If it isn’t already, Israel should definitely be on your travel wish list. Filled with stunning spiritual sites which date back thousands of years, lively cities with world-class street food and a whole variety of natural landscapes, there’s a little something for everyone here. In need of some inspiration? We’ve rounded up the country’s top 30 best sights.
Located on Haifa Bay, Israel’s only natural harbour on the Mediterranean, Acre (also known as Akko) bears the mark of the many different civilisations that have shaped Israel as a whole. The walled city was inhabited by the Romans more than a thousand years ago, before being held by Persians, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottomans and the British – today, it remains a mosaic of different cultures. Tucked in this UNESCO-recognised fortress town you’ll find colourful markets, ornate Ottoman-era mosques and Turkish baths, while the smell of sizzling seafood breathes life through the streets at every turn.
In the heart of Acre’s old city, the Al-Jazzar Mosque’s striking turquoise-and-white exterior makes for a memorable sight. Built in 1781, it’s an Ottoman-era mosque and includes a tall minaret with 124 steps inside, twin domes, stately pillars and archways. The interior is just as beautiful, decorated with ornate, calligraphed tiles which contain quotes from the Quran. Those wishing to visit should dress modestly and ensure that their knees and shoulders are covered.
The salt-fringed turquoise pools of the Dead Sea are not only mesmerising to look at – they also provide a magical experience to those who come to bathe in them, thanks to extremely high levels of salt that make it possible to float on the water’s surface. It’s no wonder, then, this is one of Israel’s most popular attractions, bringing in a record-breaking 3.6 million visitors in 2017. Yet the iconic natural wonder is under threat: rising temperatures have led water levels to drop at an alarming rate, and while it’s unlikely to dry up completely, it’s predicted to shrink significantly in coming years.
With its vibrant mural-decorated alleyways, glimmering beaches bordering the Mediterranean and nightlife to rival some of the world’s biggest party cities, Tel Aviv sparkles with life. One of its biggest draws is Neve Tzedek, a 19th-century Jewish neighbourhood-turned ultra-trendy district. Formerly home to artists and writers including Nobel prize winner Shmuel Yosef Agnon and Hebrew artist Nahum Gutman, its winding streets are lined with colourful buildings which house a treasure trove of boutiques, cafés and bistros.
It’s easy to see why architecture enthusiasts flock to Tel Aviv’s White City. Built between the 1930s and 1950s, the region’s 4,000-plus buildings showcase a highly influential 20th-century art and design style called Bauhaus, known for its asymmetry, pared-back aesthetics and functionality. And functional they certainly are: small windows help to minimise glare in the harsh Middle Eastern sunlight, while distinctive long, curved balconies cast shade on apartments below.
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With its origami-esque construction, the Herta and Paul Amir Building at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art certainly pushes the envelope. In fact, it was designed in the shape of one. With a complex, multi-angular folded design courtesy of architects Professor Preston Scott Cohen and Amit Nemlich, the building was completed in 2011 and is one of three that make up the museum. Founded in 1932 by then-Mayor Meir Dizengoff, the museum was envisioned as an opportunity to found a thriving arts scene in Tel Aviv and today, it contains the world’s largest collection of Israeli art alongside works by Old Masters.
Although it’s the enclave out of which modern-day Tel Aviv arose, the two places are worlds apart. Jaffa started life as a seaport some 4,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest in the world. Its restored limestone buildings tumble down the hillsides, spilling out onto the Old Jaffa Port, where it’s said the biblical character of Jonah set off from in the tale of Jonah and the Whale. One of its biggest highlights is the flea market, which hums with life at all hours: an array of antique, jewellery and vintage clothes stalls take centre stage by day, while buzzing bars and restaurants keep the momentum going well into the night.
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While they might look like they’ve been plucked from another planet, the otherworldly rock forms of Timna Park have the whipping wind to thank for their unusual shapes. According to geologists, the valley and its rocky structures were formed by gradual erosion from the elements over millennia. Mushroom-shaped forms like these, called hoodoos, result from the fact the higher rock is stronger so erodes more slowly. Covering around 15,000 acres of Israel’s ochre-hued Negev Desert, the National Park is a hotspot for hikers, cyclists and nature enthusiasts alike.
