7 Best Places to Visit in Israel

Israel packs an unusual amount of history, geography, and coastline into a country you can drive across in a few hours — ancient religious sites, the lowest point on Earth, and Mediterranean and Red Sea beaches all within easy reach of each other. Here are seven places worth building a trip around.

1. Jerusalem Old City

A walled city holding sites central to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam within less than half a square mile — the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock among them. It's been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. The four quarters (Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian) can each fill a day on their own.

2. Tel Aviv

Israel's commercial and cultural hub, known for its Mediterranean beachfront, nightlife, and the White City district — over 4,000 Bauhaus and International Style buildings from the 1930s that earned it UNESCO recognition. It's a very different pace than Jerusalem, just about an hour away by road.

3. Dead Sea

The lowest point on Earth's land surface, at roughly 430 meters below sea level, and one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world — salty enough that floating without effort is genuinely effortless. Mineral-rich mud from its shores is used in cosmetics and spa treatments sold worldwide.

4. Masada

An ancient fortification atop an isolated desert plateau overlooking the Dead Sea, built out by King Herod the Great and later the site of a famous last stand by Jewish rebels against Rome around 73 AD. A cable car (or a sunrise hike up the Snake Path) gets you to the ruins, which include Herod's northern palace and Roman-style bathhouses. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5. Nazareth

The town where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus grew up, and now Israel's largest Arab city. The Basilica of the Annunciation, built over a grotto believed to mark the site of the Annunciation, is the largest church in the Middle East. The old market (souk) area is worth wandering for its Ottoman-era architecture.

6. Sea of Galilee

A freshwater lake in northern Israel that's the setting for much of the New Testament's account of Jesus's ministry, with sites like Capernaum and Tabgha along its shores. Tiberias, on its western bank, is the main base for visiting and is also known for its hot springs. It's Israel's largest freshwater lake and a key part of the national water supply.

7. Eilat

Israel's southernmost city, sitting on the Red Sea at the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba. Its coral reefs are a major draw for snorkeling and diving, and the desert climate makes it a year-round beach destination even when the rest of the country is cold. It's also where Israel, Egypt, and Jordan's coastlines come closest together.

Staying connected while you travel

Israel has strong 4G/5G coverage across its cities and most tourist routes, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Dead Sea region, so an eSIM will get you online the moment you land without needing a local SIM.

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