Vatican Museum, be prepared mentally for the crowds. I went last month and it was crowded, but tolerable. However, July is a different story. It's a long march to the Sistine Chapel and you have little time to appreciate the works on the way. Be sure to buy tickets online. Also, I really liked the Borghese Gallery in Rome. This place has a timed entry for crowd control and great Bernini statues. A reservation is necessary. The Louvre is the Louvre. It's a must-see if you've never been, but I prefer the Musee d'Orsay because it's more manageable and has the world's greatest impressionist collection. Paris has lots of smaller museums depending on your interests. If medieval is your thing, you might like the Cluny (Musee du Moyen Age). I would second the suggestion of the National Gallery in London. Haven't been to Barcelona so I can't offer any advice.

Jennifer, As you noted, everyone's opinion of "can't miss museums" will vary to some extent, depending on personal interests. I'm very interested in military history, so Museums of that type are at the top of my list in each city. Are you also wishing to limit visits to Art Galleries? Here's a list of a few Museums / Galleries / Sightseeing attractions to consider in each city: > London: Imperial War Museum, Tower of London (be sure to take a tour with the Yeoman Warder and have a look at the Crown Jewels), Churchill Cabinet War Rooms, Buckingham Palace / Changing of the Guard, National Gallery and for somewhat of an "unusual" Museum visit HMS Belfast (moored on the Thames close to the Tower Bridge). > Paris: The Louvre (concentrate on the Denon Wing if you want to see the Mona Lisa, as the entire complex is HUGE), Musee d'Orsay (one of my favourites - the current reno's may be finished by then?), Rodin Museum (and of course the Eiffel Tower). > Rome: Vatican Museum, Borghese Gallery, Capitoline Museums (and of course the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill). > Barcelona: Sagrada Familia, possibly the Dali Museum in Figueres. Some of the Museums / Galleries require reservations. Check the Guidebook for details. Happy travels!

Hi, My favorites:
London-Tower of London, Churchill War Museum (lots of interactive stuff), British Museum Paris-Orsay Rome-Vatican, which is huge, so you need to be selective as to which parts you go to Barcelona-Not a museum but a church-Sagrada Familia Have fun!

I would skip London's Natural History Museum, too, unless there is something there that you really want to see. My choices: London: British Museum and Imperial War Museum. Paris: Louvre and Musée d'Orsay. Rome: Vatican. Barcelona: The Dalí Museum - In Figueres.

Barcelona: The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is awesome. I would go back to Barcelona just to see it again. I would also not miss the Dali Museum as it does tickle the senses. London: The Natural History Museum was a big disappointment to me especially when I chose that over the National Gallery. I am still banging my head on my desk over it. I would give the Tate Modern Art Museum a shout out too, except for the exhibit called "Vomit in a Box" because it really was vomit in a box (they call that art?). I think it was a temporary exhibit. But before you go to Tate Modern art, hit up Vinopolis Wine Museum for some tastings. It was pricey but worth it. I got maybe 6-8 tastings, plus a gin tasting, and a scotch tasting. Paris: Louvre, D'Orsay, L'Orangie, Musée Marmottan Monet are all on the top of my list of fantastic do not miss museums in Paris. The Pompidou did not excite me as there were a lot of big canvases painted blue, and that type of art makes me mad because I could have done that and be cash money rich. Oh well, art is only art because of interpretation, I guess. But it did have some great Picasso paintings.
Rome: Vatican, Borghese (what a pleasant surprise, I loved it)

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Sounds like the Natural History museum is definitely worth a rethink :)

We found the City History Museum in Barcelona fascinating. I don't know all the other museums mentioned, but I think this one is different. Imagine walking around in the ruins of the old Roman settlement that became Barcelona. That's what you'll do. It's a good break if your brain is on art overload.

As has already been said, it really depends on you and your interests. Read up on the various museums, and see which museum's focus appeals to you the most. I will say, keep some additional possibilities in mind, just in case. We took our daughter to Italy for the first time two years ago, and I picked out some "must-see" museums, because she was 10yo. Well, she LOVED museums, and we ended up going to many more than I had originally envisioned. Here are my favorites, and why London: British Museum (Elgin Marbles, Rosetta Stone); National Gallery (paintings) There must be something about the Museum of Natural History and their collection that appeals to you - so what if other people didn't enjoy it! Paris: Louvre (one of the best European collections in the world, Italian renaissance artists, French paintings); Musee d'Orsay (all those Impressionists, though keep in mind the museum is undergoing major renovations and is a bit of a mess right now); Marmatton (Monet in a beautiful house) Rome: Vatican Museums (ancient sculptures, Italian Renaissance painters, Caravaggio); Borghese (sculptures) Barcelona: Anything designed by Gaudi, even though they aren't museums. The Dali museum in Figueres is fantastic - how often do you get to see a museum focused on a single artist, that was designed by that artist? The Picasso museum, if you're a fan of Picasso, or the Miro museum, if you're a fan of Miro.

"...There must be something about the Museum of Natural History and their collection that appeals to you - so what if other people didn't enjoy it!..." Nobody said they didn't enjoy it. In fact, it's probably one the best of its kind in the world. But it's specifically geared to children, and playing the odds most adults without kids in tow (and limiting themselves to just two museums) won't get much out of it. But as others have said everything depends on the on the interests of the individual. If it's a subject matter that appeals to them, by all mean go for it. Personally, even though they appeal mostly to kids, I like to visit zoos in my travels. I find them to be very relaxing stress-free places to visit for a couple of hours. Others think it's a waste of time....there you go.

My favorites in London were the National Gallery, the British Museum and the "Treasures" room at the Library. Rome, the Vatican. Paris, I can't see missing the Louvre. Barcelona, I'm planning on visiting in September. I think I'll see Sagrada Familia from the outside and spend more time at Park Guell. For me Dali isn't a must see (personal taste) but Montserrat will be.

In London I would ( and have repeatedly) visit the Victoria and Alberta Museum, I love it, the old clothes, furnishings, wall hangings, jewelery,, etc , my favorite museum in London. I would also strongly recommend a visit to the Tower,, the Beefeater tour is wonderful( and included in admission) . The British Museum is a must see and that goes without saying. In Paris I always return to the Louvre, it is is huge, but totally worth it,,, I am not a huge impressionist fan, but enjoyed the Orsay ,, but would still choose Louvre it only given one choice. At Louvre I would spend one minute breathing others peoples exhaled breath at the Mona,, and then go and see the interesting stuff, like Napoleons Apartments, the Crown Jewels and the Medivel Louvre!

I must admit I over-museum-visited in my first trip to Europe, and now I avoid them at all costs. For London, I would go to the British Library again. In Paris, my favorite is the Rodin Museum. In Barcelona, I would pass on the museums and go to Parc Guell, my favorite Gaudi site.

Barcelona - the Sagrada Familia is spectacular inside and out! If you're a fan of Gaudi, Casa Battlo is beautiful too. Paris - knowing we couldn't do it all, and loving impressionist art, we chose the d'Orsay over the Louvre.
London - British Museum - very interesting...is it still free? Rome - The Vatican Museum is overwhelming - that being said, there is only one Sistine Chapel!