This list of essential places to see in IsraelIt will help you prepare a trip to the Holy Land, a country that we are safe, will leave a mark, whether or not you are a believer.
Israel, which is located in a strategic area of the Middle East, stands out and is known for having some of the most sacred places of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, something that makes it an essential for every traveler interested in history.
Although its neighbors do not have much appreciation, it is a very safe country to travel on your own, completing a circular route by rental car from Tel Aviv. Although if you do not want to drive you can make day trips from Tel Aviv itself or from Jerusalem, thus also making a very complete trip.
Another interesting option is to book this 8-day circuit for the best of Israel that includes guide in Spanish, accommodation and transportation.
The best time to travel to Israel is in spring and autumn when temperatures are not very high and prices, especially in accommodation, are much more affordable than in summer. In winter it can be a good time to go to the Dead Sea area and Eilat, located in the south of the country.
Based on the experience accumulated during our trip to Israel and Palestine for free, we have made this list of those that we think are the 10 essential places to visit in Israel. We start!
1. Jerusalem
Jerusalem, founded in 1004 B.C. by King David, it is one of the oldest cities in the world and one of the most essential places to see in Israel.
This Holy city of the 3 main monotheistic religions, impresses with its old town surrounded by a huge wall and 7 impressive access doors, which will allow you to access its four most important neighborhoods.
In addition to getting lost in the narrow streets of these neighborhoods, we recommend you visit the most sacred places to see in Jerusalem, such as the Esplanade of the Mosques, the Western Wall and the Holy Sepulcher.
It is worth investing 3 or 4 days to complete the visit of these sacred places combining them with others no less interesting such as the Mount of Olives, the Muslim and Jewish Quarter, the Cenacle, David's Tomb, the Via Dolorosa and the magic Garden Tomb, among many others.
To get to know a city with so much history it is almost essential to book a guided tour in Spanish or this free tour of Jerusalem Free!, Which will help you understand many things and not miss anything in one of the cities that will always remain in your memory.
To stay we recommend one of the most popular hostels among travelers, the Abraham Hostel, located 20 minutes walk from the historic center and with a tram stop in front.
Jerusalem
2. Tel Aviv
The city of Tel Aviv is the second most important city in Israel after Jerusalem, and is known as the "city that never sleeps", thanks to its lively nightlife. In addition to enjoying its venues and nightclubs in which the best DJs in the world play, this city has numerous museums among which the Museum of Art and the Jewish People, more than 14 kilometers bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, local markets such as Carmel and charming neighborhoods like Yemeni.
Among the essential places to see in Tel Aviv, our favorite is Jaffa, the old port city, which we recommend not to miss for anything in the world.
To get to the old Jaffa, one of the best places to see in Israel, you can explore the seafront that ends at the famous port of Jaffa. After eating fish or seafood in one of the good restaurants of the port, we recommend you go up to the restored old town and get lost in its narrow streets to see places such as the Clock Tower, the Bridge of Desires, the Zodiac Fountain, the mosque Mahmoudiya, the church of St. Peter and end at the lighthouse of Jaffa.
A good option to get to know the great history and not miss anything from this old part of Tel Aviv is to book this free tour of Jaffa Free!
To stay we recommend the Sun City Hotel, located in the center a few meters from the beach and with one of the best quality / price ratios in the city.
Tel Aviv
3. Dead Sea
Floating in a sea without using any help is one of the most amazing experiences and a best things to do in Israel. This activity is possible in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the planet located 435 meters below sea level, having a salinity 9 times higher than other seas.
To enjoy this experience you can go to the Ein Gedi area, which has several hotels located near the Dead Sea such as the HI - Ein Gedi Hostel or the Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel, where we stayed. These accommodations offer free access to a private beach of the Dead Sea, treatments in their spas, as well as being able to visit a kibbutz, a typical agricultural commune in the country.
To take a bath in the Dead Sea, which is actually a lake, you have to follow several directions such as preventing salt from touching your eyes, wearing flip flops so you don't cut your feet and sun protection with a high factor. Once inside the dense and oily water of this sea, you can lie on your back and enjoy its buoyancy, one of the most incredible experiences you can live in Israel.
To get to the Dead Sea, if you don't want to rent a car, you can take the bus from the Egged Bus company.
