Tel Aviv

ANU - Museum of the Jewish People

This multimedia museum tells the story of the 2000 years of Jewish life throughout the entire world. It’s less about history and more about people: how the lived, worked, celebrated or prayed. A must-see if you like to know more about Jewish heritage. It was known as the Museum of Jewish Diaspora (Beth Hatefutsoth in Hebrew) until 2021, when it reopened after a remodel and re-brand.

Sun-Thu 10:00-16:00·Adults: ₪35, including audio guiding

Altalena memorial

One of the most important moments in early Israeli history happened here. In 1948, David Ben Gurion ordered an attack on the Altalena ship, which was carrying arms for the splinter Irgun militia. Irgun leader Menachem Begin commanded his troops not to defend themselves, believing that nothing could be worse for the new state than a civil war. There is a small memorial here to the 16 Irgun fighters who were killed in the incident.

Andromeda's rock

The rock in Jaffa harbor to which, according to Greek myth, Andromeda was tied before being rescued by Perseus.

Artist Workshops

Graffiti Haven

For those with a passion for street art or an alternative hippie or punky side, this small quarter of artist workshops is covered with unusual, colourful, surrealistic, and political high-quality graffiti.

Asia House

A seven-story office building. With oscillating wave-like layers, this is a more modern take on Tel Aviv's traditional white Bauhaus architecture.

Bauhaus Center Tel Aviv

Despite its compact size, it manages to survey almost the entire gamut of the Bauhaus design genre. Detailed exhibitions, books, maps and posters, multimedia and a great little shop. The center also conducts tours of the Tel Aviv Bauhaus White City (F 10AM, duration 2 hours, book ahead) and other destinations.

Sun-Thu 10:00-19:00, Fri 10:00-14:00

Ben-Gurion House

Home of Prime Minister David Ben Gurion from 1931-1968, and the place where Israel's Declaration of Independence was written. Now it is a museum focusing on Ben Gurion's life.

Bialik House

Home of Hayim Nahman Bialik, Israel's national poet. Now a museum dedicated to Bialik's life.

Bird's Head

The confluence of the Ayalon and Yarkon rivers is located here. The land in between the rivers is shaped like a bird's head, hence the name.

Bird's Head Birdwatching Center

A landscaped birdwatching center, fittingly located on the Bird's Head peninsula.

Crazy House

A bizarre apartment building that resembles the buildings of Gaudi in Barcelona.

David Ben Gurion on his head

A whimsical statue of David Ben Gurion doing one of his trademark headstands. A good photo op.

Dizengoff Square

An elevated square on top of which there is a big fountain with a mix of fire and water. This is one of the known symbols of Tel Aviv. It reopened in June 2018 after renovations.

Eretz Israel Museum

History, archaeology and culture - includes the archaeological site of Tel Qasile, the remains of an early Philistine settlement. In addition the museum has a Planetarium.

Mon Wed Sat 10:00-16:00, Tue Thu 10:00-20:00, Fri 10:00-14:00·Museum/Planetarium+Museum - Adult: ₪42/74, Student & Soldier: ₪28/60, Children under 18: Free/₪32

Etzel 1948 museum

A separate museum which focuses on Etzel/Irgun military operations in 1948, especially the conquest of northern Jaffa, including the current location of this museum.

Etzel museum

Very detailed history of the Etzel (Irgun) movement and their operations, also includes a short film. This museum tells the overall story of Etzel starting in the 1930s and ending in 1948.

Sun-Thu 08:00-16:00

Florentin neighborhood

A previously run-down but beautiful area, which is now gentrifying. Full of old, often colourful, Bauhaus buildings in various states of disrepair, however many of them are being renovated and restored to something approximating their former glory. The area is being completely redeveloped, and some construction of new apartment blocks is also taking place. This has caused some controversy with the locals who want to preserve the culture and atmosphere of the area.

Former Israel Defense Forces History Museum

Batei HaOsef

This used to be a museum of old military vehicles, but in 2019 the contents were moved to Yad LaShiryon museum in Latrun. It's mentioned here so that you don't mistakenly visit it based on old recommendations from elsewhere.

Gan Meir

A small garden between King George and Chernihovsky streets. A green little corner in the midst of the metropolitan with a cute pond in the center and a small dog park. On some evenings you might see mature people playing kids' games - it's Tel Aviv.

Habima Square

Home to a number of cultural institutions such as the Habima Theatre, the Culture Palace and the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art, its draw is the rectangular water feature and corresponding flower bed. In the nighttime, the square comes alive with bustling nightlife and projections against the wall of the Habima Theatre.

Haganah Museum

Recounting the fascinating story of the embryonic Israel Defence Force, from British Mandate days to Israeli independence in 1948 and beyond, lots of interesting artifacts, weapons and memorabilia.

Sun-Thu 09:00-16:00, Fri 09:00-12:00·₪15/10 adults/concessions

Helena Rubinstein Pavilion

Displays temporary exhibitions from the nearby Museum of Art. Same hours, free entry with museum ticket.

Independence Hall

Dizengoff House

In accordance with its name, Independence Hall is the place where the Israeli Declaration of Independence was proclaimed by David Ben-Gurion on 14 May 1948, thus officially establishing the modern State of Israel. Though essentially nondescript on the outside; inside, visitors can see the actual hall itself, watch a short documentary film, and view several artifacts in the small museum.

Sun-Thu 09:00-14:00

Jabotinsky Institute

Small museum all about the life of Ze'ev Jabotinsky. Features a film about a clandestine immigration operation and a few cases showing his personal effects.

Mon-Fri 08:00 to 16:00

Jaffa Railway Station

"Hatachana" [Hebrew for "the station"]

Trains no longer go here, so the station has been transformed into a popular outdoor shopping area.

Sat-Thu 10:00-22:00, Fri 10:00-17:00·Free entrance

Joseph Bau House

A museum run by the daughters of Joseph Bau, an artist who saved many lives during the Holocaust and is featured in the movie "Schindler's List". The daughters give an original and uplifting presentation describing their parents' lives in the context of the Holocaust.

Lehi Museum

A museum describing the right-wing Lehi militia which operated between 1940-1948. This building was the hiding place of Lehi leader Avraham Stern when he was killed by British police in 1942.

Levinsky Market

An extremely colorful outside market boasting a variety of spice shops and ethnic restaurants.

Museum of Illusions

A museum of optical illusions, including fun 3D ones like the Ames room that you can walk into.

Neve Tzedek

A historical part of town with art galleries and restaurants.