IsraelTravelBlog.com

Information, insights, advice, reviews, and recommendations about travel to and around Israel

Latest Posts

The Ultimate Israel Bucket List

by

Whether you’re planning a trip to Israel in the near future or just dreaming of going one day, thinking of all the “must do” experiences can be overwhelming. There is so much! If you’re just not sure where to start, though, you’re in luck. Here is the ultimate Israel bucket list for all the essential things you want to see and do.

Hit the Beach in Tel Aviv

How many of the world’s major cities also feature a beach? Not many! Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, Tel Aviv has the best of both worlds: A modern, urban city and a picture-perfect ocean. Spend your time catching some sun on the sand, or for the more adventuresome among us, try your hand at surfing, jet skiing, or parasailing.

Explore Caesarea National Park

Speaking of hanging out on the Mediterranean shore, just north of Tel Aviv is Caesarea National Park, known for its Roman aqueduct, Roman theatre, and Herodian hippodrome. In addition to its Roman history, it’s also important to Christians, as Paul was imprisoned here before being sent to trial in Rome.

Float in the Dead Sea

The saying is “sink or swim,” but neither is possible in the Dead Sea. You’ll simply float, since this is some of the saltiest water on planet Earth. It’s also one of the lowest, at 434 meters (1,125 feet) below sea level. Its mineral- and nutrient-rich mud has been known for its healing powers for millennia, and you can soak it all in on your trip to Israel (or Jordan, just on the other side).

Hike Up Masada

Some say you should take the cable car. We say that’s up to you. Either way, the views on the way up and back down are pretty epic. This is an important site in Jewish history, so definitely tour the fortress at the top as well. The hike is just over a mile one-way, and involves 1,000 steps, but it’s something Jewish adolescents and their families do at least once in the lives. (And you can take the cable car down if you like, no judgement here.)

Get the View from the Mount of Olives

Speaking of views, this is the best place for a view of Jerusalem. It’s a holy site for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, as is Jerusalem. It’s within walking distance of the Old City of Jerusalem, and has been used as a Jewish cemetery for over 3,000 years, because this is the place where Jews believe the resurrection will begin, and those buried here will be resurrected first.

This site is important to Cheistians because this is where the Bible tells us in Acts 1:11 that Jesus ascended into Heaven. It is important to Muslims for the same reason, and because they believe the Mount of Olives is the site where the holy Kaaba will be reunited with its sister rock Al Haram Ash Sharif, or the Temple Mount. They also believe there will be a bridge of seven arches here that connects the Mount of Olives to the Temple Mount, and the righteous will walk across it to Heaven, while the unrighteous will fall off into Hell.

Hike into the Valley of Elah

The Valley of Elah is almost like a secret spot. It doesn’t make its way on to many Israel itineraries, as there is not a synagogue, church, or mosque here to mark the site. What site, you ask? This is the site of the David and Goliath battlefield. You can take in the view from Tel Azeka (where some tour groups stop for a brief visit), or you can take more time and hike down into the valley itself. You can even see the stream where David selected five smooth stones as his weapons of choice.

Explore Jericho

Known as the oldest city in the world, Jericho is an important archaeological site in the West Bank. It’s also one of the most well-known biblical sites in the Old Testament for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The fall of Jericho happened in Joshua chapter 6, after God had told the Israelites to march around every day for seven days. The biblical account also features Rahab, a prostitute. Because she helped the Israelite spies in Jericho, she and her entire family were saved, and she is one of five women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17).

See the Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in Qumran, near the Dead Sea, but several of them are now on display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The scrolls are the oldest-known copies of the Old Testament, or Hebrew Bible, with the exception of the book of Esther. They are housed in the Shrine of the Book, which was made to look like a cave, as the scrolls were discovered in a cave.

Visit Jesus’ Baptismal Site

East of Jerusalem, on the Israeli-Jordanian border, deep in the West Bank and surrounded by landmines (not where you’ll be driving or walking–don’t worry) is Qasr al-Yahud. This is the site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. It’s heavily guarded because the Jordan River here is literally the border, but Christians come here every day to see where it happened, and some even choose to be baptized here as Jesus was.

This site pulls double duty, though. This is also the site where the Israelites walked across the Jordan River into the Promised Land after wandering in the desert for 40 years. This makes it a significant site not just for Christians, but for Jews and Muslims as well.

Go to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane

The Mount of Olives is also a sacred site for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives often to pray, and both Judaism and Islam believe the Mount of Olives will be instrumental in the final judgement. As a bonus, it also has the best, most iconic view of the Old City of Jerusalem, so get your camera ready.

