STORIES

There’s nothing like delving into a quirky museum to stimulate the mind and reignite your sense of wonder. From neo-classical statues to an astonishing display of puppets and the world’s longest love poem, Europe has no shortage of offbeat museums to spice up your travels. So turn off your phone and forget the outside world as you immerse yourself in historical curiosities, fantastical fakes and elusive illusions. Prepare to be intrigued…

1. Rynek Underground Museum – Krakow, Poland

Hidden four meters below Kraków’s main square, this archaeological museum was built around excavations that uncovered 13th- and 14th-century market stalls, medieval workshops, and a cemetery. Opened in 2010, the museum combines authentic artifacts with multimedia features including holograms, smoke machines, and 600 three-dimensional models. The most unusual element? Vampire graves where suspected vampires were buried in fetal positions with hands tied and heads severed to prevent them rising from the dead. Walking the underground trail takes visitors several centuries back to the days preceding the Great Charter of Kraków of 1257.

Where to stay: Hotel Polski Pod Białym Orłem traces its origins to an 18th-century inn, modernized in 1913 by Prince Adam Ludwik Czartoryski. This elegant property sits opposite St. Florian’s Gate, just four minutes’ walk from the Main Market Square, and is located adjacent to the Czartoryski Museum, with interiors featuring reproductions from the museum’s collection. Restaurant Pijarska 17 serves authentic Polish cuisine based on family recipes in an atmospheric setting with exposed brick vaulted ceilings.

2. Pile Dwelling Museum – Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, Germany

Located on the shores of Lake Constance, the Pfahlbaumuseum is Germany’s oldest archaeological open-air museum, featuring 23 reconstructed pile dwellings from the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods spanning 4000 BC to 850 BC. The museum complex includes three authentically recreated villages representing over 3,000 years of prehistory, with some reconstructions dating back to the museum’s opening in 1922. Visitors can explore the 3D-show ARCHAEORAMA, which provides virtual access to the underwater UNESCO World Heritage pile dwelling sites in Lake Constance, part of 111 submerged wooden structures that were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011. The wooden stilt houses reveal how ancient Europeans built dwellings into the lake, showcasing Stone Age living areas, workshops, and Bronze Age artifacts.

Where to stay: Schloss Wartegg is a historic castle hotel dating back to 1557, set in English-inspired gardens along the banks of Lake Constance. In 1860, Duchess Louise of Bourbon-Parma acquired the estate, extending the building and creating the extensive English garden that surrounds the property today. The boutique hotel features 25 rooms with views across the 13-hectare park or lake, and a certified organic restaurant serving cuisine from its own biodynamic castle garden.

3. Gipsoteca di Antonio Canova – Possagno, Italy

Another one of Italy’s most astonishing museums resides in Asolo: the Gipsoteca di Antonio Canova-Possagno. This museum centres around the work of the famous Neoclassical sculptor, Antonio Canova. Explore some of his magnificent masterpieces, and see where he was born and artistically inspired during your visit. Take special note of the Gypsotheca, which contains the original plaster cast models of some of his most famous works.  

Where to stay: Accommodation-wise, you can’t get much better than Villa Cipriani. This five-star hotel is filled with luxuries to make your trip feel extra special. Book a room with a terrace to enjoy panoramic views of the stunning valley, enjoy a Turkish bath, take a dip in their outdoor pool and much more. You’ll want to stay forever.

4. Frauenmuseum – South Tyrol, Italy

Nestled in a former Poor Clares convent dating back to 1309, the Frauenmuseum (Women’s Museum) Merano tells women’s history through fashion, accessories, and everyday objects. Founded in 1988 by collector Evelyn Ortner, the permanent exhibition is designed like a shopping street with window displays, revealing how corsets restricted movement, how the miniskirt revolutionized ideals, and who really wore the trousers throughout history. The museum serves as the coordination site for the International Association of Women’s Museums, connecting over 30 women’s museums worldwide.

Where to stay: Hotel Villa Westend is an Art Nouveau jewel built in 1890 by renowned architect Pietro Delugan, designated as a protected historic building since 1984. This 3-star property features spacious traditional rooms in gardens facing the Passeggiata Lungo Passirio riverside promenade. The elegant Art Nouveau dining hall serves breakfast buffets and four-course evening menus, while its central yet tranquil riverside location places you steps from Merano’s medieval old town and a short walk to the thermal baths.

5. The Museum of Art Fakes – Vienna, Austria

The Museum of Art Fakes is stuffed with replicas made by famous forgers across decades, including by the likes of Han Van Meegeren, Tom Keating and Elmyr de Hory. Wander the history-packed walls of this unique spot and learn all about the lives of these notorious figures and more – exciting stories that mirror the plots of your favourite crime novels, featuring everything from murder to gasp-inducing double-crosses. Described as ‘the only real counterfeiting museum’ around, it’s (ironically) completely one-of-a-kind – and you can’t miss it, either, being based just across the street from the rainbow-painted Hundertwasser House.

