MUSEUMS

Israel is home to more than 200 museums — historical, natural science, religious, national, and art museums. The country has the highest number of museums per capita in the world, with its population slightly exceeding 10 million in 2025.

Most major museums are concentrated in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, but there are also wonderful museums in smaller towns, such as Caesarea or Lod.

The largest and most important is the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. This impressive institution covers diverse themes — from world art and archaeology to Jewish art and life. It also houses the Shrine of the Book, a unique domed building where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls are preserved.

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is one of Israel’s leading cultural landmarks, combining a rich collection of masterpieces with vibrant contemporary exhibitions. Located in the heart of the city, it attracts both locals and tourists with its diverse displays of classical and modern art.

The museum is especially renowned for its collection of Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, including works by:

Claude Monet: His famous Water Lilies capture light and reflections in motion.
Edgar Degas: Ballet dancers come to life, conveying movement and grace.
Camille Pissarro: Rural life and landscapes immerse visitors in harmony with nature.
Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh: Their paintings illustrate the transition from Impressionism to new artistic directions.

This collection allows visitors to trace how the revolutionary approach of the Impressionists to light, color, and composition forever transformed art.

Recently, the museum held a large-scale exhibition celebrating 150 years of Impressionism. To Catch a Fleeting Moment featured original works from world-leading museums and private collections, exploring the origins, key figures, and lasting influence of the movement.

Beyond Impressionism, the museum showcases bold contemporary works — from large, colorful Pop Art canvases to striking abstractions that dominate its main halls.

Location: 27 Shaul Hamelech Blvd, Tel Aviv
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Saturday; weekdays evenings only, 17:00–21:00
Admission: 55 NIS
Recommended visit: 2–3 hours for permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Regular guided tours in Russian are available, often led by professional art historians or contemporary artists.

Tel Aviv Museum of Fine Arts

The Ralli Museum in Caesarea is a unique cultural landmark that blends art, history, and Mediterranean charm. Located in the resort town of Caesarea, this museum invites visitors to explore diverse collections in an atmosphere reminiscent of a Latin American estate.

Founded in 1981 by Argentine philanthropist Harry Recanati, the museum was created as a space where the art and history of Latin America, Spain, and Jewish heritage could come together. Today, it forms part of the international network of Ralli Museums located in several countries.

Inside, visitors can discover:

Latin American Art: Colorful, expressive paintings inspired by folklore, mythology, and nature.
Spanish Golden Age: Works reflecting the influence of Sephardic Jews on Spanish culture.
Sculptures by Salvador Dalí: A highlight of the collection.
Open-Air Sculpture Garden: Modern sculptures surrounded by greenery and Mediterranean views.
Jewish History: Exhibits dedicated to Jewish artists and themes of exile, especially the expulsion from Spain in 1492.

The museum’s two buildings, designed in the Spanish Renaissance style with white arches, fountains, and spacious galleries, create a serene and harmonious atmosphere.

Location: Caesarea, near the archaeological park.
Admission: Free.
Tip: Combine your visit with a walk through the ancient ruins of Caesarea, once a major Roman port city.

The Ralli Museum is a delightful and unusual cultural experience in Israel, perfect for art lovers and history enthusiasts alike.

Ralli Museum in Caesarea

Lod Mosaic Museum

In 1996, during the expansion of He-Halutz Street in Lod, construction workers accidentally uncovered a stunning Roman mosaic, dating back to around 300 CE. The mosaic was examined by archaeologist Miriam Avissar from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

For one weekend, the mosaic was opened to the public, attracting more than 30,000 visitors to Lod eager to admire its beauty. Afterward, it was carefully reburied while funding for its preservation and restoration was secured.

Today, the Lod Mosaic Center preserves and displays this extraordinary artifact, which features intricate depictions of animals, marine life, and geometric designs — a true masterpiece of Roman-era art in Israel.

Covering an impressive 180 m², the Lod Mosaic is one of the most significant Roman-era artworks ever discovered in Israel. It features vivid depictions of animals, birds, fish, and two Roman trading ships. Interestingly, there are no human figures in the mosaic — a detail that may suggest its owner was Jewish and observed the biblical prohibition against human imagery.

Among the animals, visitors can spot exotic creatures like rhinos and giraffes, which are highly unusual in Roman art of the period.

After a thorough restoration, the mosaic embarked on an international tour, exhibited in world-famous museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Louvre in Paris, and the British Museum in London.

In 2022, the masterpiece finally returned home and is now permanently displayed at the Shelby White and Leon Levy Lod Mosaic Archaeological Center. The museum’s main hall showcases the grand mosaic floor, while additional mosaics are mounted on the walls and in the outdoor courtyard.

Visitors can expect to spend about one hour exploring the exhibit in detail.

Address: 9 Struma Street, Lod
Opening hours: Sunday–Thursday: 9:00–15:00; Friday: 9:00–14:00; Closed on Saturdays
Admission: 40 NIS
Website: www.lodmosaic.co.il

A visit to the Lod Mosaic Center is a rare opportunity to experience a Roman masterpiece that survived nearly 1,700 years, offering both artistic beauty and historical depth.

In the heart of Tel Aviv, on the street named after him, stands the Bialik House, the former residence of Haim Nahman Bialik – a celebrated Jewish poet, translator, and one of the founders of modern Hebrew literature. Built in 1925, the charming white-and-red house with its elegant architectural details soon became a gathering place for intellectuals, writers, and public figures of the young city.

Who was Haim Bialik?

Born in 1873 in the Russian Empire (today Ukraine).
Among the first to write poetry in the revived Hebrew language.
His poems, stories, and translations shaped modern Israeli culture.
Immigrated to Eretz-Israel in 1924, then under the British Mandate.

What can you see at the museum?

Preserved Art Nouveau interiors: living room, dining room, study, and library with Bialik’s personal belongings.
Rare manuscripts and first editions of his works.
Historic photographs and documents illustrating his life and literary career.
A peaceful garden, perfect for resting in the shade and imagining Tel Aviv in the 1920s.

Address: 22 Bialik Street, Tel Aviv
Opening Hours:

Monday–Thursday: 9:00–17:00
Friday: 9:00–13:00
Saturday: 9:00–14:00

Admission: 20 NIS

The Bialik House is not just a literary museum — it is an immersion into the spirit of 1920s Tel Aviv, where inspiration and creativity continue to resonate with visitors today.

The Bialik House Museum is the heart of modernism in Tel Aviv.

Opened in 2018, the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History is one of Israel’s most modern and engaging museums, perfect for both adults and children thanks to its interactive exhibitions and unique collections. It is located on the campus of Tel Aviv University, in the northern part of the city, near Yarkon Park.

Inside, you’ll find more than 5 million specimens, including rare animals, birds, insects, and plants, many of them unique to Israel and the Middle East.

The museum is organized into thematic zones, such as:

The Wildlife of Israel and its five ecological regions.
Evolution and Biodiversity – an interactive journey through the history of life on Earth.
Endangered Species and Conservation – highlighting the importance of protecting nature for future generations.

Cutting-edge multimedia panels, virtual simulations, and educational games help visitors understand complex scientific concepts in an engaging way. Popular highlights include the Dinosaur Hall and a fascinating exhibition dedicated to the ocean world.

The museum also offers guided tours, lectures, and workshops for both children and adults, with many guides available in English.

Right next to the museum, you can also explore the Botanical Garden, an ideal place to relax after an exciting visit.

The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History in Tel Aviv