Must-see hotels in Israel

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Safed Inn

    Upper Galilee & Golan

    Opened in 1936, this garden guesthouse has a sauna, an outdoor hot tub (open 8pm to 11pm), washing machines and 18 comfortable rooms (including one that's…

  • Mendeli Street Hotel

    Tel Aviv

    In summer, the living is both easy and glamorous at this hotel close to Frishman Beach. The hotel foyer and restaurant are design magazine chic, and the…

  • Shenkin Hotel

    Tel Aviv

    Its mantra is 'locals know best', and the excellent recommendations supplied by the Shenkin's friendly staff certainly prove the point. A small and…

  • Grushka Country Accommodation

    Caesarea

    An effusive Dutch owner sets the tone for this amiable four-room guesthouse. Wood ceilings, attic rooms and the occasional clog infuse it with Dutch…

  • Cramim Spa & Wine

    Israel

    Framed by roses and vines, the luxurious Cramim resort lulls guests into total relaxation. Rooms are neutral-toned, calming spaces with broad beds, floor…

  • Khan Be'erotayim

    The Negev

    In the middle of nowhere not far from the Egyptian frontier, this ecofriendly encampment (elevation 360m) is an excellent spot to enjoy the quiet of the…

  • Bikta BeKadita

    Upper Galilee & Golan

    Perched on an isolated hilltop, artsy, rustic Bikta BeKadita – inspired by the American back-to-nature movement of the 1960s – has an ecological…

  • Rimonim Galei Kinnereth

    Tiberias

    A favourite of David Ben-Gurion back in the 1950s, the doyen of the Tiberias hotel scene – opened in 1946 – retains some of its late-Mandate-era charm…

  • Colony Hotel Haifa

    Haifa

    This tastefully updated Templer building is the ideal spot to soak up the German Colony's history and atmosphere. Its 40 rooms have large windows, high…

  • Alma Hotel

    Tel Aviv

    The lovely light-green 1920s building, theatrical decor and on-site restaurant and tapas bar are the main draws at this boutique choice just off…

  • Beit Maimon Hotel

    North Coast

    With hardwood furnishings, stone-tiled bathrooms, genuine service and Mediterranean views from the breakfast terrace, Beit Maimon balances cosiness with…

  • Me'ever

    Mitzpe Ramon

    Run mainly by volunteers, this 'creative space' – in a 1000-sq-metre hangar – hosts alternative festivals, events and workshops for up to 600 people and…

  • Scots Hotel

    Tiberias

    Built in the 1890s as a hospital, this sumptuously restored complex – still owned by the Church of Scotland – is graced by meticulously tended gardens,…

  • Green Backpackers

    Mitzpe Ramon

    Run with enthusiasm by keen hikers Lee and Yoash, this home-style hostel on the edge of town, with 24 beds, is the local backpacker hub. There's a tiny…

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