There are many different ways of how to explore the city – while some prefer just strolling around the streets or meeting people, others like to visit historical sites and many love visiting museums. Whichever type you are and, even if you not a fan of traditional museums, we have found five unusual ones in Zagreb that will most certainly spark your interest.
1. Museum of Broken Relationships
One of the most popular museums in Zagreb and, we may say, its flagship museum is definitely the Museum of Broken Relationships. Located in the Upper Town of Zagreb, in the baroque setting of the Kulmer palace, it is a must-visit place when in Zagreb that will take you on an emotional journey. Created by a former couple, the museum hosts items that each tell a unique story about a break-up and the end of a relationship. Though most of the items are in relation to the end of romantic relationship, there are also some that thematise an end of a friendship or even broken trust in political environment.
Whether you are single or not, this museum will definitely resonate with you because hey, who didn’t have a broken heart (and recovered from it)? Those who still suffer a bit from their ended relationship or even if not, check out the museum shop with lots of cool things like a ‘bad memories eraser’ or have a comforting, delicious meal at the Brokenships Bistro – in any case, you will feel great after the visit!
2. Zagreb 80’s Museum
A lot of people think of the 80’s as one of the most fun decades generally regarding the pop culture and this is also no exception in Zagreb. To experience what it was like to live in those days, visit this unique, interactive museum situated on a first floor of an old building in the very centre, which presents the everyday life in the 80’s in former Yugoslavia that Croatia was a part of. With some of the highlights of the exhibition being the legendary Tomos moped, old-timer Zastava 750 and video games on Atari and Commodore 64, the museum is completely interactive, inviting the visitors to touch and feel the items and interact with the exhibition, go retro and truly get the sense of the golden 80’s.
3. Museum of Illusions
Prepare to be amazed – visit the Museum of Illusions that will wow you and make you rethink about how trustworthy are your senses and how we experience the world. Your mind will be both tricked and thrilled when experiencing different types of illusions and you will also learn about vision, perception, science and human brain and understand how it comes to all the amazing illusions. This original museum concept started in Zagreb in 2015 and quickly captured the minds and hearts of its visitors, leading now to having the museum in fifteen locations around the globe and becoming an important centre for both entertainment and education. The museum is ideal for all generations, a lot of fun is guaranteed!
4. Museum of Hangovers
Everyone has a good ‘drunk night out story’. Well, maybe not everyone, but they do sometimes make good anecdotes that are being told among friends for years. This is also the idea behind this unusual museum that exhibits different and quite often bizarre items people brought home after a drunken night out and funny personal stories behind them. There are also fun things to experience – at the entrance you can play darts wearing ‘drunk goggles’ and by hitting the centre, win a free entrance to the museum or see how difficult drunk walking is and to keep a straight line. But not to forget, besides the fun side, there is also a very dangerous side of drinking which you can best experience by driving a drunk car simulator just to remind you – if you drink, don’t drive!
5. Trešnjevka Neighbourhood Museum
Although this is a virtual museum, it is a museum on one of the most colourful city neighbourhoods named after the cherry tree – Trešnjevka. Once a working class slum, the capitalism didn’t really have a lot of understanding for the needs of the people inhabiting it so the sense of community grew and people relied on each other – this strong feeling of the community is also present today and the stories about Trešnjevka and its people are beautifully presented in the museum that grows every day by more and more contributions of the people who live(d) in Trešnjevka and love it. And who knows, maybe when visiting Zagreb you’re in luck and get the chance to participate in on the the museum’s famous guided walks around the neighbourhood.
