Israel

Few places on earth stir up passion the way that Israel does: the breathtaking beauty of its hills and valleys, the eerie stillness of the Dead Sea, the multi-colored canyon of Makhtesh Ramon, and the ancient walls and pathways of Nazareth and Jerusalem. The call of the muezzin and the quiet prayers of Orthodox Jews at the Western Wall reflect how the religious devotion of the Muslims, Christians and Jews who live here runs through every facet of life.

As, of course, does the political – and visitors will rarely leave without encountering the country’s complex politics. But there are also plenty of ways to relax: the bars and beaches of Tel Aviv and Haifa, the wineries of the Galilee and tables loaded with mezze. For the curious visitor, Israel never fails to challenge and confound, excite and surprise, leaving an imprint that lingers long after the return flight home.

Explore Israel

Baha’i Gardens
These formal gardens flowing down 19 steep terraces to a resplendent domed shrine – the final resting place of the prophet-herald of the Baha’i faith –…
Masada National Park
The plateau atop Masada, which measures about 550m by 270m, is some 60m above sea level – that is, about 490m above the surface of the Dead Sea. The…
Basilica of the Annunciation
Dominating the Old City’s skyline is the lantern-topped cupola of this Franciscan-run Roman Catholic basilica, an audacious modernist structure that’s…
Beit She’an National Park
Beit She’an’s extraordinary Roman ruins are the best place in Israel to get a sense of what it was like to live, work and shop in the Roman Empire…
Mount of the Beatitudes
Since at least the 4th century, this landscaped hillside is believed to be where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), whose opening…
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve
This reserve consists of two roughly parallel canyons, Wadi David and Wadi Arugot, each of which has its own entrance complex and ticket office. It is…
Masada Museum
An outstanding and remarkably vivid introduction to Masada’s archaeology and history, this museum combines 500 evocative artefacts unearthed by…
Hai-Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve
Established in 1968 to reintroduce animals that had died out in Israel, this 32-sq-km reserve on the Yotvata salt flats is home to a wide variety of…
Makhtesh Ramon Nature Reserve
Sometimes described as Israel’s very own grand canyon, Makhtesh Ramon is the largest protected area in Israel and is home to a huge number of hiking,…

Baha’i Gardens
These formal gardens flowing down 19 steep terraces to a resplendent domed shrine – the final resting place of the prophet-herald of the Baha’i faith –…
Masada National Park
The plateau atop Masada, which measures about 550m by 270m, is some 60m above sea level – that is, about 490m above the surface of the Dead Sea. The…
Basilica of the Annunciation
Dominating the Old City’s skyline is the lantern-topped cupola of this Franciscan-run Roman Catholic basilica, an audacious modernist structure that’s…
Beit She’an National Park
Beit She’an’s extraordinary Roman ruins are the best place in Israel to get a sense of what it was like to live, work and shop in the Roman Empire…
Mount of the Beatitudes
Since at least the 4th century, this landscaped hillside is believed to be where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), whose opening…
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve
This reserve consists of two roughly parallel canyons, Wadi David and Wadi Arugot, each of which has its own entrance complex and ticket office. It is…
Masada Museum
An outstanding and remarkably vivid introduction to Masada’s archaeology and history, this museum combines 500 evocative artefacts unearthed by…
Hai-Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve
Established in 1968 to reintroduce animals that had died out in Israel, this 32-sq-km reserve on the Yotvata salt flats is home to a wide variety of…
Makhtesh Ramon Nature Reserve
Sometimes described as Israel’s very own grand canyon, Makhtesh Ramon is the largest protected area in Israel and is home to a huge number of hiking,…

