I thought I would draw more hostile fire on my Louvre comment. Now, let me tell you how I really feel. The place is so huge, so multifaceted, so diverse that it defies measurement. I have no idea how to construct a scale that could possibly calibrate it on a comparative basis. <BR>So I cannot see how one can say it is over or under anything. I think the sheer size of it is overwhelming, even bewildering, and the enormity of the crowds distracting. As a result, it is easy to lose focus when visiting and just start wandering aimlessly with no goals in mind so that when you leave, the reaction is "What did I see?" <BR>I enjoyed my visit, and regret now that I was not better prepared. I need to treat my visit as a scouting trip to learn the lay of the land in preparation for my next visit. <BR>Even so, I still feel that there are many inferior works interspersed with the masterpieces and priceless treasures. Therefore, it is hard for the ill-informed to know which is which. Just because a work is hanging or standing in the Louvre does not mean it is the greatest thing since beta blockers. It reminds me of a story about an old Montana rancher who, having become to old to ride the range, worked at a roadside gas station. A big car drove in bearing DC license plates. The old rancher observed the plates and said to the driver as he pumped gas, "You got some right smart folks up there in Washington, ain't ya?" The driver replied, "That's right. Some of the most brilliant people in the world work right there." The old rancher thought it over and said "Well, you got some that ain't so bright, too. And it's hard to tell the difference." <BR>Potatoes anyone?? <BR>

I think you have made some good points, Bob. The Louvre really can be quite overwhelming, and therefore perhaps underwhelming. I think the people who get the most out of a museum like this are the ones who get to Paris often enough (or live in Paris) that they can afford to really concentrate on small parts of the collection on each visit, as well as views works more than once. We didn't even get to the Richelieu wing the first time. I figure I will see it on the next trip in a few years, as well as revisit some other favorite areas. It actually took perhaps half an hour just to get ourselves oriented once inside - and we had good maps. I still have a feeling that most works are "important," but the degree of importance and quality surely varies a lot. Also, I am sure some "junk" came with the various collections that went into making up the museum.

My vote for most over rated - Pisa. Go there take a photo and leave. If you are driving thru, just roll down the window, don't even bother to get out. Most of the guide books have it right, just visit and leave, the town doesn't have much except for the Leaning Tower (I did though manage to eat one of the best Calzone that I have ever tasted there). <BR>Any one else out there have anything nice to say about Pisa?

Poor old Pisa - what a bashing it gets in this forum! I for one enjoyed the day I spent there. I thought the duomo and basilica in particular were very worthwhile; particularly liked the Pisano sculptures. There was a very interesting Duomo Museum as well, with lots of mediaeval pieces (as you can see from this comment and another above in an earlier posting, I'm very keen on mediaeval art - possibly because in Australia there is practically ZILCH in our museums!). The Campo Santo was interesting. As far as being overrated, I can't help wondering what people were expecting from Pisa that made being there such a disappointment.

OVERATED - Venice. I think its the Fishermans Wharf of Italy. Too many tourists, too high prices, lots of souvenirs. <BR> <BR>UNDERATED - Rome. Rome is like merging onto the freeway at 90 mph. The food is great, perople are friendly and I can't stop thinking about the espresso.

OVERATED - Venice. I think its the Fishermans Wharf of Italy. Too many tourists, too high prices, lots of souvenirs. <BR> <BR>UNDERATED - Rome. Rome is like merging onto the freeway at 90 mph. The food is great, people are friendly and I can't stop thinking about the espresso. Oh, the sights are truely amazing too!

Wow, it hurts my eyes to scroll this list. My strongest disagreement with any of the above? How could anyone say the Cinque Terre is overrated? I would love to know where you stayed and what you did. To anyone who has hiked the entire length of the five villages and who has stayed in any of the five except Monterossa and perhaps Vernazza (you're right, overrun thanks to Rick Steves) the Cinque Terre has to be pretty remarkable. We stayed three nights in Manarola, hiked both days, and wouldn't trade the entire experience for anything else we've ever done in Europe (except perhaps the bicycle trip along the canal going north out of Brugges.) And just for arguments sake, I don't think it could ever be possible to overrate London--every trip to Europe for me will always start or end with at least a week in London --next summer--two weeks.

D'Orsay is definitely the more manageable of the big two muesuems in Paris. Louvre is best taken in sections, no way can you cover it in a few days...depends on what your interests are. Loved Florence (Excelsior Hotel), agree Venice is too commercial but Lido is a great place to stay if you go to Venice. Driving in Rome is an experience that will stay with you your whole life, the scooters are like knats! Loved the Paris cafe life, French Wine, Italian food was the best and the Bread??? They don't use a lot of salt in Italy or France and that may be one of the reasons that most of the overweight people you see in these countries come from the USA. More fresh ingredients are used and these are more tasty and better for your diet. Finally, Stonehenge...what a big waste of time, they could have been put out there yesterday and nobody knows what they're about anyway.