Jerusalem is one of the most sacred sites in the world – and one of the most contested. In the early 20th century, it was the site of a conflict between Palestinian Arabs and Zionists, then in 1948, it was split into Israeli and Jordanian parts. Today, although the city falls under the state of Israel, both Israel and Palestine have tried to claim it as their capital. It’s a patchwork of cultural and spiritual influences, with the Old Town being made up of Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian quarters, each with a distinct character.
Situated in Jerusalem’s Old City, the Dome of the Rock Mosque was built in the late 7th century AD, making it the oldest surviving Islamic monument in the world. It’s said to be the place where the Prophet Muhammed ascended to heaven. Yet the site is symbolic for Jews and Christians too. In Judaism, it’s referred to as the “Foundation Stone'”, the place where the world was created, while Christians believe that Jesus came here as a child and later prayed and taught here. It’s hard not to be bowled over by its ornate beauty, with intricate blue mosaics decorating the octagonal exterior, crowned by a shimmering gold dome.
Located in Jerusalem’s Christian Quarter, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the most important Christian sites in the world. It is believed that this is the place where Jesus was crucified and is home to what is thought to be the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. After the original 4th-century structure was destroyed by the Persians in 614, the church that we can see today is mostly the result of 12th-century reconstruction work. Pictured here is the rotunda containing Jesus’ tomb, which features an ornate exterior, rebuilt in the 1800s in Turkish Rococo style.
With a shape reminiscent of an upturned bowl, Mount Tabor casts a striking silhouette. Located in the Jezreel Valley in Lower Galilee, the mountain might be relatively small at a height of 1,969 feet (600m), but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in religious significance. It’s believed to be the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus, where Jesus is said to have become radiant with light and spoke with Moses and Elijah, making it a popular spot for pilgrims today. It’s also a favourite with walkers, with three main hiking trails across the mountain.
Perched atop a magnificent rock plateau in the Judean Desert, Masada is an ancient fortress dating back more than 2,000 years. It was created by King Herod of Judea in 30 BC as a palatial complex, and was conquered by Jewish Zealots (a 1st-century anti-Roman political movement) in 68 BC, becoming their last stronghold against the Romans after the fall of Jerusalem. In the ultimate act of martyrdom, the 960 Jewish people that remained chose to hurl themselves off the rock rather than succumb to the Romans. The former palace and fortress is considered one of the best-preserved examples of opulent Roman Imperial architecture in the world.
It’s hard not to be drawn in by the perfect symmetry of Bahá’í Gardens, the jewel in the crown of Haifa’s tourism scene. These UNESCO-recognised terraced gardens are the most important spiritual site for members of the Bahá’í faith, which was founded around 200 years ago by the Persian prophet Siyyid Ali Muhammad Shirazi. Composed of 19 perfectly even terraces filled with flowers, statues and water features, as well as shrines to important Bahá’í figures, they’re a green oasis in the heart of Israel’s third-largest city.
The Sea of Galilee is best known for being where Jesus performed two of his most famous miracles: walking on water, and feeding 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread. Yet the spiritually significant freshwater lake, located in the north of the country, is rapidly reducing in size. This has led to higher salt concentrations in the water, which could disrupt the ecosystem and make the water supply unviable. So Israelis were overjoyed in December 2020, when weeks of heavy rainfall meant the lake’s shores swelled to the highest levels seen in years.
Attracting both tourists and pilgrims, Capernaum is nicknamed the “Town of Jesus” as it’s where the preacher is thought to have lived for much of his life. Located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, it’s here that Jesus performed many of his miracles and met five of his soon-to-be disciples: James, John, Peter, Andrew and Matthew. The town’s ancient synagogue, pictured, is a highlight. Dating to the 2nd century AD, its white stone pillars provide a marked contrast from the rest of Capernaum’s black basalt buildings.
The port city of Caesarea has survived for 2,000 years and it’s doing pretty well for its age. Constructed by King Herod of Judea in 22-10 BC, the harbour is thought to be the first ever built into the open sea, serving as a crucial hub for trade between the Roman Empire, Asia and Europe. Excavations in the 1950s and 1960s led to the rediscovery of many of Caesara’s well-preserved structures, including a Roman amphitheatre, which has been repurposed for modern-day concerts, as well as a hippodrome, temple, aqueduct and more.
