Israel Travel Guide

This travel guide is full of tips how to plan your trip to Israel. There are plenty of magnificent places every tourist should visit at least once in a lifetime. For starters, Israel is the birthplace of Judaism and cradle of Jewish history with many ancient synagogues all over the country. But, It’s also where two other Abrahamic religions, Christianity and Islam were born.

What to Visit in Israel

When coming to Israel, it’s worth exploring the country from the north to the south or the other way around. Tel Aviv is probably the first place you want to see because it’s the financial hub and the centre of modern culture. It’s known as the ‘White City’ for its Bauhaus architecture but also it’s full of glassy skyscrapers, Mediterranean beaches and nightclubs. Once there, you should visit the old city port of Jaffa, where Tel Aviv was founded and Caesarea, which is a Roman city or whatever is left of it.

If you go to Akko (Acre), you’ll be amazed by its history tracking down Romans, Greeks, Crusaders and Arabs. This coastal walled town is home to the most beautiful port and the sacred Baha’i site. It’s worth taking a ferry from Old Akko to Haifa Port to enjoy the views of the Mediterranean and the Carmel Mount right next to the sea. Haifa is where you visit the magnificent Bahai Hanging Gardens, Shrine of the Bab, German Colony, Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery and Elijah’s Cave.

When in the area, it’s good to go to the Tiberias, which is the modern resort town. From the western shore of the Galilee Sea, you can take a boat on the Biblical Lake where Jesus made the miracles of walking on the water and feeding a bunch people with only one fish. During the Galilee cruise, you enjoy the views of the Golan Heights and ancient Gadara in Jordan. Afterwards, let’s head to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood and much of his early life.

The trip to Israel wouldn’t be complete without the visit in Jerusalem, the place sacred to the three Abrahamic Religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. That’s where you find the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Dome of Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. It’s also where Jesus was crucified and ascended to heavens. Just outside of the city, there’s the Judean Desert descending right into the Dead Sea.

Once in Jerusalem, it’s worth exploring the bordering Palestine and Bethlehem in particular, which is the birthplace of Christ. When in West Bank, head to Jericho, the oldest town in the world (dating back 11,000 years ago) and Hebron, the King David’s first capital.

If you want to experience floating on water, you should go to the Dead Sea (Ein Bokek). It’s the lowest point on Earth, located 430 metres below sea level. The sea, which is actually the lake, is made of two basins, the north and south one. If you stay in the north, you get to experience the murky water with lots of mineral mud used to improve the skin conditions. The south basin is more salty, which makes floating so much fun and has crystal clear waters with the most amazing salty formations.

There is so much more to explore around the Dead Sea than just the lake. The places you cannot miss are the Ein Gedi, which is the natural spring, but also the Masada fortress overlooking the Judean Desert. You can either climb or take the cable car to the top of the rocky mountains, but either way the views of the desert and the sea are just jaw dropping.

When in Israel, everyone should explore the Negev Desert. One of the most spectacular formation within the desert is the Ramon Crater (Makhtesh Ramon), located at the peak of Mount Negev nearby the town of Mitzpe Ramon. Unlike the typical crater, it was formed by erosion of the dying sea and the flowing rivers, which curved out the landscape.

The Negev Desert is also famous for Ein Avdat, which is the beautiful steep canyon and a popular hiking spot. You can also go to the Timna Park and Red Canyon as both provide the most scenic views. The area is so rich in copper it shows beautiful rock formations coloured in red, orange or yellow.

By the end of the trip stay in Eilat, which is often called the ‘Goa of the Middle East’. That’s where you make the most of the Red Sea beaches. Eilat is best known for the Coral Reef Beach and the Dolphin Beach.

Don’t leave Israel without seeing:

• Tel Aviv – Mediterranean beaches
• Jaffa – old port city near Tel Aviv
• Caesarea – Romans remains
• Acre – ancient walled city port
• Haifa – Bahai Hanging Gardens
• Tiberias – Galilee Sea & Golan Heights
• Nazareth – Jesus’s childhood town
• Jerusalem – city of three religions
• Judean Desert – nearby the Holy City
• Bethlehem – birthplace of Jesus
• West Bank – Jericho and Hebron
• Dead Sea – floating on water
• Ein Gedi – natural springs
• Masada – fortress overlooking the desert
• Negev Desert – national parks
• Ramon Crater – natural wonder
• Ein Avdat – steep canyoun
• Timna Park – rocky formations
• Red Canyon – hiking narrow lanes
• Eilat – Red Sea beaches

Hiking in Israel

The highest mountain in Israel is the Mount Hermon (2,814 m). It’s located in the Israeli-occupied portion of the Golan Heights, overlooking the Hula Valley and shared with neighbouring Syria and Lebanon. This mountain is good place for hiking in summer and skiing in winter when the snow falls. Because it’s covered with snow more than eight months a year, the melting water is the main source of the Jordan river flowing right into the Dead Sea. You can take a cable car and tour the top of the Mount Hermon with the views of Syria and all of Israel. In addition, there are many mountains in Israel and major ones include:

