The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Md, Usa.

The Walters is a small museum, with only some 36,000 objects. This is good news for tourists because it means a decent visit to the museum only takes 2-3 hours (by contrast, we spent more than 500 days visiting the Smithsonian and never saw it all). Walters was one of the those rich American who looted the treasures of Europe and of all of civilization. What is unique about Dr Walters' international looting spree was his impeccable good taste. Every object in the collection is a first rate example of its genre, and rather than pile up a dozen Monets in several rooms, Walters only bought two, each an excellent representation of Monet's early and middle styles. The jewelry display spans 5,000 years. Starting with ancient Egypt – including a small but spectacular mummy collection – and its neighbors, the Walters concise display of history's great works of art is unrivaled. The small collection-- all sub collections in the Walters are small-- of illuminated books from the Mideast is stunning, as are the Eggs. Spend one hour or two hours or the full depth visit of three hours and you will experience a remarkable display of the best the art world has to offer. Among the world's great museums, the Walters holds a very special place.

The small cafe has pretty good food, reasonably priced

Free Admission (donations welcome).

A rarity in America where public transportation barely exists, Baltimore is easily reached from New York City, Philadelphia, and especially Washington DC by train (frequent service, about about a half hour ride.