Stand on the light rail platform at Mount Herzl and the whole western city arranges itself in front of you: government towers, the Israel Museum's white sprawl, and the tree-covered slope of the national cemetery behind. This is the Jerusalem of the Knesset and the Supreme Court, of museum wings and market alleys, and it rewards a traveller who plans a route rather than wandering.
West Jerusalem suits visitors who want the institutional and cultural city - parliament, courts, national museums, memorials - alongside the everyday bustle of the Downtown Triangle and Mahane Yehuda Market. Most of the headline sights sit within a short ride of each other along the light rail and bus lines, so a single day can cover a surprising amount.
This guide covers the landmarks, museums and memorials of West Jerusalem that are worth your time, with practical notes on when to go and what to pair with what.
Top things to do in West Jerusalem
1. Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem is Israel's Holocaust museum, a large complex of tree-studded walkways leading to museums, exhibits, archives, monuments, sculptures and memorials. It documents the Holocaust, preserves the stories of its victims, and recognises the Righteous Among the Nations; each tree on the grounds is planted in memory of a different non-Jew who saved Jewish lives.
In addition to the main museum, the underground Children's Memorial is recommended. Children under ten are not allowed in the museum proper, and large bags must be checked at the Visitors' Center before you enter. Entry is free, though guided tours can cost about ₪30. Take the light rail to the Mount Herzl terminal station, then the free shuttle (every 20 minutes) or walk ten minutes.
2. Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book
Israel's national museum sprawls over a compound near the Knesset and covers a broad body of work in five wings. The Judaica Wing holds an unequalled collection of Jewish ceremonial pieces, tools and artwork from throughout the Diaspora, including a replica of a 17th-century Italian synagogue and an Indian synagogue. The Archaeology Wing holds the largest collection of artifacts found in Israel, and the onion-shaped Shrine of the Book permanently houses the Dead Sea Scrolls along with the Aleppo Codex. Nearby is a large 3D model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period.
There are also notable collections of pre-Columbian Central American art, primitive and tribal art, and Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. Admission is ₪54, ₪39 for students and ₪27 for children aged 5-17, and it is free on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It sits near the Knesset, so pair the two.
3. The Knesset
The Israeli Parliament Building offers guided tours in Hebrew, Arabic, English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Amharic, Yiddish and Finnish. Groups and individuals must call and arrange their guided tour in advance.
You can also observe Knesset sessions from the public gallery on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Groups must call ahead for this; individuals may arrive directly with their identity cards or passports. Tours run Sunday to Thursday, 08:30-14:30.
4. Mount Herzl (Mount of Remembrance)
This is Israel's national cemetery and memorial, containing the graves of Theodor Herzl and four prime ministers including Yitzhak Rabin. The Herzl Museum is in the entrance plaza, and there are memorials for terror victims and MIA soldiers.
Near Herzl's grave is the Mount Herzl Plaza, used for the main ceremony of the opening of Independence Day. Entry is free, and the Mount Herzl light rail station puts you at the entrance.
5. Supreme Court
Located between the Knesset and the Central Bus Station, the Supreme Court building opened in 1992 and is a mixture of traditional Jerusalem architecture and modern elements.
Tours are available each weekday in Hebrew at 11:00 and English at noon, or you could sit in on an ongoing court session. It combines naturally with a Knesset or Israel Museum visit.
6. Bible Lands Museum
Laid out chronologically, the Bible Lands Museum provides a detailed look at the ancient societies of the Middle East. Its wide range of artifacts from around the region, including Egyptian, Minoan and early Christian works, appeals to a variety of interests.
It stands opposite the Israel Museum entrance, making the two an easy pairing. Admission is ₪28, ₪23 for pensioners and ₪15 for children, with other concessions available.
7. L.A. Mayer Memorial Museum of Islamic Art
In the heart of Jewish West Jerusalem, this museum offers one of the foremost collections of Islamic art from across the Muslim world and many centuries of Muslim artwork. It also contains an interesting collection of old watches and clocks.
