September the 17th, 2025 – If you happen to find yourself in the Croatian capital, you’d be a fool not to make the most of Zagreb’s quirky, unusual and sometimes oddly specific museums.
Let’s face it, all cities great and small have a museum or two to boast of. An art gallery here, a display of Roman discoveries there… and unless you’re in marvellous London, you’ve likely seen most of what the majority of locations offer, speaking generally of course. Unless you’re a true museum buff, it’s relatively easy to exhaust the overarching offer of most exhibits. In Zagreb, however, you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Zagreb was once the capital of a country people flew to in order to immediately head off to the coast or the islands. It had very little tourism pull of its own, but its transformation over the last decade or so has been nothing short of impressive. Now, the quirky Croatian capital pulls in very enviable tourist numbers from all over Europe and indeed the world, with more and more air connections opening up to more or less everywhere.
Ryanair’s arrival and setting up of a base at Zagreb Airport only furthered Zagreb’s image on the city break map of Europe, with daily cheap connections flying to cities across the continent. If you’re visiting, one thing you need to make time for is a tour of some of the cities most bizarre and unusual museums.
Zagreb is home to a museum dedicated entirely to mushrooms, one to selfies, one to hangovers, one to broken relationships, and one to everyone’s guilty pleasure – chocolate. There’s even a cannabis museum if your guilty pleasures take you a little further across the border than too much sugar.
the museum of illusions
Perhaps the most popular of all is the Museum of Illusions, the original concept has since spread across the world and can now be found in multiple countries – but the original calls Zagreb (and more specifically its main artery, Ilica) home. It’s one of the city’s most frequented attractions, and it’s a location where absolutely nothing is as it seems.
the museum of broken relationships
Ever looked back on that boy you fell “in love” with back when you were 10 and you spoke even less to when you were “in a relationship” than you did when you were just passing each other on the playground? Your 72 hour relationship was likely quickly brought to a grinding halt when he realised that he needed to focus on his Pokemon cards or on football. Fast-forward a few years and those relationships start involving far more feelings, compromise, sacrifice and time. Those ones sting when they draw to a close, but they teach us valuable lessons, and if we listen hard enough, they’re usually about ourselves. Then there are those that are downright embarrassing products of too much alcohol and too little shame. The spectrum is huge, and they’re the perfect topic to dedicate an entire museum to.
From the cringe and embarrassing to the heart wrenching and poignant, Zagreb’s Museum of Broken Relationships will have you laughing and crying all within the same exhibit. It’s absolutely worth the visit.
the chocolate museum
Everyone loves chocolate. It’s that one thing that unites us all in knowing we shouldn’t have one more piece, and that the diet (always) starts on Monday. That Monday never arrives, does it? Instead of fighting it, why not dedicate a museum to it?
cravaticum – the boutique museum of the cravat
Did you know that the cravat actually comes from Croatia? This necktie is now a fashion symbol donned by all those wanting to give their outfits that little dash of style, but it actually has military origins. During the Bloody Thirty Years’ War, Croatian mercenaries wore these neckties which protected their necks from sharp blades which would glide over the material. Seeing this, the fashionable French adopted the cravat, naming it “a la Croat”, with the French coining the term cravate and seeing this Croatian creation take over the fashion world. It seems only decent that a museum dedicated to this small but mighty piece of stylish material should be located in Zagreb.
the cannabis museum
Now, I wouldn’t want anyone to think we’re advocating drugs or wandering around with a sign screaming “legalise it”, but you’ve got to admit – cannabis is a topic worth discussing. It isn’t all red-eyed stoners throwing up peace signs or pseudo-intellectuals using it to tap into their philosophies. Now more than ever, its real medicinal purposes are coming to light, with it being used across the board for various therapies, pain management and more. Its recreational use differs globally, with some countries imposing harsh penalties even for personal use, while others are far more lenient. Zagreb’s Cannabis Museum showcases cannabis’ true story, without all of the mystery and half truths surrounding it, delving deep into what this controversial green leaved plant serves for. Here, you’ll learn everything there is to know about the type of “grass” (or trava, if you want to go local) your parents warned you about.
the hangover museum
We’ve all been there – head hanging precariously over the toilet, stomach in knots, and feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck on the autobahn. There’s nothing quite like the morning after the night before, when all you can do is try to piece together what embarrassing stuff you said or which ex you texted. From realising you replied to the Instagram story of someone you haven’t spoken to in five years like they sent it just to you to wondering what that cut or bruise is from, it’s a universal experience of pure cringe and hangxiety, a new term coined to describe that truly terrible experience. Knowing that we’ve pretty much all been there and done that is a sure fire way to make you feel better about your… decisions, and dedicated a museum to it will make you realise you’re not only far from alone – but far from the most embarrassing!
zagreb’s unusual museums make this quirky city unique… and they keep on popping up!
Zagreb has a certain feel about it that makes it feel unique. It isn’t too big, and it isn’t too small. It’s a mish-mash of brutalist socialist architecture, Austro-Hungarian glam and ultra-modern construction. It has a buzz about it that makes it stand out from the crowd, nestled somewhere between a dazzling Mediterranean coastline and Central European class. Zagreb’s unusual museums are a testament to how much there is to be discovered and celebrated in the city that just a decade ago – few paid attention to.
How the tables have turned.
And that isn’t it – the museums just keep on coming.
new museums have opened their doors
If you thought that Zagreb’s unusual museums began and ended there, you’d be mistaken. There are even more new museums opening across the city which will attract niche audiences and garner plenty of appreciation.
the museum of travel
Even the most ardent homebodies love getting out there and discovering somewhere new sometimes, while passionate travellers can’t seem to keep their feet on the ground. Whichever category you happen to fall into, Zagreb’s newly opened Museum of Travel will delight you. You can travel to all sorts of places without having to faff around with boarding passes, waiting in lines or rolling your eyes at that one person who just needs to keep getting up and down to get things out of their bag.
With the latest technologies such as VR, AR and a fascinating LED room, this quirky museum brings to life the greatest attractions across Croatia and the entire world. The act of travel, from prehistoric migration to find food to modern tourism that is plastered all over social media, is presented here in interesting ways. Those ways include virtual tours through stunning UNESCO sites and the magical beauty of the Adriatic. With a continuously evolving concept and frequently updated content, this museum offers a journey that will entertain and inspire all ages – without the need for a passport.
the video game history museum
I bet you didn’t know that Croatia has made quite a name for itself in the video game world. You only have to look at what’s been (and is still being) created in a somewhat obscure location called Novska.
Croatian video game progress aside, everyone loves to remember their first go at Mario Kart, Pacman and other classics. Step inside this fascinating museum and hop in the gaming time machine. It will transport you through video game time and evolution, from the simple “bleeps” of Pong, to the golden era of arcades and wars fought using consoles. Eventually, it will take you the way to the first steps into the incredible, modern world of 3D graphics. The museum traces the development of video games by decade, and the displays are interactive, with legendary systems like the Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation, all there and ready to play. Don’t miss the fully equipped Retro Arcade, an amazing tribute to the 80s, with sounds, light-up cabinets and classic games just waiting for you to press “start”.
Each era is carefully presented through iconic games, revolutionary consoles, rare memorabilia and exclusive “behind the scenes” details – all from one of the largest private video game collections in the world. The museum was founded by Damir Šlogar, a Croatian gaming expert and collector, whose long-standing passion and dedication to video games is felt in every pixel. This is anything but a classic museum!
Need to find out more? Look no further!
