Jerusalem Culture Guide: Must-Visit Places in Jerusalem

Aside from perhaps the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, no museum in the region can rival the impressive collection of historical artifacts housed in the Israel Museum. The museum's collection deals with archaeology, ethnography, Jewish history, ancient and modern art, and much more. It includes two of the most important archaeological finds in the Middle East—the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Aleppo Codex. Alongside the regular and rotating special exhibitions, the Israel Museum is a cultural center hosting lectures, programs, and activities for children, festivals, and more.

Yad Vashem is an equal parts museum chronicling the history and memorial honoring the victims of the Holocaust. Established in 1953 by the nascent State of Israel, the museum's philosophy is based on the four pillars of remembrance—commemoration, documentation, research, and education. As such, it contains the most comprehensive collection of first-hand accounts gathered from survivors from all over the world, intertwined with moving memorial sites, special educational programs, and lectures. Entrance to Yad Vashem is free.

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Another Jerusalem Museum that doubles as a cultural center, the Tower of David Museum, is unique in that it is entirely dedicated to the history of Jerusalem, chronicling the days of its initial construction to the present day. You can experience the story throughout the year at the museum's permanent exhibit that takes you on a journey from the time of the Canaanites through the Israelite and Judean kingdoms, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Arabic, and Turkish rule, the Crusades, the British Mandate and the modern State of Israel. 

In addition, the Tower of David Museum hosts rotating special exhibitions dedicated to other important historical and cultural aspects of the city. The museum is also famous for its Night Spectacular, a stunning laser light show displayed on the walls of the Old City, and numerous cultural events throughout the year. 

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The Bible Lands Museum specializes in chronicling the biblical period of the region from the time of the Canaanites up until the time of the Second Temple and, even more specifically, on the daily lives of ordinary people from these periods. The permanent exhibitions center around seemingly rare but straightforward and telling artifacts such as housewares, jewelry, and clothing. While special exhibitions often deal with significant historical events, such as the Babylonian Exile, the Bible Lands Museum's exhibitions always offer a unique historical perspective by focusing on the "people side" of history and telling their stories. 

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While Jerusalem values its history, there's undoubtedly more to the museum scene, as evidenced by the Bloomfield Science Museum, one of Jerusalem's most popular family attractions. The museum is packed with fun interactive exhibits and activities for all ages, focusing on science and technology presented by the museum's knowledgeable staff and visiting presenters from institutions around the city. If you're looking for the perfect combination of fun and education, then the Bloomfield Science Museum is the place for you. 

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Herzl Museum is located at the entrance to Mount Herzl, not far from Theodore Herzl’s tomb. The museum was built to commemorate 100 years since the death of the man who had the inspiring vision of creating a Jewish home in a Jewish land. The museum includes an audiovisual display and four exhibition rooms displaying the milestones and life events of the greatest Zionist of all time, starting from his early life in Vienna, the Zionist congresses in Basel, and concluding with his death. The fourth room is dedicated to the achievements of the State of Israel – Herzl’s dream, and a great educational experience for the whole family!

 The rich world of Islamic art is unraveled in front of you the moment you enter the Jerusalem Museum for Islamic Art. Enjoy a unique collection of numerous art artifacts, gold and silver items, jewelry, musical instruments and ceramics, scientific tools, beautiful calligraphy, delicate glassware, copper, metal, wood, and ivory works. The museum's main attraction is the rare watch and clocks collection, created by Sir David Salomon. It is one of the three most oversized watches and clocks collections displayed worldwide. Hence, it's a rare opportunity to see an extraordinary grandeur that crosses space and time. Plus, at the Museum for Islamic Art, you'll see various exhibitions and cultural events open to the public throughout the year. These events include gallery talks and meetings with artists showcased in the museum, musical evenings, and fascinating lectures on historical subjects.

Check out two more unique museums in Jerusalem, and don't forget to check out the many other small museums located throughout the city, including downtown and the Old City area.

Museum On The Seam was featured in the New York Times's “29 Impressive Art Establishments from All Around the World” list. It's pretty understandable – On the Seam is a unique Boutique Museum exhibiting selected art from Israel and abroad of leading contemporary artists and discusses social, gender, ethnic, and geographic issues, emphasizing the elements that connect the world's nations. Previous exhibitions of the museum dealt with issues of human rights, animal rights, the environment, and man's place in modern society. 

Located in the charming downtown Jerusalem neighborhood of Nahalat Shiva, the Hebrew Music Museum chronicles the history of Hebrew and Jewish music in Israel and worldwide with a collection of unique instruments and interactive exhibitions.

Ammunition Hill is a museum and memorial site for one of the most famous battles of the 1967 Six-Day War. The facilities feature preserved battle trenches, military vehicles, a 3-D battle model, and a physical challenge area with a zip line, rope, obstacle course, and more.

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