Home to a vibrant culture, Israel's famous landmarks include many destinations for travelers. Here are 12 must-see secular destinations in Israel.
The Israel Museum
The Israel Museum is among the world’s leading art and archaeology museums, with a collection of about 500,000 objects on its 20-acre campus. The museum is home to the Dead Sea Scrolls and other early biblical manuscripts. It also showcases the evolution of modern western sculpture in the Billy Rose Art Garden.
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Yad Vashem
A living memorial to the Holocaust,
Yad Vashem in Jerusalem offers documentation, research, education and commemoration of the Holocaust. The site includes the Holocaust History Museum, Museum of Holocaust Art, Exhibitions Pavilion, and Synagogue.
Agnon House
Nobel Prize-winning writer Shmuel Yosef Agnon lived and wrote in this house for about 40 years. After his death in 1970, the home was opened to the public, with literary and cultural events hosted there.
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Founded in 1936 and located in Tel Aviv, the
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra plays youth concerts, special concerts, and tours world cultural centers and festivals annually. IPO works to develop Israeli artists.
The Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center
TAPAC is home to the Israeli Opera and the Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv. The Israeli Opera has more than 18,000 subscribers and presents an average of eight productions each season. Founded in 1944, the Cameri Theatre stages as many as 12 new productions each year along with 20 productions from previous seasons.
Mini Israel
Located in the Ayalon Valley between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, the 15-acre
Mini Israel destination invites visitors to “see it all small.” The site includes more than 350 detailed 1:25 scale models of the country’s sites and monuments.
The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is a historic salt lake located between the Judean and Negev Desert, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The Dead Sea is eight times saltier than the oceans, offering a relaxing experience for swimmers. The area also includes ancient ruins, monasteries, and pilgrimage sites.
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Israel Defense Forces History Museum
The IDF Museum portrays the military from the establishment of the state to present time with authentic weapons and up-to-date exhibits.
The Eretz Israel Museum
Known as the Land of Israel Museum, this attraction includes 15 buildings on 20 acres, displaying the history and culture of Israel through exhibits in diverse fields.
Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Founded in 1932, the
Tel Aviv Museum of Art features a wide array of works, including local art, international works, photography, architecture, and old masters.
Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre
Israel’s home for dance, the
Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre in Tel Aviv showcases performing art companies, including the Batsheva Dance Company, Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak Dance Company and The Orna Porat Theatre for Children and Youth.
Smadar Theater
Jerusalem’s Smadar Theater is a modern movie house that shows obscure, artsy, and indie films and offers a wide variety of food in its café.
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