A day at the museum is always a pleasant experience. No matter how much you know about a subject, there is always something new to discover. Art museums and those that house important historical artifacts are always popular choices, but there are plenty of quirky museums out there that deserve your attention.
We’ve put together the ultimate guide to the world’s weirdest, disturbing or just plain weird museums. So, if you’re looking for a different vacation spot, you can start planning here.
Sulabh International Toilet Museum, New Delhi, India
It only makes sense to start things off with a bit of toilet humor, and there’s no better place on Earth for that than the Sulabh International Toilet Museum. Established by an expert on everything related to the toilet, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak dedicated his life to showing the world how the toilet evolved.
The museum is divided into three periods: ancient, medieval and modern. You’ll find toilets discovered in Pakistan dating back to 3000 BC, as well as some of the remaining examples of medieval Austrian hand-painted toilet bowls.
Finally, in the modern section, you will be truly amazed at the high-tech toilets of the future. Japan and Korea certainly stand out with their ultra-modern overalls, complete with more bells and whistles than most people have in their entire homes.
Lawn Mower Museum, Southport, UK
Although there is more to Southport than the lawnmower museum, here we are today. This homage to all things lawn landscaping is a truly quirky museum, but well worth a special visit. Most of us take this simple tool for granted, but it has truly revolutionized the way we look at the lawn.
In fact, before the lawnmower, most of us wouldn’t have a lawn because it would take too long to mow by hand. The lawnmower museum has everything from royal lawnmowers to solar-powered lawnmowers and little ones.
You will, of course, respect the world’s most expensive lawnmower, and frankly, every lawnmower you can think of. It’s beautiful, but it makes for an interesting afternoon looking at something most of us take for granted.
Big Mac Museum, Pennsylvania, USA
The Big Mac Museum in Pennsylvania is definitely at the top of our list of places to visit in the United States. Sometimes there’s a hunger that only a trip to McDonald’s can solve, and the museum’s creator, Jim Dellighetti, knows this all too well. Jim was the first franchisee to open a McDonald’s restaurant in Western Pennsylvania, and it’s fair to say that decision changed his life.
Jim was responsible for creating the Big Mac! It sold the first Big Mac in 1967, and the burger is still going strong in 2023. Inside the museum, you’ll find tons of McDonald’s memorabilia, including the world’s largest Big Mac. Unfortunately, it’s plastic, so you won’t be able to get a bite out of it, but there’s plenty of opportunity to eat along the way.
Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, Masumi-cho, Japan
Finally, if you’re not a Big Mac fan, maybe your cheat meal of choice is a bowl of steamed ramen. Instant noodles are a staple in everyone’s cupboard at one point or another, and the Instant Ramen Museum makes sure people honor them for the life-giving goodness they bring.
Along with a kitchen where visitors can make their own ramen noodles in a variety of flavors, there’s also the option to create your own custom ramen package, along with a god-level selection of toppings. You’ll be able to browse the entire catalog of every Nissin instant noodle flavor ever available and generally enjoy the noodle goodness of this particular location.