Must-see hotels in Israel & the Palestinian Territories

  • American Colony Hotel

    East Jerusalem

    East Jerusalem's VIP choice is this luxurious complex based around a mid-19th-century building. The American Colony Hotel retains much of its historic…

  • Walled Off Hotel

    Bethlehem

    For 10 years British street artist Banksy has been stencilling his work on and around the wall that separates Bethlehem from Jerusalem. Now he's opened a…

  • Lishansky Since 1936

    Upper Galilee & Golan

    Built in the Bauhaus style in 1936 by the family of a famous WWI spy, this place retains its original architecture, interior design and furnishings. The…

  • Villa Carmel

    Haifa

    Gramophones and antiques set the nostalgic tone of this one-of-a-kind hotel. Rooms feature a tasteful mix of original art, dangling clocks, fleur-de-lis…

  • Shkedi’s Camplodge

    Dead Sea

    A wonderful place to linger for a couple of days, this desert retreat is especially enchanting at night, when owner Gil Shkedi and his guests hang out…

  • Fauzi Azar Inn

    Nazareth

    Hidden away in a gorgeous, two-century-old stone house in the Old City, this place has oodles of charm – and so do the staff. The 14 rooms are simple but…

  • Villa Tehila

    Upper Galilee & Golan

    At this fabulous B&B, 19th-century stone courtyards shelter bubbling fountains, glittering fairy lights, stained glass and a veritable menagerie – llamas…

  • Hosh Al Syrian Guesthouse

    Bethlehem

    Every now and then a hotel comes along and raises the game, and Fadi Kattan's beautiful Hosh Al Syrian Guesthouse has done just that. Tucked away in the…

  • Abraham Hostel

    Jerusalem

    Lively Abraham Hostel has earned its popularity. Its friendly crew easily covers traveller essentials – 24-hour reception, laundry (12NIS), shared kitchen…

  • Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel

    Ein Gedi

    This delightful low-rise campus, lushly planted with exotic trees and plants (including two immense baobab trees), offers a luxurious on-site spa and a…

  • Genghis Khan in the Golan

    Sea of Galilee

    Hosts Sara and Bentzi Zafrir offer the warmest of welcomes and a fantastic independent-travel vibe here. Inspired by the yurts (gers) used by the nomads…

  • Abraham Hostel

    Tel Aviv

    This mammoth hostel is one of the best places to meet other travellers, and it has some of the cleanest and best-kept budget rooms. It offers excellent…

  • Poli House

    Tel Aviv

    Boldly bursting onto the TLV scene in 2017, the 40-room Poli House is the latest creation from the owners of Brown TLV. Slightly different from the other…

  • Khan Al Wakalah

    West Bank

    Set in a beautifully restored Mamluk-Ottoman-era currency exchange in the Old City, Khan Al Wakalah has been a pit stop for travellers between Damascus…

  • YMCA Three Arches Hotel

    Jerusalem

    Stay at the Three Arches and be happy in the knowledge that your hotel is one of modern Jerusalem's most recognisable landmarks. Beneath the soaring 46m…

  • Christ Church Guesthouse

    Jerusalem

    This wonderfully maintained guesthouse gets high marks for its period atmosphere, multilingual staff, prime location and garden setting. The simply…

  • Sami Youth Hostel

    Jericho

    One of the West Bank's best budget stays, Sami Youth Hostel is nestled deep in the refugee camp on the outskirts of Jericho with a dozen clean and quiet…

  • Harmony Hotel

    Jerusalem

    We love Harmony as much for its ethos as for the quality of its rooms. Photos extend across the lobby ceiling representing Jerusalem's various religions,…

  • Rothschild Hotel

    Tel Aviv

    Ofra Zimbalista's sculpture of choral singers on the exterior is but one of many whimsical features at this exemplary boutique hotel. Predating Tel Aviv's…

  • Efendi Hotel

    Akko

    With the same proprietor as world-famous Uri Buri restaurant, it's no surprise this boutique hotel is the ultimate in Ottoman luxury. The Efendi inhabits…