Another interesting and more comfortable option is to book some of these tours that depart from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, which include a guide in Spanish and pick up at your hotel.
- Book excursion to Masada and the Dead Sea from Tel Aviv
- Book a trip to the Dead Sea from Tel Aviv
- Book excursion to Masada and the Dead Sea from Jerusalem
- Book Dead Sea excursion from Jerusalem
Dead Sea
4. Haifa, one of the places to see in Israel
Haifa, located about 100 kilometers north of Tel Aviv, is the third largest city in the country and one of the most important to visit in Israel.
This city built at the foot of Mount Carmel, is considered an example of coexistence between Jews, Muslims and Christians, which you will discover while walking through its streets and markets. In addition to this good atmosphere, the city has the largest port in the country and the Bahaí gardens, one of the jewels of Israel, built in a slope and designed in a circular way, which stand out for its 19 terraces and its spectacular temple of more than 40 meters high.
At the end of the visit to Bahaí, we recommend starting at the highest part and going down, you will find one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the city, the German colony. After a walk through its streets, we recommend you to end your visit to Haifa, visiting the Hadar neighborhood and the Wadi Nisnas Arab neighborhood, where you can eat a good falafel or shawarma in one of its many stalls.
The best way to get to Haifa, one of the places to see in Israel, from Tel Aviv is by car or by direct train, which takes an hour.
Haifa, one of the places to see in Israel
5. Cesarean section
Halfway between Tel Avid and Haifa, is the archaeological complex of Cesárea, one of the best preserved and most interesting what to see in Israel.
These ruins have their origin in the ancient Roman city of Caesarea Maritime founded by Herod I the Great, in the first century BC ... The good state of conservation of the complex with the impressive original theater of Herod, the racecourse, the remains of Herod's palace and other ruins that are submerged under the waters of the port, make it a mandatory stop.
It is also worth seeing the replica of the Stone of Pilate, which was found in this site and of great historical value when verifying the existence of Pontius Pilate, responsible for the torture and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.
In addition to all these Roman remains, you can see the Martyrdom Church of the 6th century, belonging to the Byzantine era and the walls of the time of the Crusades.
To visit all these points of the coast, if you do not have a car or do not want to waste a lot of time, we recommend you book this excursion to the cities Caesarea, Haifa, Acre and the Rosh Hanikra caves in a day from Tel Aviv with guide in Spanish or this from Jerusalem
Caesarean section
6. Acre
Little Acre, or Akko in Hebrew, is one of the oldest cities in the world and one of the places to see in Israel. This city has an important Templar past that can be seen by visiting the Templar tunnel and the fortress of the Order of the Hospitallers, the great jewel of Acre. Remember that the Knights Templar were sent by the Pope and European kings to recover the holiest places of Christianity from the hands of Muslims.
Other interesting points of the city are the Al-Jazzar Mosque, the El-Zeituna Mosque, the Khan Al-Umda Caravasar and the walls of the ancient Acre.
If you spend the night in this city we recommend the accommodation Akkotel-Boutique hotel, located in the center and with a very attentive staff.
Acre
7. Safed
Safed, located 900 meters in the mountains of Upper Galilee in the north of the country, is one of the four sacred cities to see in Israel and it is known as the city of Kabbalah, the mystical branch of Judaism.
In addition to its surroundings and its views of Galilee, this city stands out for its historic center full of narrow cobbled streets, galleries and shops of local artists and ancient synagogues.
Other interesting places in the city are the cemetery, the citadel, the Ma'alot Olei Hagardom staircase and the cave of Shem and Ever, which they say was the place of study of Noah's son and grandson.
Safed
8. Masada
Masada Fortress, located on the flat top of a lonely mountain in the Judean Desert, near the Dead Sea, is another of the most essential places to visit in Israel.
Legend has it that a group of fierce Jews with their families resisted in this impregnable fortress the siege of an entire legion of Rome during the first Judeo-Roman war. Before the time of the conquest of the fortress by the Roman troops, all the rebels of Masada decided to commit suicide to avoid surrendering and being enslaved.
At present, in the archaeological site you can see several ruins of ancient palaces, cisterns, towers, Byzantine chapels and panoramic viewpoints, which will make this visit one of the most special of the trip.
