Western Asia (Middle East)
The Old City of Jerusalem, a Crusader port, a desert fortress and a Mediterranean beach city, all within a morning's drive of each other.
Photo: Pudelek · CC BY-SA 4.0
Israel is a small country — roughly the size of Wales — with an unusual density of places that matter to more than a billion people. Jerusalem holds the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock within a few hundred metres of each other. Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee are central to the story of Jesus. Safed is a centre of Jewish mysticism, and Haifa is home to the world centre of the Baháʼí Faith, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The history runs well beyond the religious. Megiddo, the biblical Armageddon, has twenty-six layers of ancient cities. Beit She'an is one of the great Roman-Byzantine cities of the Levant. Acre's Crusader halls lie buried under an Ottoman port, and Masada, the hilltop palace-fortress of Herod, sits above the Dead Sea. Tel Aviv, by contrast, is a young, secular Mediterranean city with a huge stock of Bauhaus buildings and a beach culture.
This guide covers Israel within its internationally recognised borders, together with East Jerusalem's Old City, which is where most of the holy sites are and whose status is disputed. The West Bank is covered in our separate Palestinian Territories guide. The security situation has been volatile since 2023 and travel advice changes quickly, so read your government's current guidance before you book and again before you travel.
Where to go
Ordered roughly by how strongly we would recommend each for a first visit, with a bias towards the historical and religious sites. Jerusalem is the centre of gravity for almost any trip; the others fan out from it and from Tel Aviv, and nothing is more than about three hours from either.
Jerusalem District
One of the oldest cities in the world and a centre of pilgrimage for Jews, Christians and Muslims, with a dense Old City, a lively market and a fine museum.
Don't miss The Old City, where the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock can be reached on foot in an hour.
Explore Destination — JerusalemTel Aviv District, Mediterranean coast
Israel's coastal, secular and cosmopolitan centre: a UNESCO-listed White City, a long beach promenade, excellent markets and food, and Jaffa's ancient port.
Don't miss The old port of Jaffa at sunset, with a promenade all the way back to Tel Aviv's white towers.
Explore Destination — Tel Aviv-JaffaNorthern District, Lower Galilee
Israel's largest freshwater lake, with Capernaum, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes on its north shore, hot springs and Tiberias to the west, and swimming and boats all year.
Don't miss Capernaum, where the ruins of a 4th-century synagogue stand beside the traditional house of Peter on the water's edge.
Explore Destination — The Sea of GalileeNorthern District, Lower Galilee
A lively Arab town with major Christian pilgrimage sites, an old-city market and some of the best food in the north.
Don't miss The Basilica of the Annunciation, the largest church in the Middle East, built over the traditional site of Mary's home.
Explore Destination — NazarethSouthern District, Judean Desert
A UNESCO-listed hilltop fortress, the desert oasis of Ein Gedi, and the lowest, saltiest and strangest swim in the world.
Don't miss Watching the sun rise over the Dead Sea and the mountains of Jordan from the top of Masada.
Explore Destination — Masada & the Dead SeaHaifa District, Mount Carmel
Israel's third-largest city and a model of mixed communities, home to the Baháʼí World Centre, a UNESCO-listed garden and shrine complex, the German Colony and a strong food scene.
Don't miss The Baháʼí Gardens' terraces, and the view from the top of Mount Carmel across the bay to Acre.
Explore Destination — Haifa & the Baháʼí GardensNorthern District, western Galilee coast
One of the oldest continuously inhabited ports in the world, with Crusader halls, an Ottoman citadel, a working harbour and a lively Arab market.
Don't miss The Knights' Halls, a vaulted Crusader complex where the Order of St John's hospital stood, entered from a street of Ottoman shops.
Explore Destination — Acre (Akko) Old CityNorthern District, Upper Galilee
The highest city in Israel, a place of pilgrimage for Jewish mystical study, with an artists' quarter, cooler summers and views over the Galilee.
Don't miss The Old Jewish Quarter's lanes, with their ancient synagogues, blue doors and views towards Mount Meron.
