Have you ever been to New York City? With the reputation of being the greatest city in the world, it’s no secret that there’s plenty to do while you’re there. Whether you’re roaming around Central Park, walking through Times Square, going to the top of the Empire State Building, or visiting the Statue of Liberty, there’s an unlimited number of places to go and things to see. In fact, there’s so much to do that it’s practically impossible to fit it all into just one trip! One of the most popular things to do in the Big Apple is to visit all of its amazing museums—the MoMA, The American Museum of Natural History, The Guggenheim. The list goes on and on.

If you’ve been to any museum at all, you’ve probably already seen traditional art, brushed up on your high school history knowledge, or examined ancient dinosaur bones. All pretty cool—but been there, done that, am I right?

When you come to New York, you don’t have to limit your museum-going itinerary to the same old art and history houses. Nope. NYC is home to some seriously weird museums. Ready to have your mind blown? Check out some of the oddest spaces in the city—and then go see them for yourself!

1.) Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square

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This museum is exactly what it sounds like—it’s hard to believe what you’re seeing! Their exhibits are freaky, creepy, and everything in between. In the heart of Times Square, it’s the perfect place to go for some entertainment.

Pro-tip: Reading the exhibit descriptions is a must! It will give you a full understanding of what it is that you’re really looking at—and with all the insanity housed in these walls, you’ll definitely want to get the full scoop.

2.) Madame Tussaud’s

Marilyn Monroe at Madame Tussaud’s New York by InSapphoWeTrust is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Also located in Times Square, Madame Tussaud’s is a very popular, fun, and wacky museum to visit. This one’s filled with life-like wax statues of pop icons and historical figures. When we say life-like, we’re not kidding. It really feels like you’re standing next to Beyoncé—and who doesn’t want to stand next to Beyoncé?

Photography is prohibited in many museums, but not this one! Go crazy and pose with all of your favorite celebs, or simply take photos of them on their own. The pictures can be convincing enough to fool your friends and family. They’ll think you really met them! It’s some guaranteed fun.

3.) The Troll Museum

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A much smaller-scale museum, this one is quite unique. Located in a walk-up apartment in the Lower East Side, this museum is home to about 400 vintage troll dolls and troll memorabilia. These dolls were particularly popular in the 1980s and 1990s — we’re sure you remember them. Admission is free, but by appointment only. You can contact the owner, Reverend Jen at 212-560-7235 to make an appointment… seriously.

4.) Coney Island Museum

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With an admission fee of only $5, the Coney Island Museum is sure to please with its own unique brand of weirdness. Home to the nation’s first roller coaster, arguably its most scandalous amusement park, and a long running circus sideshow—you can still catch performances today!—the former Luna Park has a long history of freaks, oddities, and general weirdness.

This museum features the history of Coney Island — iconic memorabilia from its heyday, photo series, and performance art that truly captures the unique history and vibe of this freaky Brooklyn island. It even screens movies that review the history of the island. If you aren’t fascinated by Coney Island’s weirdness already, you definitely will be after you experience this museum. Plus, for only $5, we’d say it’s a pretty good bang for your buck.

Interested in visiting any of these?

Believe it or not, you have a chance to win tickets to some of them! Every week, City Guide NYC is hosting a free drawing for the chance to win more than $1000 for some of NYC’s most popular tickets, tours and eats. Make your next trip to the city one to remember! You can enter to win here.
Have you been to any of these museums? Are there any other weird museums we should know about? Let us know in the comments section below!