Museum of Broken Relationships Skip-the-Line Tickets Zagreb

The Museum of Broken Relationships: from an idea to a celebrated museum

The museum began in 2006 as a travelling art project created by two Zagreb artists after their own relationship ended. Rather than throw away the objects that reminded them of their time together, they imagined a space where anyone could leave such a keepsake with its story. The idea travelled to cities across the world, gathering new donations at each stop.

In 2010 the collection found a permanent place in Zagreb, and in 2011 it received a European award for the most innovative museum on the continent. Today it is one of the most talked-about museums in Croatia. If you are asking whether the Museum of Broken Relationships is worth visiting, most visitors leave surprised by how warm, human and even uplifting it is, despite the name.

Inside the collection: everyday objects, extraordinary stories

The exhibition is arranged in calm white rooms, where each object sits beside a short text written by its anonymous donor. The objects are ordinary: letters, clothing, toys, gifts, household items, souvenirs from journeys. The stories are what make them unforgettable, ranging from humour and irony to deep grief, and they cover not only romance but also lost friendships and family bonds.

Visitors often linger longer than planned, reading story after story and recognising something of their own lives. The displays change over time as new donations arrive, so even a second visit can feel new. The museum's message is simple: love and heartbreak are shared by everyone, whatever their country or culture, and art can be found in the smallest things.

Planning your visit: tickets, time slots and opening hours

Your ticket gives skip-the-ticket-line entry at a chosen time slot, with slots in the morning from 09:00 to 11:30 and in the evening from 17:00 to 19:30. Small numbers per slot keep the rooms quiet. Plan about an hour inside, more if you like to read every story. On the Museum of Broken Relationships opening hours, the last entry to the exhibition is at 19:30 from June to September and at 20:30 from October to May.

Exhibit captions are in Croatian and English, and other languages are available through QR codes on your phone or printed booklets. Food, drinks, luggage and large bags are not allowed inside, so travel light. The museum is wheelchair accessible, and the visit is self-guided, letting you move at your own rhythm.

Around the museum: Zagreb's Upper Town

The museum sits in Gornji Grad, the Upper Town, the oldest and most atmospheric part of Zagreb. Just around the corner stands St. Mark's Church with its famous tiled roof showing medieval coats of arms, flanked by the Croatian Parliament and Government buildings. A short stroll leads to Lotrščak Tower, a 13th-century watchtower from which a cannon is fired every day at noon.

Next to the tower, the little funicular links the Upper Town with the busy Ilica street below in under a minute, and the nearby Stone Gate, with its candlelit shrine, is one of the city's most beloved spots. To get to the Museum of Broken Relationships from Ban Jelačić Square, walk up through the Upper Town lanes or ride the funicular, about 10 to 15 minutes in all.