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- The 14 Best Wax Museums In The World, Ranked
People have always been fascinated by wax museums. These are often tourist destinations for the whole family, and they represent an era in time. Whoever is immortalized in wax is symbolic of the pop culture of the moment.
There are some truly spectacular places to see these wax figures. Some are expertly designed and so realistic that people honestly can't tell the difference between the celebrity and the statue itself. While there are some pretty strange museums around the world, some wax museums show both the importance of the celebrity they represent and the craftsmanship of whoever made the sculptures.
UPDATE: 2023/04/21 16:25 EST BY OSCAR APONTE
The 14 Best Wax Museums In The World, Ranked
Wax museums are a unique way of experiencing both history and the entertainment world. Every year new exhibits are open and new sculptures are revealed around the world, which is why this list has been updated to include more relevant information and even better museums to visit.
14 The Wax Museum, Gold Coast
Australia has some amazing natural landmarks that are worth exploring, but if you're along the Gold Coast and want to do something a little different, then you can head to the surfer's paradise and check out The Wax Museum.
It's home to one of the biggest collections of wax statues in Australia. While some of them are not as high quality as one would expect, there's a lot of fun to be had in this Museum. There are a few expert dioramas set up, and the exhibition also explores some of Australia's history, including its link to the Commonwealth, Britain and the Royal Family.
- Ticket price: $35 per adult; $28 per child
- Address: 56 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
13 Museo De Cera, Madrid
Spain is full of culture, great food, stunning buildings, and of course, brilliant views. When bored with the conventional museums in Madrid, detailing the amazing history of the city, then you could head to the Museo De Cera (which, of course, translates to Museum of Wax).
There's a heavy focus on Spanish history and culture, with a lot of tributes to their famous football stars. There are also some trademark celebrity statutes, such as Dwayne Johnson, but what it's perhaps best known for is its horror-related attractions, including the Train of Terror.
- Ticket price: $20 per adult; $15 per child
- Address: Pl. de Colón, 1, 28004 Madrid, Spain
12 Movieland Wax Museum, Niagara Falls
Everybody loves a museum dedicated to movies, and Niagara Falls in Canada offers up Movieland, which is lined with Hollywood stars. This exhibition is set up to look like an old cinema and has a retro quality.
The attractions help fans relive their favorite movie moments. Many of the wax figures are therefore constructed with some kind of film set behind them, to help visitors step into the moment. All the statues are of high quality, but there is, of course, less variety of characters compared to others on this list.
- Ticket price: $10 per adult; $5 per child
- Address: 4848 Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3N4, Canada
There are many attractions in Movieland, and the park offers special all-inclusive passes that cover the entrance to all of them.
11 National Great Blacks In Wax, Baltimore
What better way to experience history than by having realistic replicas of prolific characters standing proud as if they were alive again?
The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore celebrates African American history in a way that makes learning something entertaining. People can visit the museum directly or take a virtual tour from the comfort of their homes while they walk among 150 sculptures of celebrities like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Barack Obama, and many other powerful figures that have evolved history as we know it.
- Ticket price: $15 per adult; $12 per child
- Address: 1601-03 E North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21213
10 Louis Tussaud's Palace Of Wax And Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Grand Prairie
Ripley's believe it or not, is known to have some weird items that are sure to make the mind boggle. The bonus of this weird and unexpected museum is that both of its attractions are under the same roof.
The Wax Museum itself is much more modern in feel compared to some more traditional entries on this list. The wax statutes are of stars from the last decade who are likely going to remain relevant for some time. Some of the statues are less incredible than others, but there's a variety of celebs that probably wouldn't be available anywhere else.
- Ticket price: $30 per adult; $22 per child
- Address: 601 E Palace Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75050
Ticket covers entrance to Ripley's Odditorium and to the wax museum.
9 House Of Frankenstein Wax Museum, Lake George
The surprisingly secretive museum in New York is actually pretty popular; it just never seems to be talked about. This is the place for horror and movie monster fans, so the next time you're walking around this city, you should definitely check it out.
The whole museum has an eerie feeling as you walk through it, and it features a who's who of famous movie monsters and bad guys, including Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers. What's more, the waxworks themselves are absolutely brilliant and at the same level as the props in the films they're featured in.