To get to the fortress, we recommend climbing the cable car and walking around a path to the parking lot.
The best way to get to Masada is by car or by booking this excursion to Masada from Tel Aviv or from Jerusalem, both with a guide in Spanish and which include the Dead Sea, another of the essential places to see in Israel.
Masada, one of the places to visit in Israel
Recommended travel cardsRemember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
9. Nazareth
Nazareth was the place where Jesus spent his first years of life and where the Archangel Gabriel announced the future birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary, according to the gospels.
At present it is a city with a majority of Arab population that has in the Basilica of the Annunciation, its main tourist attraction and one of the most important places to see in Israel. This modern building has inside the Grotto of the Annunciation, considered as the remains of the birthplace of the Virgin Mary and the site of the annunciation. Next to this basilica is the Church of San José, where the carpentry of Joseph, father of Jesus, would have been.
Another place where according to the Orthodox was the annunciation is the spring found in the Church of St. Gabriel or the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. And if you are still not satisfied with these two versions, there is still a third that says it was in the Well of Mary or the Annunciation.
In addition to these 3 sacred places, it is worth approaching the White Mosque, the oldest in Nazareth and which had a decisive role in the harmony between religious communities of this city.
During our trip we stayed at the Fauzi Azar Inn Hotel, an old 200-year-old Arab stone mansion, located in the old part of Nazareth that we can only recommend both for the location, the treatment received and for entering within the places to see in Israel, due to the magic of the place.
A good option to visit all the attractions of Lower Galilee is to book this excursion to Nazareth, Tiberias and Galilee from Tel Aviv or from Jerusalem, both with a guide in Spanish.
Nazareth
10. Monastery of St. George of Coziba (Palestine)
Although the Monastery of San Jorge de Coziba would not enter among the places to see in Israel Belonging to Palestine, we believe that if you travel by car through the country it is a must.
Despite being in Palestinian territory, it is easy to get there if you drive on Highway 90, which runs from Nazareth to the Dead Sea. At this point, you have to be alert and ignore the GPS that will try to make a detour to prevent you from entering the West Bank. In this case you just have to deactivate this option in the GPS or just pay attention to the road signs.
As you approach the road to the monastery you will see one of the sides, a cross where there is a viewpoint from where you will have magnificent views of the monastery and the spectacular Wadi Qelt canyon. If you follow a few more kilometers you will reach the parking lot, from where you can climb to this monastery of the 5th century, which is taken care of by several Greco-Orthodox monks and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
St. George's Monastery
10 + 1. Bethlehem (Palestine)
For the same reason that the Monastery of San Jorge, Belén could not enter this the list of places to see in Israel by belonging to Palestine, but we believe that without visiting this city a trip through this country would be a bit lame.
Bethlehem, located just 9 kilometers from Jerusalem, is in the city that according to the Bible, Jesus was born. Its most visited place is precisely the Basilica of the Nativity that hides inside the exact place of birth, which is filled every day with hundreds of tourists and pilgrims to touch the 14-pointed star that marks the location of the portal of Bethlehem.
Other biblical places in Bethlehem are the Grotto of the Milk, which was where a drop of milk of the Virgin Mary fell while breastfeeding Jesus and the chapel of the Field of the Shepherds, where an angel appeared to some shepherds to announce the arrival of the Messiah.
In addition to these visits we recommend getting lost in the streets that leave the popular Manger Square, to live first hand one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
We visited Bethlehem next to Hebron from Jerusalem and for that we had to take the bus line 124, which brings you closer to the border with Palestine, cross the wall on foot and there take a taxi to get first to Hebron and then to Jerusalem.
Another more comfortable option is to take line 21 that leaves from the bus station, near the corner of Nablus Rd, which takes you directly to the Basilica of the Nativity.
If you want to know the history better we recommend you book this excursion to Bethlehem with a guide in Spanish or this one that includes the city of Jericho, the oldest city in the world.
Belen
How to have internet in Israel?If you want to have internet in turkey a good option is to buy one Holafly SIM card, with which you will have internet from the moment you land, several GB of data, keeping your WhatsApp number and support service in Spanish.
You can buy your Holafly prepaid SIM card here with a 5% discount for being our reader.
If you feel like helping us complete the list of 10 essential places to see in Israel, add yours in the comments.
