Hotels near Israel Museum

The Israel Museum is the country's national museum - a 20-hectare campus opened in 1965 that houses approximately 500000 artefacts across archaeology, fine art, Jewish heritage, and the Shrine of the Book holding the Dead Sea Scrolls. The famous Aleppo Codex (the most accurate ancient text of the Hebrew Bible) is also here. The architecturally striking Shrine of the Book building has a white dome representing the lid of the jar that held the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The outdoor 1:50 Scale Model of Jerusalem (recreating the city in 66 AD before its Roman destruction) covers an entire acre. The Modern Art wing holds Klimt, Picasso, Magritte, and Israeli contemporary art. The Billy Rose Sculpture Garden displays Rodin, Picasso, and Henry Moore in a 6-hectare outdoor space. Admission 65 NIS adult. Open Sunday-Thursday 10:00-17:00, Friday 10:00-14:00. Allow 4-6 hours.

Pro Tip: The Shrine of the Book holds the most important Dead Sea Scroll - the complete Isaiah Scroll - in a slowly rotating display case in the centre. The replica scrolls in the corridor are also accurate and easier to read. Allow 90 minutes for this wing alone.