The Tel Aviv Museum Guide
Exploring the arts, archaeology and Israeli ancient and modern history

Welcome to our Tel Aviv Museum Guide! The city is home to over twenty museums, some are world-class and some are really quite unique.

Hire a private guide to help you discover three Tel Aviv Museums in a single day

For your convenience, we've divided this guide is split into 2 parts:

Part 1 explores the 3 must-see museums in Tel Aviv:

Tel Aviv Museum of Art

the Eretz Israel Museum

Museum of the Jewish People - Beit Hatfusot

Part 2 reviews in brief all the other museums in the Tel Aviv area. Museum Guide - Part 2

For an overview of Tel Aviv's best art galleries, visit our Tel Aviv Israel Art Galleries page.

Tel Aviv Museum Guide - Part 1
The 3 Must-See Museums

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art
27 Shaul Hamelech (King Saul) Boulevard

If you like art, spending a few hours at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art will be pure joy, and a tranquil break from the nonstop Tel Aviv bustle.

Of course, it showcases lots of Israeli artists. But it has permanent exhibtions with art collections ranging from the 16th century to contemporary art. Its impressionist and post-impressionist collections are really first-class. And it hosts wonderful temporary art exhibts from around the world.

The new wing's spectacular architecture is an exhibit in itself, and not to be missed!

Visiting Hours:

Mon. Wed. & Sat. 10 AM - 6 PM
Tue. & Thu. 10 AM - 9 PM
Fri. 10 AM - 2 PM, Closed on Sunday

Eretz Israel Museum
2 Haim Levanon Street in Ramat Aviv

Eretz Israel Museum means the Land of Israel Museum.

What is refreshing about this museum is that it isn't one-dimensional. There is a huge diversity of topics it covers about the Land of Israel - its archaeology, anthropology, ancient and modern history, folklore and modern arts.

The exhibitions on local pottery, ceramics and especially the Glass Pavilion are just amazing.

Part of the museum is a live, 3,000 year old archaeological dig of Tel Qasile, one of the five major cities of the Sea People, the Philistines. You can read more on our page Ancient Tel Aviv History. There are also ancient agricultural tools, Byzantine mosaics and much more.

The museum has a small planetarium and a decent Italian restaurant.

Visiting Hours:

Sun. - Tues. 10 AM – 4 PM
Wed. - Thu. 10 AM – 7 PM
Fri. 9 AM - 1 PM

The Museum of the Jewish People -
Beit Hatfutsot
Tel Aviv University Campus Gate 2, Klausner Street in Ramat Aviv

beit hatfutsot, museum of the jewish people migration hall

The Museum of the Jewish People, Beit Hatfutsot explores the history of the Jewish people from the days of King David and King Solomon three thousand years ago, through till today.

There are six main themes - family, community, culture, living among the nations, faith, memorial and return to Zion. Everything is clearly marked so you don't have to spend time on topics that are less interesting for you.

The overall effect is fascinating. The stories are told in video, special exhibits, sound, scultpure and interactive displays.

There is also a cool section where you can explore your geneology based on your family name and/or ancestral town.

Visiting Hours:

Sun. -Tue.: 10 AM - 4 PM
Wed. -Thu. 10 AM - 7 PM
Fri. 9 AM -1 PM

Tel Aviv Museum Guide - Part 2
Overview of All Tel Aviv Museums

Part 2 of this guide briefly covers all the rest of the museums in Tel Aviv.

The museums are listed in alphabtical order:

Etzel Museum at 38 King George Street (one of two Etzel musuems)

The Etzel Museum covers the history of Etzel, one of the three paramiitary organizations whose aim was to liberate Israel from the British and protect Jews from Arab rioters between the years 1931 and the founding of Israel in 1948.

