Israel & the Palestinian Territories

First time Jerusalem: an essential guide to the world’s holiest city

Sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, Jerusalem’s Old City is one of the world’s foremost pilgrimage destinations. It’s also one of the most magical – and disputed – places in the Middle East. If the description ‘living history’ truly applies anywhere in the world, it applies here.

But the Old City isn’t the only attraction in town. In the modern part of Jerusalem are museums, memorials and markets to visit, as well as a thriving café, bar and restaurant scene to investigate. Together, the city’s old and new sections offer an irresistible and unique destination for travellers.

Hunting for hummus in Israel

Tubs of hummus – cooked, mashed chickpeas mixed with garlic, olive oil and lemon -- fill refrigerators all over the globe, but where can the best be found? One contender for the gold medal is Israel, where, despite political differences, locals have embraced this Arabic dish as their own.

Although the origin of hummus (which simply means 'chickpea' in Arabic), is unclear, people have been consuming this thick savoury paste for millennia in the Middle East. Medieval recipe books show it was eaten in Egypt and the Levant (Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon) before spreading to Turkey, Greece and across the Mediterranean.

The Holy Land of Beer

 Alexander is an Israeli brewery that opened in 2008 and quickly became a favourite in restaurants and bars. (Courtesy of the Alexander Brewery)