Strange & Unique Museums Around the World That Will Blow Your Mind

Museums are usually places of art, history, or science—but some museums go beyond the expected. They shock. They surprise. They stretch your idea of what a “museum” can be. If you’re curious and ready for the weird, here are strange museums around the world you have to see to believe.

1. Museum of Enduring Beauty (Malaysia)

Ever wondered how different cultures define beauty? This museum walks you through rituals and body modifications that challenge modern perceptions.

Expect displays of jewelry, neck stretching, tattoos, and more. It’s strange, raw, and oddly enlightening.

 

2. Avanos Hair Museum (Turkey)

A museum literally full of hair. Over 16,000 hair samples from people all over the world, with names and addresses, hang from the walls.

It started with a small souvenir—one strand of hair given to a potter—and turned into an unforgettable, quirky tradition.

3. Museum of Bad Art (USA)

What about art that didn’t get it right? The Museum of Bad Art celebrates the work that misses the mark.

Ugly, weird, awkward—but fascinating. And somehow, you’ll leave feeling better about your own artistic attempts.

4. Sulabh International Museum of Toilet (India)

Yes—there’s a museum devoted to toilets.

From ancient sanitation tools to old commodes, it traces the goofy, gross, and essential parts of human hygiene history. Also includes toilet-poems (yes, poems about toilets).

5. Bread Museum (Germany)

Bread lovers, listen up—not a loaf in sight, but bread culture galore.

Learn how bread shaped lives, societies, and tastes across centuries. It’s odd, comforting, and beautifully baked into history.

6. Museum of Cryptozoology (USA)

Think Loch Ness Monster, mermaids, chupacabra, yeti—and yes, even Mothman. No confirmed science, but lots of myths.

For lovers of monsters and mystery, this museum delivers.

7. Underwater Sculpture Museum (Cancun, Mexico)

A museum under the sea. Life-sized sculptures fixed to the seabed. Silent. Still. Haunting.

Snorkel or take a glass-bottom boat—this one feels like exploring Atlantis.

8. Museum of Broken Relationships (Croatia)

Lost love can leave amazing stories. This museum invites people to donate objects from failed relationships—and share the story behind them.

Pink cuffs, garish rings, old boots… each has its heartbreak. Each has its story.

9. The Plastinarium (Germany)

Anatomy meets artistry. Real human and animal bodies preserved through plastination.

If you want something gross, fascinating, and deeply weird—this is it.

 

Why These Museums Fascinate

  • They challenge norms. What’s beautiful, what’s gross, what’s art?

  • They invite you to see the world differently.

  • They combine weirdness and storytelling in ways that standard museums cannot.

Tips for Exploring the Strange

  • Research ahead—some exhibits can be upsetting or controversial.

  • Keep an open mind; cultural differences can be intense.

  • Know the location, opening times, and whether you need a guide.

  • Bring your camera—the weirdness often makes the best photo memories.

Conclusion

If normal museums don’t thrill you enough, these strange museums around the world are made for adventurers. They’ll fascinate, unsettle, and spark new curiosity.

So, go ahead—visit one. Or two. Let your mind spin. Your travel stories will never be the same.