The Museum of Broken Relationships began with a breakup. Two Zagreb artists, at the end of their own relationship, wondered what to do with the things they had shared, and decided to collect and exhibit the leftovers of other people’s failed loves too. The idea travelled the world as an exhibition before settling permanently in Zagreb, and it went on to win a European award for innovative museums. Today the collection fills the rooms of the baroque Kulmer palace in the Upper Town, a few steps from the funicular and the Lotrščak Tower. Every exhibit is an ordinary object donated by someone, somewhere, after a relationship ended: a wedding dress, an axe, a toaster, a garden gnome, a prosthetic leg, love letters, a single shoe. Beside each one is a short text in the donor’s own words, anonymous and often startlingly honest. Some are hilarious, some are angry, and some, about parents, children and friends as well as lovers, are heartbreaking. The genius of the place is that it is about all of us. Captions are in Croatian and English, with printed translations in many other languages. Allow an hour, more if you read everything, and finish in the café or the gift shop, which sells some of the most quoted souvenirs in Zagreb.
Planning the visit: the museum is at Sv. Ćirila i Metoda 2, in the Upper Town. From October to May it opens daily from 09:00 to 21:00, with last entry at 20:30, and in summer it stays open until 22:00. It closes on 24 and 25 December, 1 January, Easter Sunday and All Saints’ Day on 1 November, and on 31 December it opens from 10:00 to 18:00. Admission is modest, with reduced tickets for students, seniors and visitors with disabilities. You buy tickets at the door; groups of fifteen or more must book a week ahead by email.
During Advent: the museum sits right beside Plato Gradec and the Strossmayer promenade, two of the Upper Town’s Advent locations from 28 November 2026 to 7 January 2027. Its long evening hours make it a perfect warm-up before walking out to the lights, but note the Christmas closures.
Making the most of it: go in the evening, when the rooms are quieter and the mood suits the stories. Read slowly; the exhibits only work through their texts. The café serves Julius Meinl coffee and cakes made by residents of a rehabilitation centre, and the shop sells the museum’s witty merchandise. Combine it with the funicular, the Lotrščak Tower and St Mark’s Square, all within five minutes on foot.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided walk through rooms of donated objects, each with a short personal story from its anonymous donor, in Croatian and English.
Best time
Early evening on a weekday, when the rooms are calm and you can read at your own pace.
How long
About an hour, or ninety minutes if you read every story.
Tips
Check the Christmas and New Year closures, borrow a translated booklet if English is not your first language, and save time for the café.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who wants one museum in Zagreb that they will still be talking about years later.
- Families
- Teenagers usually love it; some texts deal with adult themes, so younger children may need a guiding hand.
- Couples
- Strangely perfect for a date, with plenty to talk about over coffee afterwards.
- Pair with
- The funicular, the Lotrščak Tower and St Mark’s Square, all a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- One to one and a half hours.
Good questions
What are the opening hours of the Museum of Broken Relationships?+
From October to May it opens daily from 09:00 to 21:00, and until 22:00 in summer. It closes on 24 and 25 December, 1 January, Easter Sunday and 1 November.
Do I need to book Museum of Broken Relationships tickets?+
Individual visitors simply buy tickets at the door. Groups of fifteen or more must book at least a week ahead by email.
Where is the Museum of Broken Relationships?+
It is at Sv. Ćirila i Metoda 2, in a baroque palace in the Upper Town. The upper station of the funicular is a two-minute walk away.
Are the exhibits in English?+
Yes, every caption is in Croatian and English. Printed translations are available in many other languages.
Is the museum suitable for children?+
Older children and teenagers usually enjoy it. Some stories touch on adult themes, so parents of younger children may want to choose what they read together.
