I just used this book in Paris and Rome and do not recommend it. Maybe it is already outdated, I don't know, but it was nearly impossible to follow through the museums. And then if and when I did find the thing he was talking about I didn't care for the flip comments about the artwork. (I know he's trying to be funny, but I would have appreciated some more basic information on things. I found myself trying to read museum cards just to find out how old some of the works were!) Also, it really gave no additional information over what was in the regular Rick Steves travel books but added just one more not particularly helpful book to the luggage.

Quick, easy, painless guide to museums in Europe. Forget the drawn out and expensive audio guides. Great book.

I travel for art and frankly, this book was a big disappointment. I expected practical tips and got only a few. What I also got, much to my surprise was a dumbed down sister wendy approach to art-now class, look at this part of the statue and think this. This is not insider information, and to suggest that we should look at art with these descriptions in hand is extremely offensive. If you want to enjoy these museums, get the practical details in hand-a section, by the way, which I found amateur hour, and leave this puppy at home.

I have toured just about all these museums, and these guys miss some outstanding parts of, for example, the British Museum. I grant you that the Louvre is impossible-and if this book helps some people at least get in the door perhaps it has a function. I will say the city walking tours are quite wonderful, but personally, I would never follow this guys tour of the Orsay, except perhaps for directions to the food. This book is an excellent example of fools going where angels fear to tread. You do not need this level of detail to tour the Rodin-it is easily accessible. Use this book if you must have detail to enjoy art (in other words you care who Rodin's last mistress was) but please form your own relationship with the works you see. Most children can do this without a guidebook-for goodness sake give yourself some credit, take a deep breath, and walk in the door, sans guidebook. You do not need a party planner, particularly a second rate party planner, now do you?!

I just got back from a month in Europe and covered Venice, Florence, Rome, Paris, London, and Amsterdam. I used 90% of the book and could not have had a better trip. Rick Steves book made touring cities, museums, palaces, and churches an enjoyable and funny learning experience. You will never need a tour guide. And I am serious when I say, DO NOT GO TO EUROPE WITHOUT MONA WINKS!