The World's Weirdest Museums

Tired of visiting the same old museums? Say goodbye to paintings and ancient sculptures, and hello to toilets, spies, sex and terror. There's a museum for everything, you've just got to find it.

We've all got memories of being dragged round endless museums as kids, and it may have put some of you off them for life... but we're on a mission to change that! HostelsClub has rounded up the world's weirdest and wackiest museums that you've got to visit in your lifetime. And of course, we've selected the best hostels to stay in near each one, so you don't have to worry about that either :)

Vasa Museum, Stockholm

Credit: Vasa Museum

It seems that the founders of the Vasa Museum in Stockholm interpreted the famous phrase 'if the mountain won't come to Muhammed, then Muhammed must go to the mountain' rather literally, building the world-famous maritime museum around the incredible Vasa warship that sunk on her maiden voyage in 1628. You can see the masts of the ship sticking out the roof before you even go inside this hugely popular museum in Scandinavia. You can enjoy tours in various languages, wander around the ship and admire the incredible (if slightly creepy) wax figures that bring the tragic story of the ship to life.

Where to stay: City Lodge Stockholm

Sulabh Internation Museum of Toilets, New Delhi

Credit: Sulabh Internation Museum of Toilets

Something we all use every day, but to which we never really give much thought, unless you're the International Museum of Toilets in New Delhi, India. Toilets, in all their varied forms are displayed in this strange museum, dating from 2500 BC up to the present times. The museum gives a chronological account of developments in toilet design, etiquette, social customs, sanitary conditions, and even 'a rare collection of beautiful poems relating to the toilet and their usage'. Just think of all the toilet facts you'll be able to tell your friends :)

Where to stay: Jugaad Hostels

Sherlock Holmes Museum, London

Credit: Wikipedia

According to the stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the world famous detective Sherlock Holmes lived at 221b Baker Street London, along with his famous sidekick Dr Watson and his feisty landlady Mrs Hudson, and this is exactly where you can now find the privately run Sherlock Holmes museum! If you're a fan of the books or the TV series then you can't miss this one out - the museum features exhibit items from various adaptations of the stories, along with some perfectly preserved recreations of scenes in the rooms. Wander around and have a see for yourself, and maybe you'll be convinced that Mr Holmes was a real person!

Where to stay: Pub Love @thegreenman

International Spy Museum, Washington D.C.

Credit: International Spy Museum

The Spy Museum in Washinton D.C. is dedicated to the history, trade and contemporary role of espionage, featuring the largest collection of international espionage artefacts on public display in the world. When you enter the museum you are given a cover identity and learn why a spy needs to use one. You're then lead through a tour of the briefing room and spy schools, complete with interactive experiences and more.

Where to stay: DC Lofty

Anthropology Museum, Mexico City

Credit: Anthropology Museum Mexico

Mexico's National Museum, the Anthropology Museum displays over 60,000 art and other objects relating to Mexico, with both exhibitions focusing on distant eras as well as present-day indigenous groups. Don't miss out on the incredible Aztec artefacts, such Aztec Calendar, known as the 'Sun Stone' the Jade mask of the Zapotec Bat God and the recreation of Pakal's Tomb in the Maya exhibit room.

Where to stay: Roomies Hostel Condesa

House of Terror, Budapest

Credit: House of Terror Museum

Not one for the faint-hearted, the House of Terror contains exhibits relating to the fascist and communist regimes in 20th century Hungary (which survived 2 terror regimes), as well as memorials for the victims that were tortured, detained, interrogated and killed in the museum building itself. The museum itself has been turned into a monument, and you certainly can't miss it as the black entablature around the building that writes the world 'TERROR' in shadows across the facade. The museum hopes that while showing the horrors of the events in a tangible way, it can also show that the sacrifice for freedom was not in vain. Not to be missed.

Where to stay: Adagio Hostel 1.0

Sex Museum, New York

Credit: The Clio

Also known as the MoSex, the Sex Museum in New York allows you to enjoy exhibitions such entitled 'The Sex lives of Animals', 'The Female Gaze', and our personal favourite: 'Jump for Joy', an interactive installation where you can jump in a bouncy castle made of giant breasts. Let's just say it's not the place to visit with your parents.

Where to stay: Chelsea International Hostel

Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb

Credit: Pinterest

As we all painfully know, love doesn't always have a happily ever after, and the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, Croatia, has decided to embrace this fact of life. It's a place to treasure and share your broken relationships, heartfelt stories and symbolic possessions. Check out the items and read the stories, and find peace in the fact that there is always someone with a breakup story worse than yours. And if you wish, you can always contribute and item and story to the museum itself.

Where to stay: Main Square Hostel Zagreb

Torture Museum, Amsterdam

Credit: Torture Museum Amsterdam

The torture museum provides a vivid image of Europe's painful past, with 40 instruments of torture from across Europe, from the inquisition chair to the guillotine. You can enjoy organised educational tours, although the museum is not very big and will not take more than an hour to look round. You'll just be glad you didn't live in Medieval Europe by the end of it.

Where to stay: Stay Okay Amsterdam