According to tourists, the best bizarre museums in Europe to visit /

European cities are a treasure trove of cultural heritage and attract travelers from all corners of the world. But while popular attractions like national art museums or historic buildings are a must-see on any tourist’s agenda, there’s a whole other world of eccentricity waiting to be discovered.

So, if you’re looking for something different on your next European city break, the travel experts at luggage storage network Stasher have put together a list of the best bizarre museums to visit in some of Europe’s hottest cities based on tourist reviews. .

1. Scout Museum, Vienna

The highest rated museum with a difference in Europe is the Scout Museum (or Pfadfindermuseum) in Vienna, Austria. With an impressive 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews, the museum is praised for its great stories about the history of the Scout movement and for its regularly updated exhibits.

The entrance fee is just €4 (£3.40) for adults and €2 (£1.70) for children under 18, making it an affordable attraction for those interested in Boy Scouts – or those wanting to learn more. The museum is open to the public at limited times each week on Thursdays and Fridays and other times by appointment.

2. Stained Glass Museum, Krakow

The Stained Glass Museum in Krakow, Poland is the second highest-rated bizarre museum in Europe, with a visitor rating of 4.8 out of 5. The museum has a rich history and has operated as a functioning stained glass museum since 1902. lead workshop and has even continued with World War II.

Guided tours of the museum are offered for 42 PLN (about £8). For those who prefer to get hands-on, the museum also offers workshops to make your own stained glass souvenirs. Visitor hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM and from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM, and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Tickets can be purchased via the online booking system or at the museum box office.

3. The Magic Circle Museum, London

The Magic Circle, the self-proclaimed most famous magical society in the world, is headquartered in London. It even counts the newly crowned King Charles III as an honorary member. The enchanting location is highly coveted, with an average review score of 4.8 out of 5.

It is home to a wealth of items that tell the story of magic, including the shoes Dynamo wore when he famously walked the Thames and the first book written in English about magic over 400 years ago. The Magic Circle Museum only welcomes visitors through its public events program and does not accept walk-ins – so check before you travel.

4. Fairground Museum, Paris

This whimsical museum is definitely one for the playful travelers. With a Google Review rating of 4.7 out of 5, you might want to consider adding this to your Paris itinerary. Described as “a world of dreams,” the Fairground Art Museum is filled with cabinets of curiosities, carnivals, incredible gardens, and Belle Epoque carnivals. The interactive format frees visitors from traditional museum displays and labels.

Guided tours can be booked online via the website and last 1.5 hours. They cost €18.80 (about £16.30) for an adult, or €12.80 (about £11.12) for children between 4 and 11 years old.

To avoid disappointment, please note that the museum is only open on Wednesdays, weekends and school holidays. Available dates for booking will be released 2-3 weeks before the visit date.

5. Imperial Carriage Museum, Vienna

Perhaps not for petrolheads, the Imperial Carriage Museum in Vienna, Austria, celebrates transport from days gone by and has a good average tourist rating of 4.7 out of 5. Visitors to the museum can expect a spectacular and vivid impression of court life, with many original historic carriages (not replicas) from the era of Queen Sisi to the 1900s.

The museum has an entrance fee of €12 (about £13.82), but generously offers free entry for anyone under the age of 19.

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Other unique museums in the top ten are those dedicated to industrial objects, snow globes, postal and vintage radios.

And what’s worth skipping?

While the curious nature of these bizarre museums makes them interesting, not all of them are worth a visit, according to tourist reviews. Which museums scored the lowest in the survey?

The Torture Museum in Amsterdam is rated the lowest, with an average review score of 3.3 out of 5. Most criticism of the museum is due to both its small size and lack of engaging exhibits.

The Lighting and Heating Tools Museum in Istanbul ranks 2nd with an average score of 3.3 out of 5. Although it is cited as one of a kind, the majority of negative reviews are about the lack of hygiene and cleanliness of the museums. In addition, it appears that the museum has not properly communicated closing periods, with visitors arriving without warning only to find that the experience is not available.

A Berlin duo of the Museum of Unheard of Things (3rd) and the Museum of Gas Lanterns (4th) fill the next two spots below the lowest rated. Most of the former’s negative reviews consist of periods of closure, although the preservation of their gas lanterns has been the most criticized by the latter.

The Museum of Fantastic Art at 5th has a focus on surrealism. With an average score of 3.6 out of 5, the Brussels museum has been criticized by some visitors for its ‘misleading’ name.

methodology

A sample of 62 museums was selected from a starting list consisting of the strangest museums in Europe. The museums were then checked for their open/closed status by means of manual research. The average Google Reviews are collected per museum and thus ranked. Where museums had the same average review rating, the number of reviews was taken into account.