It is closed on Sundays. Admission is ₪20, ₪13 for students and ₪10 for youths.
8. Museum on the Seam
This museum shows art with a socio-political emphasis. From 1948 to 1967 the only crossing between East and West Jerusalem was here, which gives the building its name and its subject.
It sits next to the Shivtei Israel light rail stop, so it is easy to fold into a day that already uses the light rail.
9. Friends of Zion Museum
This museum brings the stories of non-Jewish help and heroism to the world, telling of those who supported Zionism and stood with the Jewish people. Visitors experience the unfolding story as though stepping back in time, accompanied by an original musical score and surround sound.
It is in Nahalat Shiv'a on Yosef Rivlin Street. Adult admission is ₪44, with a child rate for ages 7-18.
10. Museum of Underground Prisoners
This was the central prison run by British authorities from 1917 to 1948. Towards the end of that period, many members of underground Jewish militias were incarcerated here, including several who were later executed.
The site is now a museum commemorating the underground movements and their members who passed through this prison.
11. Wolfson Jewish Heritage Museum at Hechal Shlomo
In the heart of downtown Jerusalem, this museum houses a collection of Jewish and Israeli art, with an interesting combination of old and new. It is open Sunday to Thursday, 09:00-15:00.
Admission is ₪15, or ₪10 for students and youth. It sits on King George Street, in the middle of the Downtown Triangle, so it works well as a stop between other downtown sights.
12. Begin Center
A museum dedicated to the life and legacy of Menachem Begin, the first member of an opposition party to be elected as Israeli Prime Minister.
13. Agnon House
The home of Nobel Prize-winning author S.Y. Agnon and the place where many of his most famous works were written, this is now a museum documenting his life. It is on Klausner 16.
14. Hebrew Music Museum
A museum that describes the history of Jewish music across different time periods and cultures. It is on Yo'el Moshe Salomon 10.
15. Science Museum
The museum features many active exhibitions which invite the visitor to touch and participate, making it a good choice for those travelling with kids. It is closed on Sundays; otherwise it opens Monday to Thursday 10:00-18:00, Friday 10:00-14:00 and Saturday 10:00-16:00. Admission is ₪40.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at Yad Vashem, taking the light rail to the Mount Herzl terminal station and the free shuttle onward. Allow the main museum and the underground Children's Memorial a full morning, and remember that large bags must be checked at the Visitors' Center.
Afternoon. Walk or ride to Mount Herzl itself, then continue to the Knesset and the Supreme Court, which sit close together. If you have arranged a tour in advance, this is the slot for it; otherwise view the buildings from outside and move on to the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Second Temple-period model of Jerusalem are the highlights. If time allows, the Bible Lands Museum is directly opposite the Israel Museum entrance.
Evening. Head downtown to the Wolfson Jewish Heritage Museum at Hechal Shlomo on King George Street if you are there before 15:00, then finish in the Downtown Triangle, where Jaffa Road, Ben Yehuda Street and King George Street meet.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book Knesset tours in advance?
Yes. Groups and individuals must call and arrange their guided tour in advance. To watch a session from the public gallery, groups must call ahead, while individuals may arrive directly with an identity card or passport. Sessions can be observed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
When is the Israel Museum free?
Admission is free on Tuesdays and Saturdays. On other days it is ₪54, or ₪39 for students and ₪27 for children aged 5-17.
Can I bring young children to Yad Vashem?
Children under ten are not allowed to enter the museum proper, as IDs are checked and the material can be disturbing. They can go to other areas of the complex instead.
How do I reach Yad Vashem without a car?
Take the light rail to the Mount Herzl terminal station, then either the free shuttle, which runs every 20 minutes, or walk about ten minutes; museum signs are visible along the way.
Pick the sights that matter most to you, check the tour times and closing days before you go, and start mapping your days in West Jerusalem.