Just down the mountain, toward Jerusalem, is the Garden of Gethsemane. This is a particularly important site to Christians because it was here that Jesus prayed that God would find another way to save humanity without His death. This is also the place where he was betrayed by Judas and arrested. While you’re in the Garden of Gethsemane, it may also be meaningful to read Matthew 26:36-46 and/or Mark 14:32-42 for full context and imagine what it must have been like for Him.

Take a Boat Out on the Sea of Galilee

One of the most well-known miracles in Jesus life was the time he walked on the water. That happened on the Sea of Galilee, so for many Christians, going out on the water is an important bucket list item. Whether you’re here with a big group on one of the larger ships, going as authentic as possible in one of the wooden boats, or going it solo in a zodiac (with a local sailor, of course), being on the water where Jesus walked will be an experience you won’t want to miss.

Bonus: Don’t miss the “Jesus Boat” at the Yigal Allon Center while you’re out there–while it’s likely not Jesus’ actual boat, it is a first century fishing boat, just like one he would have used in real life.

Experience Shabbat

Shabbat is the day of rest for Jews all over the world, but it’s observed nation-wide in Israel. Everything from restaurants to museums shut down for the day. This could be an inconvenience for visitors, or it could be an opportunity to experience a unique aspect of Israel. Some restaurants offer Shabbat meals to visitors who want to learn more about it. Or, if you prefer, you can take time to reflect on your trip and rest up, maybe at the beach in Tel Aviv or at the Dead Sea.

If you want more, check out our Israel Travel Podcast all about How to Create Your Perfect Israel Itinerary on Apple Podcast and Spotify!

How to Choose a Hotel in Israel

by

Choosing a hotel is one of the make-or-break decisions of any trip. A great hotel can make a long travel day seem better, but a bad hotel can easily send a great trip on a downward spiral, whether it’s because the hotel seems unsafe, doesn’t have the amenities you thought it would have, or just doesn’t look (or smell) like the photos seemed to convey. Here are some pro tips for how to choose the best hotels for your bucket list trip to Israel.

Map the Location

The first rule of hotel selection is the same first rule of real estate: Location, location, location. You don’t want to spend all your time commuting to and from all the things you want to see, so be sure to look at your hotel options on a map. A good way to do this is to drop markers on all the places you want to visit on your favorite map app. Then, look for hotels that are close to those things. This way, you’ll be able to spend more time doing and seeing the things you want, instead of traveling to and from those things potentially for hours a day.

Plan to Stay in 2-3 Cities

When you start looking at the map and the distances between the things you want to experience, you might start to realize you can’t see everything by basing yourself in just one location. For instance, Jerusalem may seem like the best place to stay for an entire 7-10 day trip, but that means you’ll. be spending a lot of time in the car if you want to see the Sea of Galilee, Mount of Beatitudes, or Nazareth. And if you want to experience Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Caesarea, that’s yet another extremely long day in the car.

Instead, plan to spend 1-3 nights in more than one location. For instance, spend three nights in Jerusalem, then head up to Galilee for 1-2 nights, and finish out your trip with 2-3 nights in Tel Aviv as well. You’ll be able to see and do so much more because you’ll spend less time in transit. This also allows you to actually relax and enjoy all your experiences, instead of rushing to fit in as much as possible into long day trips.

Look Out for These Features

You’re visiting Israel to see some of the most significant historical sites of the last 5,000+ years. While your hotels will likely not date back to the beginning, they may be historic in their own rights. As such, there are some hotel features you might not be able to take for granted; if you want them, you’ll need to look for these features specifically:

  • Elevators: If you’re staying in a hotel that boasts of its “historic” nature, be sure to look specifically for “elevator” as an amenity. If you don’t mind carrying your own luggage upstairs, this will not be an issue for you, but if you need an elevator to go up or down, make sure the hotel you book actually has one. This especially applies to more “boutique” properties, but it’s important to check even with a hotel that’s part of a major brand.
  • Room size: Even the grandest historic hotels still have to work with the space they have. If having space in your hotel room is important, or essential, to you, be sure to look at photos both from the hotel’s website and review sites like Trip Advisor or Google. Some hotels may list standard room sizes as well, which may be helpful.
  • Breakfast Included: Many hotels in Israel offer complementary breakfast to all guests, but it’s always good to confirm, just to be sure. Also important to note is that breakfast may or may not be available on Saturdays, or it may be considerably different that day, due to Shabbat. If you want to make sure you have breakfast available each day, make sure the hotel listing specified that it will be.
Use Your Points

Some very worthwhile hotels in Israel can be quite expensive. Because Israel is such a bucket list trip for so many, and you may only come once in your life, this is a great place to cash in on hotel points you may have been hoarding over the years. Or, if your trip is still six months or a year away, this is the time to start building points up with a great travel credit card. Find out what your current credit card rewards are, if any, and how to use them to your best advantage.