- Ticket price: $13 per adult; $8.5 per child
- Address: 213 Canada St, Lake George, NY 12845
8 Siddhagiri Gramjivan Museum, Kolhapur
This offering from India is far from just a series of waxworks. The museum, which is actually outdoors, focuses less on celebrity culture and famous faces and more on the history of India and its society.
The museum is built with beautiful sets and props that bring the story to life. The museum itself is somewhat a dream of Gandhi, with his tale being told as you walk around the small village, which accurately represents village life itself.
- Ticket price: $1.2 per person
- Address: J767+JH7, Kolhapur, Maharashtra 416013, India
7 Salem Wax Museum, Salem
For those who love real terror, the Salem Wax Museum brings back to life one of America's darkest periods with exhibits that showcase scenes of witchcraft, from Salem's rich history with seafarers to the stage-by-stage process of how the Salem Witch Trials went down. There are other attractions next to the museum, such as a historical graveyard and a haunted house for those who are brave enough.
- Ticket price: $12 per adult; $10 per child
- Address: 288 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970
6 Wax Museum At Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
The Museum at Fisherman's Wharf was one of the best in the US and was home to both historical and celebrity waxwork figures. In 2013, the museum closed but later re-opened as Madame Tussauds.
The impressive building is still open to the public, hosting its lifelike statues. The area surrounding the museum is just as impressive as the work that's gone into the wax figures themselves, which have been set up in one of the best ways on this list. For instance, showing Bruce Lee mid-kick is perfect.
- Ticket price: $27 per person
- Address: 145 Jefferson St, San Francisco, CA 94133
5 Hollywood Wax Museum, Los Angeles
Hollywood is the land of the stars, so it's only appropriate that its wax museum is so heavily focused on some of the biggest names in Hollywood. While other museums might include sports stars, for instance, this one solely focuses on the movie and pop stars of yesterday and today.
The statues themselves are some of the most incredible pieces of artwork, and the visitors can actually have a say on who should be featured as part of the attraction by voting for the celebrities they feel should be added to the star-studded lineup.
- Ticket price: $30 to $35 per adult; $16 per child
- Address: 6767 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
4 Madame Tussauds, Las Vegas
The attractions in Las Vegas have stepped it up a notch. It's a city of extravagance and bright lights, and the wax museum is no exception to this rule.
There's a superhero exhibition, and Drake is currently the star of the show. There's a little bit of a Las Vegas theme, with a hangover bar full of the celebs that have likely partied a little too hard the night before.
- Ticket price: $44 for an admission ticket and 4D Marvel Experience
- Address: 3377 S Las Vegas Blvd Ste. 2001, Las Vegas, NV
3 Madame Tussauds, London
London is where it all started, so it's no surprise that it is the best Wax Museum in the world. The Madame Tussauds in the capital of England feature trademark statues that even celebrities are amazed by.
All year round it hosts some really fun exhibitions, including a Marvel superhero one, much like Las Vegas. It also heavily focuses on British culture and its stars, including, of course, the Royal Family, but also some of their amazing athletes and musicians.
- Ticket price: Between $44 and $52 per adult for the standard ticket
- Address: Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR, United Kingdom
2 Madame Tussauds, Amsterdam
With a focus on entertainment figures and Dutch athletes from throughout time, the Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam is definitely one of the highlights for anyone planning on visiting the Dutch capital after a stroll through Dam Square. There are also sculptures of better-known people and characters, with a whole exhibit dedicated to the most popular Avengers.
- Ticket price: From $25 per person
- Address: Dam 20, 1012 NP Amsterdam, Netherlands
1 Madame Tussauds, New York
Not only is the New York rendition regarded as one of the best Madame Tussauds wax museums, but also as one of the best wax museums in the world thanks to its many sculptures and diverse attractions that can turn a simple trip into an unforgettable experience. Besides the possibility of experiencing a 7D adventure and being filled with sculptures of pop icons, the museum also pays homage to New York's culture, like being a guest at Jimmy Fallon's sculpture show and cruising through the Broadway section.
- Ticket price: From $44 per person for the basic admittance ticket
- Address: 234 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036