WorldStrides Updates

5 Unusual Museums to Honor International Museum Day

May 18th is International Museum Day, and we’re here to introduce you to some of the greatest hidden gems around the world you’ve probably never heard of. While there’s nothing wrong with a trip to see Mona Lisa at the Louvre, a stop at Museo Reina Sofía in the heart of Madrid, or a visit to the Vatican Museums (which welcome nearly seven million visitors annually, on average), we encourage you to take a step away from the crowd and check out these incredible—and often eclectic—lesser-known galleries and institutions on your next trip. You never know what you’ll find!

Sir John Soane’s Museum (London, England)

The former home of British architect and Professor John Soane, this small and somewhat chaotic museum is full of dimly lit, narrow passageways lined with wonderful artwork of all kinds. More than 30,000 architectural drawings are on display here, in addition to a variety of sculptures and paintings—and even an Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus. Fun fact: the museum itself was established by a Private Act of Parliament in 1833, as Soane and his son George were feuding and Sir John didn’t want George to inherit his property!

Cancún Underwater Museum of Art (Cancún, Mexico)

Down for a dive, anyone? This unique underwater art museum was designed to promote marine diversity and provide divers with an alternative to the local coral reefs that have faced decay due to climate change and tourist damage. Featuring three totally submerged galleries full of nearly 500 sculptures that will leave you breathless, the museum is accessible by snorkeling, scuba diving, or hopping on a glass-bottomed boat.

Cup Noodles Museum (Yokohama, Japan)

Yokohama, Japan is home to two ramen-themed museums: the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, which highlights the city of Tokyo at the start of the ramen craze in 1953, and the Cup Noodles Museum, built around the concept of innovative thinking that pushes boundaries. Instant noodle-lovers will enjoy learning about Ando Momofuku (the inventor of instant ramen) at this interactive museum, and kids will have a blast burning off their energy in Cup Noodles Park. Be sure to try some samples at the Noodles Bazaar, and don’t miss out on expressing your creativity by designing your own personalized Cup Noodles packaging!

Bata Shoe Museum (Toronto, Canada)

Located in downtown Toronto, the Bata Shoe Museum explores nearly 4,500 years of shoe-themed history and boasts the largest collection of footwear in the world with over 14,000 artifacts. Learn more about specialized footwear and the significance of shoes as a fashion accessory in the museum’s three permanent galleries, or browse the ever-rotating exhibitions which have previously included The Gold Standard: Glittering Footwear From Around the Globe, The Great Divide: Footwear in the Age of Enlightenment, and Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture.

Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (Paris, France)

Named “one of the most rewarding and inventive” museums in Paris by Smithsonian magazine, the Museum of Hunting and Nature displays more than 3,000 hunting-related pieces, ranging from the ancient to the contemporary. The museum’s collection includes weapons like spears and crossbows, trophies and taxidermied animals (including a polar bear and a water buffalo), and an array of paintings and sculptures that depict imagery of hunting and nature. Next time you’re in the 3rd arrondissement, swing by for a one-of-a-kind museum visit you won’t forget.