One of the best Botanic Gardens in the world.read more

What a fantastic museum. It's free with the museum card. I was amazed at the quantity and quality…read moreof art here. There's really too much to mention- suffice it to say there are paintings, reliquaries, precious objects, textiles, statues, altar screens, movies of historic catholic celebrations- and so much more. It's a tremendous pleasure to visit a gem like this. My favorite pieces? The amazing Monstrans by the local Utrecht silversmiths and the wonderful portrait of Erasmus.

The current exhibit, MARIA, is well advertised but it's not terribly interesting. It's a bit…read moreconfusing to find the starting point, and the curation is clearly from a religious rather than an artistic perspective. But the buildings are very much worth seeing. The serenity in busy Utrecht is wonderful. I would like to see more of the gardens in better weather. The neighborhood is worth exploring further, Vaartsje Rijn with a new train station. Lots of vintage shops and small cafes.