Makhtesh translates to pestle and mortar in Hebrew, which is fitting given this crater’s bowl-like shape. The name also nods to the way in which it was formed. The largest erosion crater in the world and one of just seven known to exist, this 6.2-mile wide (10km), 25-mile (40km) long cirque was ground down by erosion from the sea, rainfall and tectonic movement over millions of years. Thanks to its differences in elevation and range of soils and rocks, it’s also home to more than 400 different species of plant, 25 of which are only found in this area.
In contrast to its arid surroundings, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is home to a multitude of gushing springs and waterfalls surrounded by lush greenery. Situated in the Judean Desert near Jerusalem, it’s the largest oasis in Israel, with four springs that pump out 106 million cubic feet (3 million cubic metres) of water each year. It’s also home to Dodim Cave, which contains the remains of a 5,000-year old Chalcolithic temple, and an array of wildlife including wolves, foxes, and one of the largest ibex herds in the country.
Looking at the Hula Valley today, it’s hard to believe that 70 years ago it was covered in swampland. Between 1951 and 1958, the region was almost completely drained of its lake and swamps, with just a small section left as a nature reserve. Yet in the early 1990s heavy rainfall caused part of the valley to be flooded again, and today this area, named Agmon Hahula, is a haven for nature. Visited by thousands of migrating birds each year, it’s also the permanent home of rare plant species including white water lilies and yellow iris, as well as water buffalos, cranes, pelicans and storks.
An important Chrisitan pilgrimage site, Nazareth is best known for being Jesus’ childhood home. Yet as with many of Israel’s cities, its blend of faiths of cultures is what makes it so unique. It’s home to the famous Church of the Annunciation, built on the site of the Virgin Mary’s former home, while mosques, Greek Orthodox churches and synagogues add to the patchwork of religious buildings. Nazareth’s beating pulse can be found in the Old City, a maze of narrow valleys populated by bustling market stalls selling Arabic produce, strung between 19th-century Middle Eastern houses.
It’s hard not to be taken in by the glistening rock pools at Achziv Beach. Yet the lagoon-dappled beach, located in northern Israel around nine miles (15km) north of Acre, has much more to offer than meets the eye. In and around these jewel-like waters there’s a treasure trove of wildlife, from loggerhead sea turtles that nest in summer, to rare coral species – some of which only exist here – hidden in the crevices. Further out to sea, there’s a number of small islands where flocks of seagulls come to make their home in summer.
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Looking distinctly more modern than many of Israel’s cities, the skyscraper-lined shores and glamorous beaches of Netanya have helped earn it the title of the “Israeli Riviera”. And if it’s luxurious seaside charm you’re after, this city has it by the bucketload. Bordering the Mediterranean Sea in west-central Israel, Netanya was founded in 1928 and gained an influx of Jewish immigrants from Europe from 1933 onwards. Today, there’s plenty to see and do besides lounging on its pristine expanses of white sand (although that’s a big draw), with a range of galleries and museums, colourful street art and sporting activities on offer.
The personality of this quaint hillside town falls into two camps: one spiritual side, and one artistic. Located on a tree-canopied slope overlooking the Sea of Galilee, some 2,953 feet (900m) above sea level, Safed is said to have been founded by one of Noah’s sons after the Great Flood. Here you’ll find many stunning religious buildings, including the 16th-century Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue and the Abuhav Synagogue, which contains two Torah scrolls. Meanwhile, creative spirit abounds in the Artists’ Quarter, a bohemian segment of the Old City whose wiggly streets lined with galleries and workshops showcase the city’s artistic talents.
It’s the steepness of Mount Arbel that makes it so imposing, rising 1,280 feet (390m) above the sea of Galilee at a near-vertical angle. Offering sweeping panoramic views of the Jordan Valley below, the statuesque mountain is popular with hikers and base jumpers – it’s the only place in Israel where it’s legal to do so. On top of its stunning natural beauty, Mount Arbel has a fascinating history. Tucked in its slopes are hundreds of naturally-formed karstic caves, which were enlarged and used as dwellings during prehistoric times, as well as hosting a battle between King Herod and his opponents some 2,000 years ago.