Best hotels and hostels in Israel

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 four spacious guest rooms connect to a sitting room that's...

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 patterns and allusive murals. Walk-in showers and the...

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 around the campfire or sip beers in the chill-out tent. On...

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 tasteful, though they’re no match for the lounge’s arched...

At this fabulous B&B, 19th-century stone courtyards shelter bubbling fountains, glittering fairy lights, stained glass and a veritable menagerie – llamas and ponies live out back. During the British Mandate, the...

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 deliciously cooling pool. There are four categories of...

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 of Mongolia, they designed and handmade five colour-coded...

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 suites for couples or families with bathrooms, kitchenettes...

Framed by roses and vines, the luxurious Cramim resort lulls guests into total relaxation. Rooms are neutral-toned, calming spaces with broad beds, floor-to-ceiling windows and, in the premium ‘Vista’ rooms (from...

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 Browns, Poli turns up the volume, brightness and colour....

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 desert wilderness, chill out around the campfire (always...

Perched on an isolated hilltop, artsy, rustic Bikta BeKadita – inspired by the American back-to-nature movement of the 1960s – has an ecological philosophy and a hippy vibe. The five eclectic and very creative...

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 recent boutique-hotel boom, the Rothschild's decor has...

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 two Ottoman-era town houses, authentically restored under...

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 microwave-emitting wi-fi). Outside, hammocks swing among the...

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. Amenities include a pebbly private beach, a spa and a kids...

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 relaxing among bougainvillea, grape arbours and 60 kinds of...

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 kibbutz rooms and romantic wooden ‘Iris’ chalets with 50 sq...

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 ceilings, all-marble bathrooms and antique-themed furniture...

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 Rothschild Blvd, but the rooftop bar and pretty rear courtyard...