Wow, interesting thread, with some information I'll keep in mind while planning my next trip (tentatively, France, Belgium and England). In fact, thanks to what I've read here and on other threads, I'm going to try to fit Brugges into the itinerary. <BR> <BR> I'll agree that Strasbourg is underrated - it's beautiful. I was by myself when I visited, and had a wonderful time just strolling around, seeing the canals, visiting the cathedral, etc. Good food, too.

Underrated: Sicily and Basilicata, Italy <BR> <BR>Overrated: Key West, FL

I'm not usually one to pick on people for spelling words wrong, but it's happening so often here by so many different posters, I feel compelled: there is no BRUGGES. It's Brugge (without an "s") in Flemish/Dutch and Bruges (with an "s" but only one "g") in French. <BR>I do feel Brugge is under-rated in that too many people see it as a tourist trap with no soul. In fact, there is a lot to do in Brugge, especially if you walk a bit beyond the heart of the city. It has a vibrant nightlife and a rhythm all its own. But you have to search a little to get beyond the lace/beer/chocolate shops. <BR> <BR>In Paris, I find the Marais VASTLY over-rated and the 16th arrond. under-rated. Several excellent museums are in the 16th, along with some very nice restaurants, cozy cafes, great shops, comfortable hotels, lots of trees, cleaner streets, and no crowds! <BR>BTilke (Brussels)

I have to jump in here on the subject of Italian breads. Even more than travel I love cooking,the history of food, etc. I bake my own breads most of the time , you will never find salt included in a Italian bread recipe, or maybe only about 1/4 of what you would find in a French or American recipe. <BR> <BR>The stale bread that was served is totally inexcusable, but that is not the crux of the problem. Americans and maybe some european counties treat the consumption of bread in totally differnt ways. In Italy bread is really a vehicle! One of the Italian words which I cannot recall calls a meal ...something to accompany bread. <BR> <BR>Bread would never be eaten with pasta , only used after the pasta was finished to sop up the leftover sauce, after the secondo to get the juices, after the salad to wipe up the remains of the dressing. So no need for salt. <BR>Then too I'm afraid Americans are so used to processed, over salted foods are palates may be desensitized. <BR> <BR>It is just different from what we are used to. But enjoy it for what it is,, but if it were stale, I too would complain, the Italians have loads of uses for stale bread and serving it with a meal is NOT one of them! <BR> <BR>Now to overrated places-- I'm afraid Stonehenge gets my vote also, probably not the place itself , if it were left as it was, but the tour buses, the fences et al all destroy for me any magic it must once had.

over-rated: Venice - though happy to have "been there, dont that." <BR>under-rated: Portugal (especially the Algarve) & the Alsace region of France.

I agree with Fran. Paul Bocuse restaurant in Lyon is HIGHLY overated. <BR> <BR>Overated: <BR>Pisa <BR>Barcelona <BR> <BR>

Fascinating reading!..as someone pointed out, depends where you're coming from.. <BR>I don't get to Europe very often, so the idea of rating a place by its food seems silly to me..what makes or breaks a place for me is the value of of the sites that appeal to me most. Thus, I love New York, but it has nothing to compare to the British Museum...Venice, after a short period of wandering the Palace, ogling the Square and marveling at people paying peposterous amounts to be poled through crowded, filthy canals, was an absolute zero for me. I had terrible experiences with the Parisiens, but was blown away by the Louvre, Notre Dame and the Impressionists..David alone makes Florence impossible to over rate...the antiquity of Rome casts a spell that exists no where else... <BR>I was happy eating whatever if all else caused goosebumps and an anticipation that grew and grew as I got nearer... <BR>So, pay no attention to any of us...follow your instincts and relish the experience, no matter where you are or what you are doing... <BR>Mike

Venice---filthy canals, smelly water?? <BR>The secret is to not look down but to look UP at the glory that surrounds you.

<BR>Germany over-rated: Oktoberfest (just a big druck with lots of barfing) & the Konigsee (like running a gauntlet of tourist trap souvenir booths to get to the lake) Under-rated: Freiburg ib (just a fun town!) & Hohenzollern castle. France over-rated: the Louvre, under-rated: Musee D'Orsay & Chartres cathedral

Over-rated <BR> <BR>Florence and Salzburg <BR> <BR>Under-rated <BR> <BR>Munich and Strasbourg (plus Alsace)

over-rated - Ireland, expensive, scenery not as great as everyone makes out, not much to do unless you like drinking. <BR> <BR>under-rated - Sweden, great country, friendly people, great fun

Different strokes right folks?<BR><BR> Over-rated: Paris<BR> Under-rated: The Netherlands/Amsterdam<BR><BR>Headed to Amsterdam this Saturday (3rd trip) and Italy in the spring (1st trip). Ciao!