There are two types of people — those who love museums and those who loathe them. However, some exhibits will intrigue even the most unenthusiastic of museum-goers, and we have them listed here.
Fair warning, this isn’t your typical list of tourist-centric museums, but we’ll let you decide if they are weird, wonderful, or weirdly wonderful. Either way, we guarantee you a fun time at any one of these places!
1. The Upside Down Museum, Penang
It’s Topsy Turvy Tuesday every day at the Upside Down Museum. Walk on the ceilings or swing from the bannister. Their interactive installations were built ‘upside down’ for the visitors’ amusement.
Address: 45 Lebuh Kimberly 10100 George Town, Penang
Contact: +604 264 2660
2. Teddyville Museum, Penang
This may fall on the more wonderful side as far as this lists of museums goes. In Malaysia’s first Teddy Bear Museum, you’ll find the most extensive collection of teddies from around the world.
See them dressed up and placed in sets that replicate the tourist attractions of Penang or take a picture with a life-sized bear eating durians or working at the barbershop.
Address: 56 Jalan Low Yat, Puncak Ria, 11100 Batu Feringgi, Penang
Contact: +6016 550 5949
3. Funtasy House Trick Art, Ipoh
Spend the day at a trick art museum, full of 3D illusions painted across its walls and mind-tricking installations. You’ll find a few upside down rooms here too. There’s something for every member of the family here.
Address: No 16, Jalan Market, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
Contact: +605 255 0007
4. Wonder Food Museum, Penang
Get thrown into your own version of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs at Wonder Food, where the food is larger than life — literally. This museum is filled with realistic models of actual dishes, celebrating Malaysian cuisine and our love for food.
Remember how mum used to say not to play with your food? Well, here, you can do just that and not make a mess while you’re at it.
Address: Lebuh Pantai, 10200 George Town, Penang
Contact: +604 251 9095
5. The Toy Museum, Melaka
It’s hard to miss this place when a giant Hulk is standing on its roof. The Melaka Toy Museum is a private showcase of new and old toys. Star Wars, Barbie, Transformers — they have it all.
Address: 5044 Jalan Penghulu Abbas, Bukit Baru, 75450 Melaka City, Melaka
Contact: +6012 362 7066
6. Museum of Enduring Beauty, Melaka
The Museum of Enduring Beauty holds a display of some of the most extraordinary beauty standards worldwide. Lip stretching, feet-binding, and face moulds are all a part of many cultures’ beauty practices.
Though everything in this museum serves as an education in culture, lifestyle, and history, it can be unnerving to learn about some of these things. Beauty standards are often shifty, but we believe that beauty is an inside job beyond vanity.
Address: Jalan Kota, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka
Contact: +606 333 3333
7. Selfie Museum, Langkawi
Formerly located in Kuala Lumpur, the Selfie Museum has since moved to the island of Langkawi. Whip out your cameras and get clicking at this colourful, perfectly-lit space designed to give you the best selfies for your next Instagram post.
There are no selfie-shamers here. The Selfie Museum is built for you and your friends to have a good time and to take some cool photos while you’re at it.
Address: Langkawi, Kedah
8. Fast Food Collectables Museum, Alor Setar
Revisit your old Happy Meal toys at the Fast Food Collectables Museum, home to over 70,000 McDonald’s merchandise from the early 80s. Having built a private collection over four decades, the owners are now sharing their joy with the public in their newly-opened museum.
Address: 2521 Belakang Pekan Pumpong, 05250 Alor Setar, Kedah
9. Cat Museum, Kuching
It’s only fair that there’d be a Cat Museum in a city called Kuching (the Bahasa Malaysia word for ‘cat’). The exhibit is devoted to all things feline — displaying art, photos, and cat souvenirs.
Be prepared for anything from abstract painted feline figures to porcelain cat figurines and even a cat’s tombstone. Yes, you read that right.
Address: Bangunan DBKU, Jalan Semariang, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak
Contact: +6082 446 688
10. Dark Mansion, Penang
Go down the rabbit hole at Penang’s Dark Mansion — a 3D glow-in-the-dark museum filled with quirky installations. While you’re at it, we recommend painting yourself in glowy body paint while you’re there, because why not?
Address: 145 Lebuh Kimberley, 10100 George Town, Penang
Contact: +604 251 9694