• Judean Mountains (Scopus, Mount of Olives)
• Golan Heights (Hermon, Meron)
• Mount Carmel
• Masada
• Mount Sodom
• Eilat Mountains
• Negev Mountains (Ramon)
• Herodium
• Hills of Galilee (Tabor, Arbel)

Hiking Trails in Israel

The best hiking trails in Israel include Eilat Red Canyon, Mount Arbel over the Galilee Sea, Makhtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater) in Negev Desert, Ein Gedi Reserve (4 springs and waterfalls), Nahal Amud Stream in the Galilee Mountains, Ein Avdat (3 springs) and Ein Akev, Masada Snake Path (best sunrise over the Dead Sea), Yehudia Natural Reserve in Golan Heights, Wadi Qelt (along the stream from the slopes of Judean Desert outside the Jerusalem to Jericho, point of interests: Faran Monastery, Ein Prat, Ein Maboa, Ein Qelt, St. George Monastery), Hula Valley, Mont Gilboa, Amram’s Pillars and Black Canyon, Dor Habonim Beach Hike and Tel Aviv beaches along the Mediterranean Sea.

Beaches in Israel

Geographically, Israel is surrounded by waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and Dead Sea. The truth is the country doesn’t have many islands except for the Rosh HaNikra Islands, Achziv Islands (Love Island) and Adam Rock. But, what attracts the tourists the most are not the islands, but the beaches.

The most impressive beaches in Israel are the Tel Aviv Beaches (Gordon, Frishman, Bograshov), Ajami Beach in Jaffa Port, Aqueduct Beach in Caesarea, Achziv Beach in Galilee, Bora Bora Beach in Tiberias, Apollonia National Park and Beach in Herzliya, Jisr az-Zarqa Beach, Beit Yannai Beach, Herzliya Beach, Eilat Beaches (Coral Reef, Dolphin and Mosh) and Ein Bokek at the Dead Sea.

Where to Stay in Israel

Because there’s so much to visit in Israel, you will be moving a lot during your stay. The best option is to start from the north of the country (Tel Aviv) and make your way towards the south (Eilat). You can, of course do it the other way around, but the point is to make a solid plan to see all major attractions.

If you want to stay in Israel, there are several regions you can choose from: Galilee, Israeli North Coast, Israeli Coastal Plain, Jerusalem Hills, Shfela, Dead Sea Valley and Negev. The disputed areas include the West Bank (controlled by both, Palestine and Israel), Gaza Strip (controlled by Hamas, not safe to travel) and Golan Heights (internationally recognized as Syrian territory but occupied by Israel since the Six Day War). For obvious reason it’s best to avoid Gaza Strip.

Most recommended hotels in Israel:

• Abraham Hostel in Tel Aviv
• Jaffa Hotel in Tel Aviv
• My Jerusalem View Boutique Hotel
• Mamilla Hotel and Restaurant in Jerusalem
• Notre Dame of Jerusalem Centre
• The Walled Off Hotel (Banksy) in Bethlehem
• Nativity House in Bethlehem
• Jacir Palace Hotel in Bethlehem
• Kfar Hanokdim Camping the Dead Sea
• Kesem Hamidbar Campsite Dead Sea
• Masada Campsite West Dead Sea
• David Dead Sea Resort & Spa in Ein Bokek
• Leonardo Club Hotel in Ein Bokek

What to Eat in Israel

The typical Israeli cuisine is one of the reasons most people travel to this tiny part of the world. Israel is where Kocher food, meaning pure, proper or suitable for consumptions is served in many places. It’s not a style of cooking but any food or beverage that Jewish dietary law allows you to eat. And it’s the rabbis’ task to supervise the observance of kosher food production.

Generally, kosher foods are divided into three categories: meat, dairy and pareve. The last one refers to all food types that don’t fall within the first two categories, including honey, eggs and fish. In order for wine to be kosher, it must be must be produced and sold by the Jew.

Kosher Meat and Fish

The Jewish law permits eating meat of the animals that chew their cud and have split hooves (so hare, camel and pig are forbidden). Gelatine, which is the main protein in animals, is only permitted if comes from the kosher animal. Only birds that don’t hunt are allowed to eat (so fish eating birds and bats are forbidden). When it comes to fish, only those that have both fins and scales can be consumed (so seafood such monkfish, clams, oysters, crabs and shrimp etc are forbidden).

Kosher Dairy

Only milk and eggs coming from animals whose meat is kosher is allowed. Honey is fine for the consumption. The fruit to be considered kosher must come from trees that are at least three years old. Meat products cannot be eaten together with dairy products (so no cheeseburgers) and it’s necessary to have separate sets of pots in the kitchen. If you eat the diary product, you must wait at least six hours before you can have some meat.

Ritual Animal Slaughter

The Jewish law forbids eating sick animals (there are roughly 70 different diseases) or those which died from the natural causes. To call the animal kosher, they need to be ritually slaughtered. The killing must be performed by a single cut across the throat to a precise depth, causing the animal to bleed to death. Certain parts of the animal cannot be eaten, such as blood, certain types of fat and the sciatic nerve. As much blood as possible must be removed from the dead animal by soaking and salting the body.

