The following list highlights some of the best places to visiting in Israel. So if you are in Israel, I recommend visiting the following:
- Mount Carmel National Park, Haifa, Israel
- Bahai Gardens Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Church of The Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Israel
- Dome of The Rock, Jerusalem, Israel
- Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel
- Tower of David, Jerusalem, Israel
- Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Muslim Quarter, Jerusalem, Israel
- Mount Zion, Jerusalem, Israel
- Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel
- Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem, Israel
- Gethsemane, Jerusalem, Israel
- Beit She’an, Northern District, Israel
- Sea of Galilee, Galilee, Israel
- Makhtesh Ramon, Negev Desert, Israel
- Masada National Park, Southern District, Israel
- Hayarkon Park, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Ein Gedi Reserve, Ein Gedi, Israel
- Safari Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Clock Tower, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Caesarea National Park, Tel Aviv, Israel
The Best Places in Haifa District
1. Mount Carmel National Park, Haifa
Mount Carmel, next to Haifa, is known as “Little Switzerland”. The national parks with pine forests and shrublands are considered a paradise. The park offers countless hiking and biking trails, special nature areas and a variety of footpaths. For archaeology enthusiasts there are several settlements from prehistoric times.
2. Bahai Gardens Haifa, Haifa
The majesty of design and landscaping and the fruits of years of labour are expressed in the Baha’i gardens in the city of Haifa. This is where the followers of the Baha’i faith have erected their temple and world centre. The gardens are laid out in nine circles that resemble waves spreading out from the temple at the centre, helping the eye and heart to focus on the core itself. The plants are combined with wrought iron and stonework, which together with fountains and wide expanses of lawn create a picture of particular beauty.
The Best Places in Jerusalem District
3. Church of The Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is one of the holiest sites in Christianity. Six Christian religious communities guard the church. Members of six Christian communities live and pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem: Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Coptic, Syrian Orthodox and Ethiopian. They have different prayer times and the distribution of space within the church is clearly defined.
4. Dome of The Rock, Jerusalem
The Dome of the Rock is the most recognisable building in Jerusalem. Its golden decoration stands out from the Old City, the ancient part of the city, and is visible from many points outside the city walls and from vantage points such as the Mount of Olives and the Gallicantu. In addition to its spectacular architecture, this Islamic monument is a very important site for Muslims, but also for Jews.
5. Western Wall, Jerusalem
The Wailing Wall is a section of one of the walls of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed in AD 70. The Wailing Wall is an important place of prayer, reflection and religious worship in Judaism. The significance of the Wailing Wall derives from another of the most sacred objects in the Hebrew world, the Cornerstone or Foundation Stone. One of the best-known customs of the Wailing Wall is to place a piece of paper with prayers or supplications between the cracks of the Wall. Gentiles may also do so.
6. Tower of David, Jerusalem
The Tower of David is an ancient citadel located very close to the Jaffa Gate, which is the entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem. Archaeological artefacts have been found here that are over 2,700 years old and it is currently used for various events such as concerts, charity events, craftsmen’s gatherings and sound and light shows. The Tower of David houses a museum where tourists can see a part of Jerusalem’s history.
7. Yad Vashem, Jerusalem
This is an official memorial centre, commemorating the victims of the persecution of Jews by the Nazis and their henchmen in Europe. Yad Vashem collects documents and testimonies of individuals, conducts research and provides information on the history of the Holocaust, among other exhibits. Yad Vashem honours people who have saved Jews during the Holocaust years, or who have helped them.
8. Muslim Quarter, Jerusalem
The Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem is one of the four quarters of the Old City. Paradoxically, the most representative places for the followers of Islam are not in it, but on the Temple Mount. Even so, you are sure to enjoy discovering all its secrets as you walk through its streets. A neighbourhood that preserves its mediaeval structure and is full of life thanks to the colourful and colourful souks. These markets are one of the great attractions of the neighbourhood. Here you can enjoy the colourful fabrics, the smell of spices and the joy of the vendors.
9. Mount Zion, Jerusalem
It is a hill located to the south-east of the Old City, being the highest of the seven hills of Jerusalem at 765 metres. On Mount Zion we can visit some places that we can easily identify from the Bible. In particular, the most important are the Basilica of the Dormition and the Upper Room. On Mount Zion there is a small monument dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust. Another museum on Mount Zion is dedicated to the Israeli sculptor David Palombo. You can visit the Protestant cemetery on Mount Zion and the Catholic cemetery where Oscar Schindler is buried. Schindler saved 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust.
10. Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
It is the place where Judas kissed Jesus and prayed before he was arrested, according to the Christian religion. And because of this belief it is considered one of Jerusalem’s main tourist attractions within the Kidron Valley. If you are a non-believer, both sites are also highly recommended, where from the top you can have one of the best views of Jerusalem. The climb to the Mount must be done on foot, as the tourist buses stop at the foot of the mountain, so it won’t do you much good to take a tourist bus if you want to save on the climb.
11. Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem
This market is located on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem. Popular with locals and tourists alike: the market has over 250 vendors offering fresh fruits and vegetables; baked goods; fish, meat and nuts, dried fruits, seeds and spices, wine and spirits, clothing and footwear, household items, textiles and Jewish goods. In and around the market there are falafels and shawarma, new bars, restaurants and cafes.
12. Gethsemane, Jerusalem
The garden extends over an area of 1,200 square metres delimited by a perimeter fence that protects them; inside are the centenary olive trees distributed in small plots where other plants and flowers also grow, which the Franciscan fathers have cared for with great care since 1681. Thousands of pilgrims come here every year to walk in the shade of these mythical trees and feel the spiritual magic they have left behind.
The Best Places in Northern District
13. Beit She’an, Northern District
The Beit She’an Valley is an area in the Jordan Valley of northern Israel. On the positive side, it has numerous springs and water sources that you can cool off on a hot day. Recommended places to visit are Naharayim, Nahal HaKibbutzim and the Beit Alfa Synagogue National Park. Archaeological excavations in the south and southwest have uncovered the city’s main streets and public buildings. The remains of the theatre and amphitheatre have also been uncovered.
14. Sea of Galilee, Galilee
The Sea of Galilee or Lake Tiberias is today one of the most popular tourist destinations in northern Israel as it offers the traveller a perfect combination of leisure, including both beautiful beaches with endless possibilities for enjoyment and a more cultural side inevitably linked to religion, especially Christianity. Near the Sea of Galilee there are other very important points for the Christian tradition such as the Mount of Beatitudes, the Byzantine Monastery of Kursi or the fishermen’s boat. In addition to these religious sites there are other important attractions such as Ubeidiya, the most important prehistoric settlement in Israel or Degania Alef, the first Kibbutz in Israel.
The Best Places in Southern District
15. Makhtesh Ramon, Negev Desert
It is a spectacular geological structure in the Negev Desert in Israel. It is located at the top of Mount Negev about 85 km south of the city of Beer Sheva. Its surface is not really a meteor impact crater but the largest eroded basin in the world. The only settlement in the region is the small town of Mitzpe Ramon (“observation point”), located on the northern rim of the crater. At the foot of the observatory there are toilets and a snack bar.
16. Masada National Park, Southern District
The Masada Ruins are located on top of a cliff at an altitude of 300 metres and can be reached in several ways: by cable car, by hiking, and by climbing the old Roman ramp, a very steep path that can be travelled by car. The Masada photo reportage is sure to be one of the most popular of your trip to the Holy Land. The fortress sits on a magnificent elevation south of the Dead Sea, with spectacular panoramas of the contrasting reddish earth of the Judean desert and the deep blue Dead Sea. Sunrise and sunset are highlights.
The Best Places in Tel Aviv District
17. Hayarkon Park, Tel Aviv
Hayarkon Park is Tel Aviv’s most important landmark. Covering 35,000 square metres, it is the largest park in the city and has become a safe bet for locals and tourists alike; it has six main sections, each dedicated to a different theme. Haarkon Park has a boating pool, green picnic areas, a bicycle path, a climbing wall and even Tel Aviv’s largest water park.
18. Ein Gedi Reserve, Ein Gedi
Its name, “Ein Gedi” translates as “spring of the child” (young goat), literally because of the springs and the large number of goats found here. It is also the largest oasis in the country and one of the few streams where water flows all year round. It has a total of 1425 hectares, which encompasses paths, trails, streams, ravines, cliffs, canyons, caves, waterfalls and pools where of course, you will have to swim! It is home to a large number of diverse exotic and endangered plants, as well as animals such as wolves, bats, hyenas, foxes and mountain or desert goats.
19. Safari Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv
It covers an area of about 100 hectares and has 1,600 animals of different species: 68 species of mammals, about 130 species of birds, and about 25 species of reptiles. You can walk through the entire park, but there is also a circuit for vehicles that allows visitors to see the lions, rheas, and other animals up close, which approach the car and some of them can even be petted. It is a very pleasant park in general and very clean.
20. The Clock Tower, Tel Aviv
The Jaffa Clock Tower was erected between 1900 and 1903, to commemorate the silver jubilee of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, with contributions from residents of the city. Over time, the tower lost three of its clocks and today only the one on the façade is visible. In addition, the Ottoman seal that paid homage to Sultan Abdul Hamid II was recently restored, as it was in very poor condition. The Jaffa Clock Tower houses a tourist office where you can get maps, tips on where to eat in Tel Aviv and much more.
21. Caesarea National Park, Tel Aviv
Caesarea National Park is one of the most impressive in Israel, housing unique buildings from various periods, silent witnesses to the upheavals that have shaken this place for the past 2,300 years. You can stroll along the city walls and around the towers, wander through the ruins of the castle and the various temples, watch horse races at the hippodrome, visit the old port and the small artists’ square, or view interactive three-dimensional computer simulations of the city’s past. Cultural festivals are held in the harbour all year round … and diving enthusiasts can explore the submerged ruins in the archaeological park next to the harbour.
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