The Insider's
Jerusalem Museum Guide
The best of the many Jerusalem museums

The Jerusalem Museum, you ask? Which one?

Israel's capital boasts over 60 Jerusalem museums at last count and some of them are world leaders in their field.

The crowning jewel is without a doubt the Israel Museum. This one is not to be missed. It's a must-do, so put it on your itinerary and don't leave Jerusalem without stopping here first at least once, if not twice!

Here are some more of our favorites, in alphabetical order. Click on the links for a full description of what each museum has to offer.

• The Bible Lands Museum
  
  

  

  
  The only museum in the world dedicated to the history of the biblical period in the many lands mentioned in the Bible.
  
  
  
• The Bloomfield Science museum
  
  

  

  
  
  One of our favorite kids activities! Full of interactive activities for children and adults of all ages.
  
  
  
• The Burnt House
  
  Revisit the sack of Jerusalem in 70 CE through the archaeological remains of this priestly home.
  
  
  
• The Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem
  
  Walk through thousands of years of history, climb the Old City ramparts, or enjoy the spectacular Sound and Light show.

  
  
  

• Hechal Hagevurah Museum

  This sobering museum focuses on the history of the Jewish Underground which was active from 1920 to 1948. You can see the gallows and the cells where the British kept Jewish prisoners.

  Russian Compound

  Hours: Sun to Thur (9:00-16:00, 15:00 in the winter); Fri 10:00-13:00

  Admission fee
  
  

• Herzl Museum
  
  
  

  

  
  Learn about Theodore Herzl, a founding figure of the Zionist movement, at the museum and visit Herzl's tomb, along with the graves of Yitzhak Rabin, Golda Meir and others, on Mount Herzl.
  
  
  
• L.A. Mayer Memorial Institute for Islamic Art

  There are surprises at this museum - not only does it house a superb collection of Islamic art from the 7th century to the present, including some lovely Persian tiles, beautiful carpets, and an interesting exhibit about Arabic calligraphy, you will also find a famous collection of antique Parisian watches dating from 1769 to 1823.

  2 Hapalmach St.
  
  Hours:

  Sun, Mon, Wed, Thurs 10:00-15:00
  Tues 10:00-18:00
  Fri, Sat 10:00-14:00
  
  Admission:

  adults 20 nis
  students 13 nis
  children/seniors 10 nis
  

  
  
  

• Rockefeller Museum
  
  

  

  
  
  An archaeology enthusiast's wonderland, the Rockefeller Museum displays archaeological discoveries found in the Holy Land during the British Mandate period.

  
  
  

• Wohl Archaeological Museum
  
  Walk through six houses from the days of the Second Temple in this stunning archaeological museum. A real eye-opener of how people lived in Temple times and what may still be hidden under our feet in the Jewish Quarter. A fascinating but often over-looked treasure among Jerusalem museums.

  
  
  

• Yad Vashem Museum - The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority
  
  

  

  
  
  A 45-acre complex that includes several Jerusalem museums: the world's largest Holocaust Museum, the Yad Vashem Museum of Art, a research institute, library archives, exhibits, monuments and sculpture gardens. Don't miss it! Plan to spend a whole day here, if you can.