  • Ohn–Bar Guesthouse

    Upper Galilee & Golan

    Perched on a terraced hillside, these 14 wooden units come with a balcony or yard, spa bath, fully equipped kitchen and cable internet (rather than…

  • Area D Hostel

    Ramallah

    Area D is one of only a handful of international standard hostels in the West Bank and by far the best for visitors to Ramallah. Its spotless dorms and…

  • Villa Ba'Moshava

    Jerusalem

    This 23-room hotel within a romantic 19th-century sandstone building occupies a placid spot on a residential street in the German Colony. Standard rooms…

  • Arbel Guest House

    Tiberias

    Moshav Arbel is just 8km northwest of central Tiberias, but this tranquil B&B feels a world away when you’re lazing in a hammock by the 12.5m pool or…

  • Ein Harod Guest House

    Lower Galilee

    Perched on a hilltop with clear-day views of Mt Carmel, Mt Hermon and the mountains of Gilead in Jordan, this welcoming guesthouse has both traditional…

  • Post Hostel

    Jerusalem

    On the 3rd floor of an old post office is this airy and well-run hostel. Bold red and navy decor and postal-themed murals pay homage to the building's…

  • Golan Heights Hostel

    Golan Heights

    This is what a hostel is supposed to be. Amenities include great chill-out spaces for socialising, a spacious kitchen, a library of English books, laundry…

  • Pilgerhaus Tabgha

    Sea of Galilee

    Opened in 1889, this 72-room German Catholic guesthouse – geared to Christian pilgrims but open to all – is a tranquil place with glorious gardens, right…

  • Norman Hotel

    Tel Aviv

    Housed in two restored 1920s Bauhaus buildings, the Norman is awash in midcentury opulence and the most royal of Tel Aviv’s boutiques. No detail is…

  • Midbara

    The Negev

    Midbara offers 13 stylish, comfortable and well-spaced mud cabins scattered along a small wadi planted with fruit trees. All have kitchens, a few have…

  • Hotel Montefiore

    Tel Aviv

    A truly classy choice, the Montefiore occupies a heritage-listed 1920s villa in a tree-lined street off Allenby St. The 12 elegant rooms have high…

  • Hapina–Shel–Michal Hotel

    Israel

    Within a buttercream-coloured building, this spotless guesthouse is ideally located for road-trippers exploring the Judean Hills: it's just over 30…

  • Hashimi Hotel

    Jerusalem

    An oasis in the Old City, this hotel in a 400-year-old building has renovated light-flooded, floral-patterned rooms (ask for a corner room with a view)…

  • iBex Hotel

    Mitzpe Ramon

    The iBex's slogan is 'selling the experience, not just the room' and this convivial place does just that. Hosts and keen cyclists Aviva and Menachem offer…

  • Arthur Hotel

    Jerusalem

    Rooms at the nostalgic Arthur Hotel employ fur-covered cushions, embroidered headboards and antique furnishings to conjure the 1920s. Jewel-toned rooms…

  • Al Mutran Guest House

    Nazareth

    Adjacent to the residence of Nazareth’s Greek Orthodox mutran (‘bishop’ in Arabic), this family-run gem, with 11 rooms, occupies a gorgeous, 200-year-old…

  • Port Inn

    Haifa

    Budget travellers rightly flock to this charming guesthouse. A library and lounge are decked out with Turkish carpets, zany artwork and creeper plants,…

  • Bat Galim Hotel

    Haifa

    Nestled in a snoozy residential part of northern Haifa, close to Bat Galim beach, is this immensely restful boutique hotel. The marine colour scheme,…

  • Tiberias Hostel

    Tiberias

    Yet another excellent ILH hostel, this place has a real backpacker vibe, a rooftop chill-out area with fairy lights, a full kitchen for guests and…

  • Molada Guesthouse

    Haifa

    Spartan but spotless, Molada attracts youthful guests who want a more sedate experience than a standard backpacker hostel. The college-dorm-style…