Don’t leave Israel without trying:

• Humus – chickpeas, tahini sesame paste, lemon juice, and garlic
• Tahini – paste, spread or dip made of ground sesame seeds, lemon juice and water
• Matzo – flatbread eaten during Passover (to celebrate Israeli’s departure from Egypt)
• Falafel – deep fried balls or patty-shaped fritters made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both
• Israeli Salad – tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, (optional) parsley, and either bell peppers or chili peppers dressed with olive oil and lemon juice
• Kugel – baked pudding or a casserole made of potatoes or egg noodles with added cheese, milk, or vegetables
• Rugelach – baked pastry dough filled with cheese or cream
• Shawarma – grilled meat served with pita and vegetables
• Sabich – grilled eggplant, boiled potatoes, poached eggs with tahini and amba (spicy mango sauce) stuffed in pita bread
• Schnitzel – breaded chicken breast which is fried and served in pita bread
• Shakshuka – eggs cooked in a spicy tomato sauce made with different spices
• Cholent – stew made of barley, meat and beans
• Baklava – sweet phyllo pastry filled with nuts and soaked in a thick sugar syrup or in honey
• Halva – made of sesame seed paste also known as tahini and sugar, dense and crumbly texture

How to Get Around Israel

Israel Travel Guide – Cost and Budget,

To be honest, Israel is not a cheap country. If you go to Tel Aviv or the Dead Sea, the hotels are much more expensive compared to Bethlehem or Jerusalem. That’s where you get half the price of both seaside resorts.

If you’re backpacking Israel, you’re daily budget should be around £55. That’s assuming you stay in the hotels or use the camping sites (eg. at the Dead Sea), eat street food, use public buses and see free attractions.

If you want to travel across Israel on the mid-range budget, you shouldn’t spend more that £160 daily. This usually permits you to choose hotels located in touristy areas, try restaurant food, use public transport and everything Israel has to offer.

The luxury in Israel costs at least £350 a day. That’s pretty much to cover the top-notched hotel room, eat most finest meals, travel with taxis more and indulge in any possible way.

Israel Travel Guide – Best Time to Visit

Generally, the best time to visit Israel is between April to October during the dry season. If you come late spring, summer and early autumn, the weather is ideal for sightseeing and swimming in the sea. Because winter gets really snowy around the mountains, this season is popular to go skiing in the Golan Heights. Overall, Israel has the Mediterranean climate, where summers are hot and dry and winters cold, rainy and snow is touching the higher parts of the country.

When you travel to Israel, it’s good to remember that during the Sabbath everything is closed. For Jews it’s the 7th day of the week (Saturday) which is meant for resting, praying and seeing friends and families. Starting from late afternoon on Friday, it lasts until sunset on Saturday. That’s when the public transport stops running and offices, shops and other places shut down. By law, the Jews are forbidden from working, cooking and even driving.

Due to the best weather in summer, June to August are the most popular times to visit Israel. Those months bring the temperatures up to 33°C which is perfect for hitting the beaches of Mediterranean or the Red Sea. Although summer is the peak season when everyone comes to Tel Aviv, Eilat or the Dead Sea, the rest of the country is also worth exploring.

If you come to Israel in spring (March to May), you get to experience mild temperatures between 19°C and 28°C. That’s when the cities such as Tel Aviv or the Dead Sea enjoy the good weather but Jerusalem or Bethlehem are still cold and rainy. Even though Israeli autumn (September to November) brings higher temperatures between 23°C and 28°C, some occasional rain may occur all over the country. Both, spring and autumn seem pleasant for hiking the Negev Desert and other trekking adventures. The spring time is when Passover and Easter are celebrated in Israel and autumn’s key events are the High Holy Days and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). 

Israeli winter (December to February) is the low season, except for Christmas when pilgrims come to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. It’s officially the wet season when temperatures stay around 15°C. With lots of rain all over the country, it also gets snowy around the mountains. The most popular skiing region is the Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights. That’s where you expect the resorts to be full and expensive.

Israel Travel Guide – Average Monthly Temperatures

On the whole, Israel is warm all year around, although it’s the hottest in summer from June to September. Those months bring high temperatures between 28°C and 32°C, with August being the hottest. In contrast, Israel is the coldest in winter, from December to February. That’s when the weather is still warm and temperatures stay from 16°C to 18°C, with January being the coldest.

Israel Travel Guide – Average Monthly Precipitation

Generally, Israel is the wettest between November and March, during the autumn and winter season. In fact, January is the month when it rains the most with up to 100 mm and 9 days of showers. It’s not uncommon to see some snow in Israel, usually in winter between December and February. It mainly falls around the Golan Heights and Hula Valley, but Upper Galilee region, Safed and Jerusalem also receive a bit of snowfall every year.

In contrast, Israel is the driest between April and October, during the spring and summer season. There’s an average 0.4 mm to 20 mm of rainfall and roughly 2 days of showers a month.

Israel Travel Guide – Practical Information