Where to stay: We consider Hotel Stefanie the best hotel in Austria’s capital… after all, they’ve had a lot of practice! The oldest hotel in the city, it’s been treating guests to top-class service since the year 1600. Nowadays, its owners take special care to keep a traditional atmosphere alive, and you’ll find each corner of the property filled with fascinating antiques – peppering your moments of repose with echoes of the past.

6. Cats Museum – Kotor, Montenegro

From tabbies to tortoiseshells, the curious Cats Museum is dedicated to the furry residents of Kotor’s Old Town. Back in 168 BC, felines flooded the town after being left behind by trading ships. The museum itself it small, but it’s stuffed with everything from cat coins to cat writings to cat postcards from WW1. Art-wise, you’ll see cats rescuing humans, cats selling Rolex watches… even cats breaking the sound barrier. Added bonus – your entry fee (one euro) will go towards the lovely feline locals themselves.

Where to stay: You’ll have the Bay of Kotor as your backdrop at Hotel Cattaro – a perfectly genteel retreat that makes the ideal base for the city’s plentiful sightseeing spots and museums. It’s a treat for the eyes, too, composed of three exceptional historic buildings: a city guard tower, the ‘Prince’s palace’ – where royalty used to gather – and the eye-catching Napoleon’s theatre. Captivating culture and a cerulean coastline… what more could you want?

7. The House of Illusions – Ljubljana, Slovenia

Enter a realm where nothing is as it seems at the House of Illusions, where across 40 exhibits, you’ll have your sense of reality stretched to the limit. In the Anti-Gravity Room, the laws of gravity appear not to apply. Elsewhere, in the Infinity Disco Room, a colourful party atmosphere seems to morph into an infinite dancefloor. There’s so much to see… though you won’t believe what you’re seeing! Crammed with interactive ways to push the boundaries of your imagination, this fascinating locale is bound to be a highlight of your Slovenian holiday.

Where to stay: The small but mighty Antiq Palace is right in the heart of Ljubljana: based just moments away from several of its finest landmarks, such as the castle and river, as well as many of its best eateries and shops. Beyond its excellent location, the hotel itself exudes appeal, decorated thoughtfully with furnishings that reflect its past as the residential palace of noble families. Characterful and quaint, there’s nothing not to love.

8. National Tile Museum – Lisbon, Portugal

Housed in the former Madre de Deus Convent founded in 1509 by Queen Leonor, the National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo) showcases Portugal’s distinctive azulejo (tile) art from the 15th century to the present. The collection includes national treasures such as the monumental Grande Panorama de Lisboa from around 1700, depicting the city before the devastating 1755 earthquake. The stunning convent church features baroque tile panels and gilded woodwork, making it one of Lisbon’s most beautiful sights. Notable highlights include the 1580 altarpiece “Our Lady of Life,” created using 1,498 tiles and considered one of the first masterpieces of tile art.

Where to stay: Hotel Lisboa Plaza is a four-star boutique hotel in Lisbon’s historic center, a recently refurbished 1950s gem designed by local architect Lucínio Cruz. The family-owned property blends antique and contemporary elements, retaining original parquet floors while featuring traditional Portuguese Burel wool blankets. The ground floor restaurant serves Portuguese wine and local dishes, while the rooftop terrace provides a welcoming retreat just a short stroll from Rossio Railway Station and Lisbon’s cultural attractions.

9. Titanic Belfast Museum – Belfast, Northern Ireland

Opened in 2012 on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, Titanic Belfast is built on the very spot where RMS Titanic was designed, built and launched. The self-guided tour spans nine interactive galleries exploring the sights, sounds, smells and stories of RMS Titanic, from her conception in the early 1900s through her construction and launch to her maiden voyage and catastrophic demise. The building contains more than 12,000 square metres of floor space with galleries featuring special effects, dark rides, full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features. The final gallery presents Titanic as she is now 12,000 feet below the surface of the North Atlantic, in conjunction with wreck discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard. It was the most visited tourist attraction in Northern Ireland in 2023 with over 800,000 visitors.

Where to stay: Dromore House is a Georgian country house built around 1826, set in 3 acres of mature grounds just 25 minutes from the Giant’s Causeway and restored over the past 20 years retaining almost all original features. Rooms feature distinctive character with period touches, while breakfast celebrates local flavour with traditional Ulster fare. The mature gardens with woodland paths offer a peaceful retreat frequently visited by local wildlife including red squirrels, hares and badgers.