Visiting Hours: Sunday to Thursday 8:30 AM to 4 PM

Etzel Museum Tashach at 2 Nahum Goldman Street in Charles Claude Garden (one of two Etzel musuems)

This Etzel Museum focuses on the battle over Jaffa between 1947 and 1948. The stunning architecture combines modern glass on top of the original stone building that was the unofficial demarkation in the battle between the Jews of Tel Aviv and the Arabs of Jaffa.

Visiting Hours: Sunday to Thursday 8:30 AM to 4 PM

Gutman Museum of Art at 21 Rokach St. in Neve Tzedek

You will love Gutman's lovely mosaics, sculptures and painting. Gutman helped pioneer a distinctive Israeli style of art. The museum is located in Neve Tzedek, one of Tel Aviv's loveliest aand oldest neighborhoods worth exploring.

Visiting Hours:

Monday to Thursday 100 AM to 4 PM, Friday 10 AM to 2 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 3 PM

Ilana Gur Museum of Art 4 Mazal Dagim Street, Jaffa

Situated in a lovely, historic building built by a Constantinople Jew on the hill of Jaffa in 1742, the museum aims to displays modern art from the around the world in a real-life setting.

Visiting Hours: Sunday to Friday 10 AM to 4 PM, Saturday and holidays 10 AM to 6 PM

Independence Hall 16 Rothschild Boulevard.

Independence Hall commemorates the site of the declaration and signing of Israel's Independence on May 14, 1948. The building was one of the first 60 houses built in Tel Aviv in 1909 in the famous seashell lottery. For more information, you can read about by clicking here: The Sea Shell Lottery.

Visiting Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM, Friday from 9 AM to 2 PM

Israel Defense Forces Museum, also know as Batei HaOsef at HaTachana, the Old Railway Station of Tel Aviv.

An interesting exhibition of the history of the IDF, from the days of the Hagana, including the famous Davidka.

Visiting Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. For no extra charge, call for an organized tour at 03-516-1346.

the Israeli Museum and Yitzhak Rabin Center at 8 Chaim Levanon Street in Ramat Aviv

The Israeli Museum depicts visually, and in 200 fascinating films, the biography and legacy of the assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and in parallel, the development of the State of Israel and its society. It culminates in an amazing view of the city of Tel Aviv.

Visiting Hours:

Sunday, Monday and Wednesday: 9 AM to 3:30 PM
Tuesday and Thursday: 9 AM to 5:30 PM
Friday and holiday eves: 9 AM to 12:30 PM

Lehi Museum at 8 Stern Street in Florentine

The Lehi Museum is situated in the apartment where the British caught and killed Avraham Stern, the founder of the 'Freedom Fighers of Israel', the most radical of the paramilitary organizations who fought the British occupation. Organized tours are available.

Visiting Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM, Friday from 9 AM to 2 PM. Best to call before arriving at 03-682-0288.

Olympic Experience Museum at 6 Shitrit Street near HaYarkon Park

For an hour, you are immersed in a thrilling light and sound walking show of Olympic highlights.

Visiting Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Friday from 9 AM to 2 PM but you have to reserve in advance. Call 03-795-5900.

Palmach Museum 10 Haim Levanon Street in Ramat Aviv

The Palmach Museum is a unique museum. The Palmach was the elite fighting unit of the Hagana, the main paramilitary organization which brought about the independence of Israel. At the museum, you hear first hand from surviving Palmach members about their experiences, together with accompanying video and photographic footage.

Visiting Hours: Sunday to Friday by appointment only. Call 03-545-9800.

The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History 12 Klausner Street in Ramat Aviv

Tel Aviv's new Steinhardt Museum of Natural History opened in 2018

The new (opened in 2018) Steinhardt Museum of Natural History is a wonderful, fascinating place and is great for adults and for kids of all ages.

The natural history collection includes five and a half million animals and plants of the land of Israel! Many are extinct, but thousands are on display.

Visiting Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM, Closed on Sunday. We recommend you order tickets online here: Tel Aviv Natural History Museum Tickets

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