Skip The Louvre and take on the magnificent Czartoryski in Krakow

La Jaconde by Leonardo DaVinci was stolen from the Louvre in 1911. The headlines of the day were sensational with the art caper and the incident sparked her modern fame. Yet, while the world waits in line to view the Mona Lisa behind bullet proof glass at the busy Louvre, a few hundred miles away, a far more delightful DaVinci experience awaits.

The much revered Lady with Ermine was painted around the same time as its more famous cousin yet has a bit more depth and meaning and, yes, even a touch of humor. More importantly, her story of how she winds up in here in the new refurbished Czartoryski Museum is just as fascinating. and while Ermine is the star of the show, this amazing museum is of great quality through and through creating just another good reason to put Krakow at the top of your travel list.

Skip the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and head for the Orsay in Paris

Vincent Van Gogh is, by far, one of the most famous artist ever and the family museum in Amsterdam is, no doubt, world class. Yet, if impressionism is on your mind, the Orsay wins the day every time. From setting to content, this Paris mainstay never disappoints! The museum does a wonderful job of covering everything that made art post-camera so fascinating and they are not afraid to move tings around to keep it interesting visit after visit. And, yes, there are a couple of Van Gogh to make up for skipping the 32 self portraits over in Amsterdam.

Skip Dublin Castle and Trinity Library in Dublin and instead head for EPIC in Dublin

Quite frankly, there are just better castles in Ireland than Dublin Castle. Moreover, the castle experience is just more fun in other parts of the country. So, we suggest checking with EPIC Museum. EPIC is an urban museum that explores the Irish immigrant and all of the facets of the Irish diaspora in every direction. Do you think you are of Irish ancestry? Check out the geneaology department while you are there to get some insight into your roots!

Skip Anne Frank’s House in Amsterdam, instead visit Auschwitz in Poland 

Anne Frank’s story is a very important one and something no one should ever forget. Yet, the hard to get tickets at the sold out Amsterdam site often do not rise to meet the expectations of the typical visitor. The house itself is void of any furnishings and the climb to the attic space can be a bit overwhelming for anyone not prepared for it. Anne’s singular story is one of millions that are memorialized in Southern Poland at the German death camp called Auschwitz. A visit to any concentration camp is sometimes a difficult concept to reckon. Yet, the mere act of going to pay your respects to the very place Anne and her family were sent can enlighten and help understand the massive scale of the Final Solution and its impact on modern society even today. It is an impactful experience that truly makes you understand the words “never forget”.

Skip the Vatican Museums in Rome and instead head for the Borghese Gallery and gardens

The Vatican Museum is the most visited museum in the world and there isn’t a day that goes by when the halls of this gem aren’t overcrowded. It’s world class art spanning millenia is unmatched. Yet, the crowds can make it difficult to truly enjoy. Just a few miles away, the Borghese Gallery, is interested in keeping the numbers low. The museum which is full of the most amazing sculpture is capped at 360 visitors at a time making the experience a low stress, high valued destination in Rome.

Skip the Uffizi in Florence and head straight for the Accademia 

As the Louvre and Vatican museums prove, large crowds make the museums experience a bit more stressful. The Uffizi is no exception. Yes, it is the very definition of Renaissance art but its crowds make it a one way path of uncomfortable no matter what time of year it is. Yet, the Academia provides just as much punch for a fraction of the time and space. Home to David, it impresses in many ways and can be enjoyed in just under two hours.

Other gems we love are:

• Galerie Dior in Paris: world class whether you are in to fashion or not.
• Musee Montmartre in Paris: an oasis in a sea of tourists.
• Waterloo Monument and Museum in Belgium: fun for absolutely every age and never crowded.
• The upstairs museum floor at St. Marks in Venice: the best view in town and a close up view of the Constantinian horses.