Explore Destination — Safed (Tzfat)Northern District, Jezreel and Beit She'an valleys
Two of the country's best archaeological sites, both close to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee: a UNESCO-listed tell of biblical significance, and one of the great Roman cities of the Decapolis.
Don't miss Beit She'an's Cardo, a Roman colonnaded street that runs uphill to a temple, with an intact theatre beside it.
Explore Destination — Megiddo & Beit She'anSouthern District, Negev Desert
A desert of canyons, craters and Nabataean cities, with a small town on the edge of the world's largest makhtesh and an easy base for hiking and stargazing.
Don't miss The rim of Makhtesh Ramon at dawn, a 40-km crater of coloured sandstone that falls 500 metres to the desert floor.
Explore Destination — The Negev & Mitzpe RamonExperiences
The experiences that recur across the country and that make an Israeli trip feel like one.
The Old City is a square kilometre of stone alleys, markets and sacred places, divided into Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Armenian quarters. The Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Haram al-Sharif (the Temple Mount) are the three anchors. See Jerusalem.
Tip Start early and give it a full day. Dress modestly, and check opening hours for Fridays and holidays.
From Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, Jewish Israel slows down: public transport stops, shops close and families gather. In Jerusalem it is quiet; in Tel Aviv and Arab towns much stays open. It is worth experiencing once.
Tip Plan travel and meals for Shabbat in advance. Many hotels serve a Friday-night dinner that is open to guests.
The Snake Path climb takes about 45 minutes in the dark and ends with the sun rising over the Dead Sea and the mountains of Jordan. The fortress ruins are best visited before the heat. See Masada and the Dead Sea.
Tip Bring a head torch and water, and check the opening time of the path the day before.
Mahane Yehuda in Jerusalem and the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv are loud, colourful places to eat, from hummus and shakshuka to halva and fresh pastries. See Tel Aviv-Jaffa.
Tip Go on a weekday morning, and eat lunch standing up.
Under the Ottoman lanes of Acre lie the underground halls of the Knights Hospitaller, a vast medieval complex that looks like a film set and is one of the best-preserved Crusader sites in the world.
Tip Combine it with a walk along the sea wall and lunch at the harbour.
Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee hold the traditional sites of the Annunciation, the Sermon on the Mount and the miracles of Jesus, together with Capernaum and Tabgha. They are easy to combine into a two-day trip.
Tip Many are working churches. Dress modestly, and expect crowds around Christian holidays.
Food and drink
Israeli cooking is a blend of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and the many Jewish diaspora traditions, from Iraq and Morocco to Poland and Yemen. Fresh vegetables, herbs, tahini, olive oil and grilled meats appear everywhere, and a kosher or halal menu is not unusual.
Eggs poached in a spicy tomato and pepper sauce, served in the pan with bread. It is North African in origin and is now a staple breakfast across the country.
Where to try it Cafés in Tel Aviv and Jaffa, and any breakfast place.
Falafel in pita with salad and tahini is the national street food. Sabich, an Iraqi-Jewish sandwich of fried aubergine, hard-boiled egg, tahini and amba (pickled mango sauce), is a Tel Aviv favourite.
Where to try it Falafel stalls in every city; sabich in Ramat Gan and central Tel Aviv.
A generous spread of salads, cheeses, eggs, breads, olives and dips, often included at hotels and served at cafés all day. It is one of the best hotel breakfasts anywhere.
Where to try it Hotel buffets and cafés across the country.
Israel has a serious wine industry, in the Galilee, the Golan, the Judean Hills and the Negev, alongside a growing craft beer scene. Many wineries welcome visitors for tastings.
Where to try it Wineries in the Galilee and Judean Hills, and bars in Tel Aviv.
Before you go
The essentials, current for 2026. Israel is straightforward to travel in, but entry rules and the security situation have both changed in recent years, so check official sources before you go.
Excludes international flights. Figures are typical rather than absolute — cities and peak season run higher.
When to go
Israel has a Mediterranean climate on the coast, cooler hills at Jerusalem and Galilee, and a hot desert in the south. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable, summer is hot, and winters are mild and wet on the coast and cold in the hills.