Latest Stories from Israel

History Archaeologists unearth an ancient soap-making workshop in Israel
Aug 25, 2020 • 2 min read
It was found at a site inside a wealthy home dating back to the Islamic period near Rahat in the Negev Desert.
Cocktails Tasting Tel Aviv: the best places to eat in the city right now
Nov 24, 2019 • 6 min read
From humble joints dishing up classic hummus to swanky spots serving contemporary dim sum, these are the best places to eat in Tel Aviv right now.
Sports Hiking, canyoning, climbing and more: finding adventure in the Middle East
Nov 6, 2019 • 5 min read
The Middle East is the cradle of civilisation, a place that offers an adventurous blend of unique antiquity, thriving modernity and ultimate wilderness.
Food 7 of the best rooftop bars in Tel Aviv
May 13, 2019 • 5 min read
Perhaps it’s not surprising that Tel Aviv has an enviable concentration of rooftop bars: seaside Mediterranean views, seemingly perennial short-sleeve…
Beaches Where to find the best scuba diving sites in the Middle East
Apr 17, 2019 • 5 min read
With a dazzling bounty of underwater attractions to explore and improved access to key diving hubs, there has arguably never been a better time to strap…
Food Best ways to experience Israel's Negev desert
Dec 13, 2018 • 5 min read
Covering more than half of Israel, the Negev desert is a vast, diverse landscape that’s far from empty. Scattered across the colourful plains, mountains…
Luxury Repurposed Israeli and Palestinian hotels with storied pasts
Dec 8, 2018 • 7 min read
Some travellers prefer to avoid thinking about the previous occupants of their hotel rooms, but a new crop of Israeli and Palestinian boutique hotels have…
Food Best things to do in Tel Aviv in winter
Dec 3, 2018 • 3 min read
Think of Tel Aviv and sandy beaches, bronze bodies and rooftop bars usually spring to mind, but a visit here in winter reveals a different side to the…
Health & Wellness Live the communal life for a night on an Israeli kibbutz
Oct 1, 2018 • 5 min read
From the 1950s to 1970s, Israeli socialist communes called kibbutzim attracted idealist volunteers yearning to get back to nature. Everyone shared…
Food Tel Aviv with kids: a beachside city for the whole family
Aug 28, 2018 • 7 min read
While Tel Aviv at night is a partygoers’ paradise, during the day, it’s a magnet for families. Children are seen and welcomed everywhere – in cafes,…
Food Inside Tel Aviv's imaginative cocktail scene
Aug 28, 2018 • 6 min read
The cocktail scene in Tel Aviv has blossomed in recent years, and drinking dens have turned up everywhere from high-end hotels to secretive speakeasies…
Food Uncovering layers of past and present in Akko, Israel
Jun 27, 2018 • 6 min read
Inside the walls of the 5000-year-old city of Akko, bustling markets are squeezed into alleyways that meander past incredible historical sites. It was the…
Food Haifa for every mood: ways to explore Israel’s third city
Jun 18, 2018 • 6 min read
Haifa is moody in the best possible way. Israel’s third-largest city is a jigsaw of neighbourhoods between the slopes of Mt Carmel and the Mediterranean…
Story Awaiting the apocalypse in Megiddo, Israel
Mar 21, 2018 • 4 min read
I squint in the desert sun, scanning the horizon from Megiddo hill. So far, not a single harbinger of the apocalypse.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Israel.

See
Baha’i Gardens
These formal gardens flowing down 19 steep terraces to a resplendent domed shrine – the final resting place of the prophet-herald of the Baha’i faith –…
See
Masada National Park
The plateau atop Masada, which measures about 550m by 270m, is some 60m above sea level – that is, about 490m above the surface of the Dead Sea. The…
See
Basilica of the Annunciation
Dominating the Old City’s skyline is the lantern-topped cupola of this Franciscan-run Roman Catholic basilica, an audacious modernist structure that’s…
See
Beit She’an National Park
Beit She’an’s extraordinary Roman ruins are the best place in Israel to get a sense of what it was like to live, work and shop in the Roman Empire…
See
Mount of the Beatitudes
Since at least the 4th century, this landscaped hillside is believed to be where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), whose opening…
See
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve
This reserve consists of two roughly parallel canyons, Wadi David and Wadi Arugot, each of which has its own entrance complex and ticket office. It is…
See
Masada Museum
An outstanding and remarkably vivid introduction to Masada’s archaeology and history, this museum combines 500 evocative artefacts unearthed by…
See
Hai-Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve
Established in 1968 to reintroduce animals that had died out in Israel, this 32-sq-km reserve on the Yotvata salt flats is home to a wide variety of…
See
Makhtesh Ramon Nature Reserve
Sometimes described as Israel’s very own grand canyon, Makhtesh Ramon is the largest protected area in Israel and is home to a huge number of hiking,…

Guidebooks

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