If you’re not an art lover, it doesn’t matter how amazing the museum is. You’re not going to love any museum. I love art, but I can agree that some museums are just bland. So, I’m always on the lookout for fun, unusual museums, and these interactive museums are different and (in my opinion) cater to non-museum lovers. So why did I love the Paradox Museum in Berlin but disliked the Museum of Illusions in Madrid? They’re basically the same concept. So, what gives? Let’s get on with this review.
Also, I’m severely jet-lagged, so I hope this article makes sense when you’re reading this.
Paradox Museum Berlin, a Few Things First
The Paradox Museum is basically another name for the Museum of Illusions. Although they might differ slightly, there is a lot of overlap.
Going solo is not a good idea. That’s because many of the fun installations are meant for you to take a picture, and a selfie will not do.
Sometimes, the employees will take the picture for you, but even so, some installations don’t make sense unless there are two or more people in it.
The entire thing can be done in about an hour and a half.
I just showed up and purchased tickets. I waited about 15 minutes before I got inside. But you can also buy tickets on their website.
They also have lockers for your stuff in case you want to place your bags in a safe place.
So Why Did I Love the Museum of Paradox in Berlin?
To be completely upfront, I went with Rasmus, and that made the difference. When I went to the Museum of Illusions in Madrid, I went solo, and that was a mistake.
These museums are made for two or more, but preferably more. So, use this as a tip: when you go, it’s better to go with a group of friends.
But this time, many of the installations were fun just with the two of us. And with the Paradox Museum in Berlin, certain installations had tripods to help you out.
It was such a fun experience to go with someone else compared to solo. I enjoyed each installation; we laughed at each other, gained some memories, and had some fun pictures. These museums are fantastic when you go with other people.
A Couple of Installations that require Two or More People
One installation creates an illusion that one person is a giant while the other is a tiny, itty, bitty person. But if you only have two people, you have no one to take the picture so you can see the illusion. Rasmus and I placed our phones and took a video, then created screenshots to see it. But you can see how one person will not work.
There is another fun one where you are basically cut in half, with your body on one side of the couch and legs on the other. It’s fun, but you need more than one person. However, the Paradox Museum in Berlin had a tripod to help.
This was a good option, except you have to adjust and get in position, which takes longer than 10 seconds. It was hard to take the picture. So, again, we used a video and took screenshots.
It didn’t work as well. But in our case, it was a user error. The illusion works best if you cover the legs of the other person so it hides where his body is. Illusion thwarted, womp womp.
Many of the Installations
Many of the installations are great for just two people. You have the upside-down room, which is fun. Ensure your friend takes a picture of you so it looks like you’re falling when you rotate your image. It’s fun.
Smaller Items at the Paradox Museum Berlin
This museum is not without its regular art pieces on the wall that show you some sort of illusion or trick with an explanation. It makes for a well-rounded and educational portion of the exhibit.
One thing I loved about the Paradox Museum in Berlin is that it is decorated to resemble various neighborhoods and some iconic features of the city. I thought this was a charming touch. As someone who loves Berlin, I appreciated seeing this museum celebrate the city.
Let’s Break it Down:
The Paradox Museum Berlin is great for groups of friends or families. It’s fun, cute and entertaining.
Tickets are about 20 Euros per adult.
Do I recommend it? Yes, but only with two or more people.
Website: https://www.paradoxmuseumberlin.com/