I’ve visited my fair share of galleries and museums around the world, and to be honest, I don’t remember much about most of them. Unless you’re deeply into art or history, it all becomes a blur of genius talent and antiquity. On the other hand, I have experienced several unconventional museums during my travels that have stayed with me years later. Some have been on the lowbrow side, but they are all so much fun. Here are seven unconventional gems worth visiting on your next trip to one of these cities.

#1 Museum of Broken Relationships – Zagreb, Croatia

People from across the globe have contributed their stories of love and loss to this museum, which originated in 2006 as a temporary exhibit. Many of the displays feature significant objects that played a role in the contributor’s relationship with a corresponding story. Some of the tales are heartbreakingly sad, while others are outrageous or funny. Read a full review of this quirky museum in another blog post.

#2 House of Bols – Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The House of Bols bills itself as a “cocktail and genever experience.” Genever is a juniper-flavoured Dutch spirit similar to gin, and Lucas Bols is the oldest distilled spirit brand dating back to 1575. This place is more of a marketing tool than an actual museum, but it’s a terrific way to start an evening out in Amsterdam. In addition to the genever history, visitors experience how scent plays into taste and can practice their flair bartending skills as part of a video display. Or, you can leave it to the pros to mix your perfect cocktail at the museum’s bar based on a recipe a computer kiosk spits out in response to your answers about flavour preferences. 

#3 The Clink Prison Museum – London, UK

An odd combination of fun and creepy, The Clink Prison Museum is built on the original site of England’s oldest and most notorious prison circa 1144. Visitors learn of the horrendous conditions prisoners endured and their various forms of punishment set against the backdrop of the social and political changes spanning the prison’s 600 years.

#4 Schweine Museum – Stuttgart, Germany

Boasting a display of 50,000 different kinds of pig figures, The Schweine Museum in Stuttgart is a can’t-miss attraction. There are some educational components, but most of all, it’s just pigs of every shape and variety on display. Most peculiar is the subgenre of “exotic” pigs that you can view at the pig peepshow. Delightfully odd!

7 Unconventional Museums Worth Visiting

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#5 Prinsenhof Museum – Delft, the Netherlands

I ducked into the Prinsenhof because it was pouring rain and stumbled into one of the best interactive museums I’ve ever visited. Housed in the former state house of William of Orange (considered the founder of the Netherlands), the museum depicts the life and times of the advocate for religious freedom. Using engaging holographic-style videos, characters come to life and lead you through his story. There’s also a dramatic reenactment of William’s assassination that is uniquely innovative (click here if you want to know what it is). Years after having visited, I will still not shut up about this place to anyone visiting the Netherlands. 

#6 Wynwood – Miami, USA

Wynwood is an entire neighbourhood in Miami crammed with brilliant street art. When this urban industrial area fell into decline in the early 2000s, developer and urban placemaker Tony Goldman began a revitalization project called Wynwood Walls to feature street artists from around the world. Today, virtually every surface, from storefront walls to sidewalks to industrial plant equipment, is covered with art. Visiting is like stepping into an alternative reality. Read more about Wynwood in this TagAlongTravel post.

#7 Renyk Underground – Krakow

When workers were digging up Krakow’s main square for renovation work several years ago, they came across perfectly preserved remnants of the city’s medieval history. Archaeologists excavated the area, and today it is an underground museum. The museum offers a fascinating look at the historic city’s life and culture through interactive touch screens and reconstructions using actual artifacts. It’s very cool to venture under the central square to discover what lies below.

Do you have a favourite offbeat museum you’ve visited? Let me know in a comment.

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