The Israel Museum is the country's flagship museum and is home to one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of antiquities in the world. It sprawls across the lip of central Jerusalem's Valley of the Cross, within sight of both the Knesset and the muted Teutonic-cum-Saracen splendor of Rechavia.

The museum's architecture is complemented by the unique Shrine of the Book, which was designed to resemble the lids of the jars in which the Dead Sea Scrolls it houses were discovered; fountains of water play on the building's exterior. 

The museum and its grounds are vast – almost too large to conquer in a day – encompassing exhibits on archeology, a stunning worldwide Judaica section (including synagogues from Germany, Italy and India, wholly reconstructed within the museum), classic and modern art (with constantly rotating exhibits, a fantastic selection of both local and international modern art and a world-class sculpture garden), a children's museum and much, much more.

Unfortunately, ongoing renovations mean certain exhibits will be closed until 2010; check with the museum beforehand to find out what exactly will be unavailable.

Admission: Adults 42 NIS, Children (aged 5 to 17) 21 NIS, Students 30 NIS, Senior Citizens 21 NIS, Disabled 21 NIS, Soldiers free entrance, Repeat visit (within one month) 21 NIS

Free entrance for children aged 17 and under Tuesdays and Saturdays.