Israel Museum ranks 16th in ‘Worth a Journey’ museum list

NOVEMBER 7, 2026 20:15The Israel Museum in Jerusalem secured the 16th spot on Worth a Journey’s world’s 100 best museums list for this year, as the country made a respectable showing in the publication’s 2026 evaluations.Across Worth a Journey’s 38 specialized categories, Israeli venues and sites secured 22 entries across 14 lists, spanning culinary, hospitality, and historical destinations.The Israel Museum’s ranking, compiled by the German travel and culture magazine, positions the Jerusalem landmark as the sole Israeli museum to make the global top 100 list this year.In that category, the museum placed ahead of several heavily visited cultural institutions, including Paris’s Louvre Museum (31st), the Vatican Museum (67th), and Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum (69th).Topping the global list this year was the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, followed by Spain’s Prado Museum in Madrid and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark.The glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum draws a crowd of visitors to the Cour Napoleon, in the heart of France s largest museum in Paris, France, on October 26, 2026. (credit: Riccardo Milani / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)Museum commended for collection diversityWorth a Journey commended the Israel Museum for the diversity of its collections, specifically highlighting the Shrine of the Book (home to the Dead Sea Scrolls), the Archaeology Wing, and its comprehensive Judaica holdings.According to the publication, its rankings rely on an objective, two-step process rather than commercial nominations or entry fees.Each list is computed by a specialized algorithm that processes millions of data points from hundreds of thousands of venues worldwide. The software is designed to normalize data by correcting for local customs and category-specific nuances.After the algorithm runs, the publication’s team visits ranked venues in person. If real-world findings conflict with the data results, the algorithm is recalibrated, and the final list is adjusted accordingly.To ensure consistency across international markets, the publication applies strict, standardized eligibility criteria that every venue must meet to qualify for algorithmic evaluation.The editors stated that the process is entirely independent, noting that venues cannot pay to enter, rise, or remain on any list.Several other Israeli venues achieved top-40 placements within their respective categories in the 2026 magazine listings.Haifa’s Sammy Ofer Stadium ranked ninth in the football stadiums category, while Jerusalem’s Mahaneh Yehuda Market placed 14th among the world’s food markets.Jerusalem’s Pizza Pizzini Boutique ranked 13th on the pizzerias list. It was joined in that category by Haifa’s NeoPolitan (No. 27) and Ramat Gan’s Papa Gino’s (No. 75).Elsewhere, Avram’s Grandson in Rishon Lezion took 22nd place for kebab and döner shops, Hadera’s Brisket Bar ranked 22nd for BBQ smokehouses outside the US, and Ramat Gan’s El Barrio ranked 90th for burgers.Three Israeli hotels rank among top 100Three Israeli properties made the wellness hotels list, led by Safed’s Canaan Hotel at No. 37, followed by the Carmel Forest Spa Resort at No. 56, and Six Senses Shaharut at No. 87.On antiquity, the ancient fortress of Masada (No. 57) and the ruins of Beit She’an (No. 79) were added to the archaeological sites list. For green spaces, Zichron Ya’acov’s Ramat Hanadiv reached No. 63, and Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park was placed at No. 67.Other single entries in the magazine’s global lists included Ben-Gurion Airport (No. 26), the Ofer Kiryon shopping mall in Kiryat Bialik (No. 32), Nimrod Fortress (No. 34), and Tzora Vineyards (No. 87).Follow us on Google