Special-Interest Museums Worldwide
From chocolate to toys: museums with unusual themes.
Special-Interest Museums Worldwide: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 403 special-interest museums worldwide, spread across 3 countries and 266 towns and cities. Of these, 344 are in Germany, 40 in Denmark, and 19 in the Netherlands.
Among regions, North Rhine-Westphalia (59), Bavaria (56), and Baden-Württemberg (47) have the most; among cities, Berlin (23), Hamburg (12), and Leipzig (10) lead the way.
70 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs €6 at the median, and the middle half charge between €5 and €9.
138 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 229 offer dedicated programs for families, and 121 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 special-interest museums worldwide
The best-known special-interest museums worldwide
Miniatur WunderlandTechnology · Hamburg
Sammlung PhilippiSpecial · Tholey
Schwules MuseumHistory · Berlin
Bauhaus-ArchivArt · Berlin
Pinakothek der ModerneArt · Munich
Martin-Gropius-BauArt · Berlin
Musikinstrumenten-Museum BerlinSpecial · Berlin
Schokoladenmuseum KölnSpecial · Cologne
Eye FilmmuseumSpecial · Amsterdam
Sexmuseum AmsterdamSpecial · Amsterdam
Special-interest museums worldwide with free admission
- Bauhaus-ArchivArt · Berlin
FilmtagetSpecial · Copenhagen
Münchner StadtmuseumRegional · Munich
Deutsches Buch- und SchriftmuseumHistory · Leipzig
TresoarHistory · Leeuwarden
Anti-Kriegs-MuseumHistory · Berlin
Bibelmuseum MünsterHistory · Münster
Brahms-Institut an der Musikhochschule LübeckPeople · Lübeck
OrganeumSpecial · Weener
1. Deutsches Polizeioldtimer-MuseumSpecial · Marburg
Special-interest museums worldwide with programs for families
- Miniatur WunderlandTechnology · Hamburg
- Bauhaus-ArchivArt · Berlin
- Pinakothek der ModerneArt · Munich
- Martin-Gropius-BauArt · Berlin
- Musikinstrumenten-Museum BerlinSpecial · Berlin
- Schokoladenmuseum KölnSpecial · Cologne
- Eye FilmmuseumSpecial · Amsterdam
- FilmtagetSpecial · Copenhagen
ARTIS-MicropiaNature · Amsterdam
Beeld & GeluidSpecial · Hilversum
Wheelchair-accessible special-interest museums worldwide
- Miniatur WunderlandTechnology · Hamburg
- Schwules MuseumHistory · Berlin
- Pinakothek der ModerneArt · Munich
- Martin-Gropius-BauArt · Berlin
- Musikinstrumenten-Museum BerlinSpecial · Berlin
- Schokoladenmuseum KölnSpecial · Cologne
- Eye FilmmuseumSpecial · Amsterdam
- FilmtagetSpecial · Copenhagen
Hash Marihuana & Hemp MuseumSpecial · Amsterdam- ARTIS-MicropiaNature · Amsterdam
Special-interest museums worldwide with the highest published visitor numbers
- Schokoladenmuseum KölnSpecial · Cologne
- Eye FilmmuseumSpecial · Amsterdam
Deutsches SpionagemuseumHistory · Berlin
Designmuseum DanmarkArt · Copenhagen
Deutsches FußballmuseumSpecial · Dortmund
CORPUSNature · Oegstgeest
ChocoversumSpecial · Hamburg
Museum SpeelklokSpecial · Utrecht
TrapholtArt · Kolding
FængsletHistory · Horsens
Current special exhibitions at special-interest museums worldwide
- Love at First Fight! Queere Bewegungen in Deutschland seit StonewallSchwules Museum · Berlin · until November 1, 2026
- Susan Sontag – Sehen und gesehen werdenSchwules Museum · Berlin · until November 2, 2026
- Lieber glücklich als normal! Queere Erfahrungen in christlich-fundamentalistischen KontextenSchwules Museum · Berlin · until November 2, 2026
- Cruising the Countryside – Queeres Leben auf dem LandSchwules Museum · Berlin · until December 14, 2026
- Eine Million Objekte. Florian de Brün fotografiert die SammlungBauhaus-Archiv · Berlin · until April 30, 2027
- CONVIVIUM. Nahrungssysteme am LimitPinakothek der Moderne · Munich · until October 18, 2026
- Georg Baselitz (1938–2026)Pinakothek der Moderne · Munich · until November 8, 2026
- Between and Beyond. Zwischenräume und Übergänge – Kunst und Raum seit 1960Pinakothek der Moderne · Munich · until August 15, 2027
- Klarenbeek & Dros. Design of the UnusualPinakothek der Moderne · Munich · until October 10, 2027
- Robotic WorldsPinakothek der Moderne · Munich · until November 28, 2027
By country
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many special-interest museums are there worldwide?
Our directory currently lists 403 special-interest museums worldwide across 266 towns and cities.
What are the best-known special-interest museums worldwide?
Some of the best known are Miniatur Wunderland, Sammlung Philippi, Schwules Museum, Bauhaus-Archiv, and Pinakothek der Moderne.
Which special-interest museums worldwide offer free admission?
70 museums are free to visit – for example Bauhaus-Archiv, Filmtaget, Münchner Stadtmuseum, and Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum.
Which special-interest museums worldwide are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 87 are open, such as Miniatur Wunderland, Schwules Museum, and Bauhaus-Archiv.
Which special-interest museums worldwide are wheelchair accessible?
138 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Miniatur Wunderland, Schwules Museum, and Pinakothek der Moderne. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit special-interest museums worldwide?
A regular adult ticket costs €6 at the median, with prices ranging from €1 to €27. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature