This Sunday (May 18) is International Museum Day – and what better way to mark the occasion than stopping by one of your city’s unsung institutions? Sure, that tourist-choked arts district in the city centre has all the Big Ones, but we’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve shuffled through those lofty halls.
To help you expand your cultural horizons, we asked Time Out editors in 11 of the world’s biggest and best cities to share their favourite underrated museum. Some are small and incredibly niche, others simply sit in the shadow of bigger institutions – and they’re all well worth adding to your next city break itinerary.
So, for when you’ve ticked off your Louvres, your Vaticans and your MoMAs, here are our picks for 11 of the world’s most underrated museums in our favourite major cities.
Miniature Museum Small Worlds, Tokyo
‘Tucked away on Odaiba, a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Small Worlds is home to one of the largest collections of miniatures and dioramas in the world. There are small-scale reproductions of real-life locations such as Kansai International Airport and NASA’s space centre in the 1960s, alongside fictional scenes from animes including Sailor Moon. Best of all, an in-house 3D scanner means you too can get the titchy treatment, either taking your miniature home with you or paying to have it placed in one of the museum's exhibits for a year.’—Marcus Webb, Time Out Tokyo editor
Design Museum, London
‘The Design Museum might be younger, smaller and less well-known than gigantic, all-conquering, tourist-swallowing London establishments like the British Museum, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and so on, but its exhibitions can go toe-to-toe with all of ‘em. The museum was founded by legendary designer Sir Terence Conran and its scope is vast – covering pretty much anything that’s been designed, ever, from film sets to coffee tables. Best of all, every exhibition I’ve been to here has been exquisitely, thoughtfully curated, as engaging for total design newbies as for nerds.’—Ed Cunningham, UK and London news editor
City Reliquary, New York City
‘While other museums might take you through the history of NYC via historic documents, photographs and priceless artifacts, City Reliquary chooses a far more eclectic approach to shedding light on the greatest city in the world. The permanent collection includes all sorts of quirky ephemera like old postcards, a vintage subway turnstile and glasses that once held seltzer water.’—Rossilynne Culgan, Time Out New York things to do editor
Chau Chak Wing Museum, Sydney
‘Hidden in the grounds of the University of Sydney, this treasure trove of a museum hasn't been around all that long (it opened in late 2020), but it has been generations in the making. The curation is more poetic than analytical – bringing together diverse artefacts from archives of art, historic antiquities, and scientific specimens – offering visitors a fresh perspective, and challenging colonial narratives.’—Alice Ellis, Time Out Australia editor-in-chief
Can Framis Museum, Barcelona
‘In the heart of Poblenou, Can Framis Museum blends architectural brilliance with contemporary Catalan art and a distinctive urban setting that offers a contemplative environment away from the city's more crowded tourist spots. Over 250 works by artists born or residing in Catalonia are displayed in this restored eighteenth-century textile factory, transformed by architect Jordi Badia and his firm BAAS Arquitectura, which now integrates modern concrete structures, resulting in a harmonious blend of old and new. The emphasis on local talent provides visitors with a profound journey through iconic contemporary Catalan paintings, created from the 1960s until the present day.’—Maria Jose Gomez, Time Out Barcelona editor
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Singapore
‘Though it’s tucked away on the campus of the National University of Singapore, this oft-forgotten museum housing ginormous dinosaur skeletons, fossils, the bones of a 10.6-metre-long sperm whale, and countless other zoological specimens is open to the public. Even the building's biophilic cliff-like design is something to marvel at.’—Rachel Yohannan, Time Out Singapore editor
Bordalo Pinheiro Museum, Lisbon
‘A space dedicated to the Portuguese naturalist master, renowned for his striking faience pieces produced in Caldas da Rainha, as well as for the sharp-witted illustrations and caricatures that filled the press in the second half of the nineteenth century. The museum hosts a varied programme, with events for all ages. Cross the road and take a stroll through the garden dedicated to the artist, where ceramic animals bring his whimsical world to life.’—Mauro Gonçalves, executive editor at Time Out Lisbon
CupNoodles Museum, Osaka
‘On the outskirts of Osaka you'll CupNoodles, a shrine to the joys of instant noodles. Here you’ll learn about the history of the convenience store staple, see a replica of the shed where ‘chicken noodles’ were invented and even whip up your own original Cup Noodles for the coolest souvenir going.’—MW
MOD, Adelaide
‘This free, futuristic museum is like no other in the country, blending art and science in a super interactive way. Across the museum’s seven interactive spaces, you’ll find all sorts of touchscreens, drawing pads and building blocks designed to challenge how we think about the future. Here, you’ll also find Australia’s first Science on a Sphere: a glowing six-foot, 3D video globe that morphs into different planets – one day it’s the Earth, the next, the moon or even Mars.’—Melissa Woodley, Time Out Australia travel and news editor
Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena (Los Angeles)
‘Rembrandt, Picasso, Van Gogh and a regionally unparalleled collection of South and Southeast Asian sculpture – in almost any other city, the Norton Simon’s stellar collection would make it the art museum. But aside from its starring role as the TV backdrop to the annual Rose Parade, the Pasadena museum often gets second billing to its Los Angeles neighbors – which, luckily for you, means a bit more breathing room in its lovely sculpture garden (temporarily closed due to construction).’—Micheal Juliano, Time Out Los Angeles editor
Museum of Desire, Melbourne
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