10 Must-See Highlights of a Holiday in Israel

Exploring the Best of Israel

Israel is a wonderful holiday destination offering the ideal mix of mountains and deserts, ancient and modern cities. If you are lucky enough to get the chance to go there on holiday then you should take the time to see the following highlights:

Jerusalem – Naturally all holidays to Israel will inevitably start and finish with Jerusalem. Forget any preconceptions you have about this ancient city, this is a thriving, bustling and fascinating destination that you will need a couple of days to explore. Make sure you get to see the Jewish Quarter Museums, the Tisch Zoo, the 1st Station of the Cross, the Mount of Olives, the Tunnels, the Old City and the Western Wall. Wherever you go, take note of all the various religious pilgrims and soak up the spiritual atmosphere of the city.

Tel Aviv – Israels’s funkiest and most energetic city, Tel Aviv is often describes as Paris by the Sea. This is a fun and bustling city whose beating heart is the long stretch of seafront packed with clubs, bars, cafes and restaurants.

Carmel Market – Every trip to Israel should take in at least one street market and the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv is one of the best. The Carmel Market is a riot of smells, colors and sounds, where you can wander around for hours trying out the spices and the foods, the clothes and the hot drinks; as well as watching the people of Tel Aviv going about their weekly shop. Try and resist not coming away with a new taste or delightful knick knack to take home with you!

The Old Jaffa – This is a picturesque and charming area of Tel Aviv which is made up of tiny streets full of galleries, boutiques and cafes. A wonderfully bohemian quarter, with fantastic views of the sea.

The White City – One for the architecture buffs. Take a free walk around this stunning neighborhood of Bauhaus style buildings.

The Dead Sea – The world famous Dead Sea, one of the world’s great natural wonders. Attracts millions of visitors every year who want to take a float in the water and cover themselves in the mud that supposedly contains so many health benefits. Regardless of that it is a simply beautiful body of water.

The City of Safat – For anyone with even a passing interest in the Kabbalah the mystical and spiritual city of Safat is a must-see. This is an elegant city of ethereal and elegant beauty with its tiny cobbled stone streets and beautiful sunsets.

The Ruins at Masada – Sat in a fantastic position looking down over the Dead Sea, the ruins of Masada are an essential stop for history buffs. So important are they, that they have been designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

The Ramon Crater – This beautiful nature reserve around the Ramon Crater has now been declared a national park and quite rightly so. There are numerous incredible walks around the crater and a number of guided bird watching tours that study the birds flying around below you.

Nazareth – Finally, one of Israel’s most famous destinations, Nazareth village, which accurately shows what life would have been like there around the time of the first century.

Guest Post by Esther:

Esther is a travel journalist and blogger. She writes regularly about all the great cities of Europe, the Middle East and Asia. She also regularly contributes to a site dedicated to the Greek Island of Kefalonia. Click to visit kefalonia.co.uk.