If you have hotel loyalties already, you’re in luck. Hilton points can be used at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem, IHG rewards can be cashed in at many properties across the country, or you can redeem OneKey rewards for unique hotels that don’t necessarily belong to a particular loyalty program. If you’ve been accumulating points, miles, or hotel reward nights, this is a great destination to redeem them.

Everything You Want to See in Bethlehem

by

When most people think about the places they want to go in Israel, Bethlehem tops the list. It’s the place where Jesus was born, but that is only scratching the surface of this small town’s importance and appeal. There are some very underrated gems in Bethlehem, including these.

Church of the Nativity and Church of St. Catherine’s

This church was built over the place where it is believed Jesus was born. Its affiliation is shared with Roman Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Greek Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox, and Syriac Orthodox churches.

The Grotto below the church is the main attraction here. You’ll see the 14-pointed star that marks the birthplace, as well as the traditional site of the manger where Jesus was laid after he was born. This church was designated a as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 and is a must-see for Christian visitors.

The Shepherds’ Fields

The Shepherd’s Fields are the same fields where angels appeared to shepherds to tell of Jesus’ birth. You’ll see the Church of the Shepherds’ Field while you’re here, and there is a cave here that you can go inside to see what a “stable” was like in biblical times. Interestingly, these are the same fields where David was a shepherd as a boy, before he defeated Goliath and became King David.

Rachel’s Tomb (Kever Rachel)

Near the North Checkpoint (aka Rachel’s Tomb Checkpoint) into Bethlehem, you’ll find Rachel’s Tomb. Like Jerusalem, it’s a site that’s important to three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Rachel was Jacob’s wife and mother of Joseph (the one with the coat of many colors). Genesis 35 says that she died in childbirth on the road to Bethlehem (called Ephrath at the time). There is now a domed tomb at the site, which people of all three faiths visit.

Milk Grotto

This is a unique site that’s not mentioned in the Bible, but it is frequently visited by both Christians and Muslims. Tradition says that a drop of Mary’s milk fell on the ground of this small, hollowed-out grotto, and that turned the inside of the grotto white. Women hoping to conceive or to have more milk production for their babies will sometimes take some of the chalk from the cave and mix it with their food, then pray to Mary. There is a small chapel here, and the site was recognized by Pope Gregory XI in 1375.

Banksy Street Art

Banksy, the famed British graffiti artist, has a special affinity for Palestine and its people. He started creating art in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2005, and there are several to be found in Bethlehem. In fact, you can take an entire tour of just Banksy’s street art on a trip here.

Your Quick Guide to Travel within Israel

by

Travelers to Israel will most likely be flying into Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion International Airport (TLV), but then what? There are so many sites on everyone’s Israel bucket list, and you don’t want to miss anything just because you’re not sure how to get from point A to point B. Here is your quick and concise guide to getting around Israel after you land.

Air Travel

Israel is quite a small country, so the primary means of transportation will be by road to anywhere you wish to go. There is, however, one domestic airport called Ramon Airport (airport code ETM) near the Red Sea resort city of Eilat. If necessary, travelers can fly between TLV and ETM instead of taking the 4-hour drive through the Negev Desert.

Rental Cars

You can rent a car in Israel as a tourist, but pay special attention to the terms of your rental agreement. Most rental car companies in Israel prohibit driving their vehicles into the West Bank, so you will need to arrange other transportation to visit those sites. You will also have to be careful about not cutting through the West Bank, even if that’s the shortest route. You won’t accidentally cross the border without knowing it, but going around the West Bank can take a long time.

Hiring a Driver

Oftentimes, it’s just easier to hire a driver than to wait for public transportation or figure out your rental car situation. Some drivers are also tour guides, but not all, so be sure to confirm if you want one person for both services. Uber is not an option in Israel (as of June 2023), but taxi drivers are available for short trips, of even longer trips if that’s within your budget.

Rav-Kav Public Transportation Pass

The Rav-Kav is a universal public transportation pass, meaning it’s good for all public transportation in Israel. That includes trains, public buses, and the Jerusalem Lightrail. You can purchase the pass at the airport, bus station, train stations, and a variety of shops (like Super-Pharm pharmacies) across the country.