Warm, clear days and green hillsides after the winter rain, with wildflowers in the Galilee. Easter and Passover bring crowds and higher prices to Jerusalem and Nazareth.
Hot and humid on the coast, and extremely hot in the Dead Sea and the desert. The beach is at its best, and the hills are more bearable, but sightseeing needs to happen early and late.
The sea is warm, the heat eases and the crowds thin. The Jewish High Holidays in September and October affect opening hours and transport.
Cool and wet in Jerusalem and the north, sometimes with snow in Jerusalem and on Mount Hermon. The south, Eilat and the Dead Sea are pleasant, and prices and crowds drop.
Worth planning around: The Jewish holidays of Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, when transport stops, prices peak and many places close. Yom Kippur is especially strict: almost everything, including public transport and many roads, stops for a full day.
Trip length
Israel is compact, and distances between the main sites are short, but Jerusalem alone can fill four or five days. A well-planned week covers the essentials, and ten days gives room for the north.
Getting around
Israel has an efficient network of trains and buses and good roads, but almost everything stops on Shabbat, so plan for it.
Sample route
Tel Aviv and Jaffa, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Masada, then the north: Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, Safed, Haifa and Acre. Uses trains and a hire car. Covers eight of the ten destinations in this guide.
Culture
Israel is a diverse country with Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Druze communities, secular and religious, and many immigrant traditions. The atmosphere changes from Tel Aviv's beaches to Jerusalem's religious neighbourhoods, and it helps to adjust your dress and expectations as you go.
Cover shoulders and knees at all holy places, and carry a scarf. Women may need to cover their hair at some sites, and men to cover their heads at the Western Wall (paper kippot are provided).
From Friday sunset to Saturday night, observant Jews do not use electricity, drive or handle money. Do not drive or smoke in religious neighbourhoods, and be discreet.
Many religious Jews, Muslims and Christians do not want to be photographed. Ask first, and avoid photographing military personnel, checkpoints and security sites.
Israelis and Palestinians talk freely about politics, but the conflict is a painful subject for many. Listen more than you speak, and avoid making assumptions about anyone's views.
Many restaurants are kosher, and do not serve meat and dairy together or open on Shabbat. In Arab towns, alcohol may be less available and restaurants operate on different days.
Expect bag checks at entrances to malls, stations and many public buildings, and detailed questions at the airport. Answer calmly and honestly.
Travel tips
The things that most often catch visitors out in Israel, several of which are specific to how the country works.
FAQ
Day-to-day crime is low and the tourist areas are heavily protected, but since 2023 the wider region has been in sustained conflict, with rocket alerts at times across the country. Many governments advise against travel to areas near the Gaza Strip, the northern border and parts of the West Bank. Read current advice before you book and again before you travel.
Eight to ten days for a first trip. Jerusalem alone can fill four days, and a week lets you add Tel Aviv, Masada and the Dead Sea. A day or two in the north gives you the Galilee, Nazareth and Acre.
March to May and September to November. Spring has green landscapes and comfortable temperatures, and autumn has warm seas and thinner crowds. Summer is hot, and winter can be cold in Jerusalem and the north.
Many nationalities can enter without a visa for up to 90 days, but visa-exempt visitors must apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA-IL) before they travel. Rules and fees change, so check the official government site.
Lightweight clothing that covers shoulders and knees for holy sites, and a scarf for women. In Tel Aviv, casual summer clothes and swimwear are fine. Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbled streets of Jerusalem and Acre.
Yes. Bethlehem and Jericho are easy day trips from Jerusalem, and many visitors also see Ramallah, Hebron and Nablus. Conditions and rules at the checkpoints change, and some governments advise against travel to parts of the West Bank, so check current advice. See our Palestinian Territories guide, including Bethlehem and Jericho.
From Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, trains and most buses stop, and many shops and restaurants close in Jewish areas. Arab towns and parts of Tel Aviv and Haifa remain lively. Plan your transport and meals the day before.
The full travel guide covers routes, budgets, regional differences and how to string these ten destinations into a trip that actually works.
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