Zagreb is known for its large number of museums, with some even saying it has the most per capita in the world. They range from the historical to the quirky but all offer a great place to spend a few hours during your trip. So, if you are taking a city break to Zagreb and you love museums, check out some of the attractions from our list.

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Museum of Broken Relationships

We first talked about the Museum of Broken Relationships back in 2015 on a blog about Valentine’s Day in Europe, and it’s arguably got even better since. Being one of the more unusual museums in the Croatian capital, it features objects that have played some part in the breakdown of a relationship or that represent the love of two people. Whilst the items may seem random and unimportant at first, the stories behind them are actually quite moving. The displays include a ‘stupid frisbee’ bought as an anniversary gift and a toaster spitefully stolen by a spurned lover.

Nikola Tesla Technical Museum

The discovery of electricity and invention of ways to harness it represent one of the most important periods in our history. At this museum, dedicated to Nicola Tesla and his inventions, you will see how life changed at the turn of the 19th and into the 20th century. On your visit, you will learn about the feud between Tesla and Edison regarding which current would be used and even take part in some of Tesla’s original experiments if you wish. The museum also has a planetarium in which you can gaze up in awe at a projection of the night’s sky from the North Pole to the Equator.

Zagreb City Museum

Although slightly lacking in English translations, a visit to the Zagreb City Museum is still the best way to learn about the history of the area and Croatia in general. Exhibits take you from Roman times up to the relatively recent horrors of the Homeland War, giving valuable insight into how Zagreb was first formed and how things have changed along the way. One of the most interesting and atmospheric displays is the section about witchcraft. The names of 146 different accused witches are listed alongside torture devices used to try and get them to confess to their crimes.

Museum of Illusions

Prepare to have your world turned on its head as you enter a museum unlike any other. The Museum of Illusions is a great way to spend a few hours and will have you pondering which way is up long after you’ve finished. The interactivity of every display creates a fun atmosphere that also encourages you to look beneath the surface of something and think differently about it. A variety of different illusions are used throughout, including optical illusions, a room of mirrors and forced perspective.

Museum of Contemporary Art

If art, rather than artefacts, is more your thing, it is worth taking a trip outside of the city centre to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Situated on the other side of the Sava River to the main attractions, it features art in the form of photography, sculpture, painting and more. There is even a section on the craze of computer-generated art which started in Croatia during the 1960s and swept across the world. One interactive piece which offers a fun way to move between the upper and lower levels of the building is the Double Slide by the Belgian artist Carsten Höller. There aren’t many art installations that provoke an involuntary ‘weeeeeeeee’.