Tel Aviv Museums

There are many fine museums easily accessible in Tel Aviv. Here are some of the popular ones:

Tel Aviv Museum

Any cultural journey in Tel Aviv (or in entire Israel for that matter) won’t be complete without making a visit to Tel Aviv Museum. It is undoubtedly one of the greatest museums of modern art not just in Israel but in the rest of the world as well. This world-class institution houses an extensive collection of modern and contemporary Israel and international art throughout several wings. And there’s the recently opened wing, which is quite massive.

From the museum’s permanent collection, visitors can view and appreciate masterpieces from major art movements from the late 19th century to the first half of the 20th century — from Post-Impressionism to German Expressionism to Pop Art. Of course, you will definitely never fail to notice the museum’s iconic giant two-panel mural created by the late American pop artist Roy Liechtenstein.

Aside from contemporary and modern art, the museum also houses an extensive collection of classical art (especially Israeli ones).

Rabin Center

The Rabin Center is dedicated to the life , work and legacy of Yitzhak Rabin, Palmach Leader, Chief of the General Staff (Six Day War) and assassinated Prime Minister with a vision of peace.

The museum is fascinating as it charts the development and history of Israel in parallel to the life and works of Rabin – an extremely fitting tribute to a man who did so much to shape Israel.

See the Rabin Center for more details.

Ben Gurion’s House

David Ben Gurion was one of the most influential and visionary leaders in the period before the State of Israel was declared. Ben Gurion read out the  Declaration of Independence and became Israel’s first Prime Minister. Ben Gurion’s Tel Aviv house is preserved at 17 Ben Gurion Boulevard and is quite close to the beach and northern end of the hotel strip. Ben Gurion left it to the country and it holds his library, research and a museum of his legacy. If you are in the Negev then we recommend a visit to Sede Boker where Ben Gurion lived his dream of developing the Negev Desert and where he is buried nearby overlooking one of Israel’s most beautiful desert vistas.

Diaspora Museum – Bet Hatefutsot

The Diaspora Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Jewish communities around the world – it has permanent & temporary exhibitions. The main exhibition charts Jewish life across the world over the time. – ultimately the miraculous story of Jewish continuity. The museum also has one of the largest of Jewish Genealogy databases. It may be accessed during the visit or on line.

See the  Diaspora Museum website.

Eretz Israel Museum

The Eretz Israel Museum tells the history and culture of the Land of Israel over the generations. It also houses a planetarium (entry 6 and over – probably just in Hebrew)

See Eretz Israel Museum

Etzel Museum

The Etzel was the most extreme of the underground groups that fought to establish the State of Israel during the British Mandate. There is a museum on the beach front just north off Jaffa, that details their operations.

Getting To the Etzel Museum

The museum is located at 38 King George St., Tel-Aviv, 03-5284001

The museum is south of the Dan Panorama & David Intercontinental Hotels (walk from both) and just north of Jaffa.

Most of the museums are wheel chair accessible. 

Please also see our item on Recommended Tel Aviv Art Galleries.