Shabbat

Keep in mind that Israeli public transportation and practicing Jewish taxi drivers are not available on Shabbat (Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown). Arab and Christian taxi drivers will be available, but be aware that there will be fewer of them to go around in this 24-hour period.

There are many options for transportation within Israel, so choose the modes that fit you best!

How Long Should I Visit Israel?

by

How much time should you spend on a trip to Israel? It’s a totally valid question. Like so many things in life, however, the answer is… It depends. Here are some thoughts and things to consider to help you decide how long you should plan to travel around Israel.

If You Want to Hit the Highlights: 6-7 Days

If you are only interested in seeing Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Galilee, this is the ideal timeframe for that. You can even take a day trip to hit up the Dead Sea if you want to squeeze that in, too. It’ll be a fast-and-furious week, but if this is the time you have, it will be well worth making it happen.

If you can’t quite make it for a week, you could base yourself in Jerusalem for 3-4 days, but you really won’t have time to explore more of Israel in that amount of time. We definitely recommend at least a week-long trip, inclusive of travel days.

Check out this 7-day Israel itinerary for an idea of what you can accomplish in just a week.

If You Have the Time: 11-14 Days

If you’re planning to only visit Israel as a bucket list destination once, you want to do it right and you want to go all out. Spending a week and a half to two weeks in the country will be the right choice for you. You can do absolutely everything you want to do within two weeks, easily.

With a longer trip like this, you may even have time for a few days’ excursion to Jordan or Egypt if either of those nearby countries is also on your list of places to go in your lifetime.

Check out this 12-day Israel itinerary for an idea of what you can accomplish in two weeks or less.

The “Goldilocks” Timeframe: 8-10 Days

If six days is too few, and 14 days is too many, then an eight to 10-day trip will be just right. This gives you time to see all the things you want to see at a reasonable pace, but you won’t get bored or feel like it’s a never-ending trip. You could experience all things Israel in this amount of time, and even squeeze in a couple of nights in Jordan to see Petra, if you wanted to add that as well.

If you’ve been thinking of a week-long trip in Israel, it’s worth it to at least consider bumping it up to 10 days. This will ensure you won’t miss something essential because you run out of time, and you can feel like you actually had time to experience the things you’re seeing, instead of rushing from one to the other.

Check out this 10-day Israel itinerary for an idea of what you can accomplish in just over a week.

We hope this information is helpful! How long would you be able to spend on a trip to Israel?

For more insider tips, check out the “How to Structure and Itinerary in Israel” episode of the Israel Travel Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Everything You Need to Know about Flying to Israel

by

A trip to Israel is on nearly everyone’s bucket list. Once you’ve decided to go, the next step is getting there. Flights to the Middle East can be challenging with timing and the fact that it’s long-haul from North America, but the trip is 100% worth the effort. With a little preparation and research on what to expect, you can have a great travel experience. Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning your flights to Israel.

Where to Fly into Israel

Israel has only one international airport, making it easy for travelers to know where to fly for their trip to the Holy Land. You will search for flights from your home airport to Ben Gurion International Airport, airport code TLV. It’s located about half way between the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and it is accessible to both cities via taxi, public transportation, or private driver.

Flights to Tel Aviv from the U.S. or Canada

Non-stop flights between the US or Canada and Israel are red-eye flights, meaning you will be flying overnight and arriving the following day. If you want to catch some restful sleep, consider springing for business class so that you can have a couple of meals and a lay-flat seat that folds down into a bed. If that’s not in the budget, be sure to pack some compression socks and wear comfortable clothes. Remember to hydrate, and maybe bring some snacks along as well.

Connecting Flights through Europe and the Middle East

If you’re not taking a non-stop flight from North America, you will most likely be connecting through Europe or the Middle East. These will also be overnight flights to your connecting city, so plan accordingly. Possible connecting cities in Europe include Frankfurt, Vienna, Zurich, Warsaw, Rome, Amsterdam, etc. Possible connections through the Middle East include Cairo, Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, among others. If you’re loyal to an airline or airline alliance, you will certainly have options to fly in a way that gets you rewarded.

Flying Home

Your homeward flight may also be an overnight flight (business class may start to look very appealing for this reason). This is great because you will be able to enjoy a full last day in Israel, but it can also be challenging because that does tend to make for a very long day that ends in long-haul travel. Wear comfortable clothes on the flight and try to get some rest!

Be sure to listen to our podcast all about flights to Israel for even more insider tips and travel strategies specific to Israel.