Israel Itinerary: Your 7 Day Journey Information

Israel is an extremely numerous panorama of Biblical websites, desert, mountains, and luxurious landscapes. With a lot magnificence, historical past, and tradition it may be onerous to know the place to begin. If you happen to’re planning a visit to Israel this information will show you how to plan your excellent itinerary!

This journey information to Israel is for a 7 day itinerary, however I’ve acquired choices for each shorter and longer journeys.

Although it is a small nation, concerning the dimension of New Jersey, Israel has made a big impact on the world. As a result of it is a spot brimming with know-how and innovation in Tel Aviv and the Biblical websites in Jerusalem, it is on many individuals’s bucket listing. I found there’s way more to Israel than simply these two superb cities.

Israel is among the most essential spiritual locations for 3 completely different religions: Jews, Christians, and Muslims, which implies many non secular and nonreligious individuals discover this space fascinating. Tracing the historical past again by means of landmarks of a number of the most vital occasions, touring right here brings the historical past books to life.

Israel Overview

Day 1: Tel Aviv and Jaffa

Day 2: Mediterranean Coast: Caesara Nationwide Park, Tulip Vineyard, Akko, Tiberias

Day 3: Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Magdala, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Tabgha, Golan Heights

Day 4: Jesus Baptism Web site on the Jordan River, The Useless Sea, Qumran

Day 5: Jerusalem

Day 6: Jerusalem and Tel Aviv

Day 7: Tel Aviv

Day 1: Tel Aviv & Jaffa

Begin your journey in Tel Aviv. This metropolis is named the “Silicon Wadi” due to its booming high-tech trade. It is a younger and vibrant metropolis with loads to supply together with nice nightlife, seashores, and eating places. Whereas there, you should definitely try a number of the well-known vacationer websites just like the Previous Jaffa Port, the Carmel Market, and Bauhaus structure.

Jaffa is among the oldest cities on the planet at over 4,000 years previous! It is a metropolis with lots of character, so simply strolling round is a good way to discover. Traverse the slim, winding streets and browse the artwork galleries, cafes, and retailers.

If you happen to like graffiti and murals, try the distinctive Florentin neighborhood. That is the place you may discover a number of the greatest road artwork in Tel Aviv. Subsequent, you may discover the Bauhaus development alongside Rothschild Boulevard within the “White Metropolis.” Beautiful houses with clear strains are constructed in rows. That is the biggest single city ensemble of Fashionable structure on the planet and the primary trendy metropolis in Israel.

Day 2: Mediterranean Coast: Caesara Nationwide Park, Tulip Vineyard, Akko, Tiberias

Drive North alongside the coast to go to a number of the Roman ruins at Caesara Nationwide Park. It is a lovely spot for mountain climbing, picnicking, and swimming. The park is positioned on the Mediterranean coast and has beautiful views.

That is the place you may discover the ruins of the port metropolis that King Herod constructed. Proper on the water you may discover mosaic flooring and even an amphitheater that is nonetheless in use at the moment.

Afterwards, head to the Tulip Vineyard for a tour and tasting. Not solely is the wine scrumptious and distinctive, there is a function behind it. The vineyard works with a neighborhood of particular wants people to assist produce the wine. The distinctive wine is totally the most effective I had on the journey. I used to be so impressed with their mission in serving to the neighborhood.

Subsequent, cease is Akko. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site with lots of historical past. Akko is an previous metropolis with a Crusader previous. It is now a peaceable place with an attractive harbor.

The previous metropolis of Akko is surrounded by fortifications and is a superb place to discover. Head down into the partitions’ tunnels to find the Ethnographic Museum and tour of the Hospitallers Order’s Fortress from the Crusader interval. Uncover the superb ruins of a long-forgotten order, in addition to restored and spectacularly reconstructed areas, courtyards, and streets which have been misplaced for hundreds of years however at the moment are being revitalized to inform their story.

Akko additionally has colourful markets, museums, seashores, a fishermen’s port, marina, and loads of seafood eating places making it a terrific place to discover.

Finish your day in Tiberius, positioned on the Sea of Galilee. It is a great place to loosen up and benefit from the views.

An excellent place to eat in Tiberius is Deck’s Restaurant for plenty of tasty meat and seafood choices.

Day 3: Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Magdala, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Tabgha, Golan Heights

From Tiberius we drove over to Magdala. That is the place Mary Magdalene is from. Right here, there is a model new resort for the many individuals who make the pilgrimage right here.

Situated close to the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Magdala was fishing village which had a synagogue. Uncovered in 2009, archaeologists found the presence of a Jewish neighborhood in Magdala by discovering the First Century Synagogue. This synagogue is one among seven on the planet and the most effective preserved at the moment.

Most notably, archeologists discovered the Magdala Stone, a discovery they’ve quoted to be, “probably the most important finds up to now 50 years.” Right here, Jesus taught, healed and preached.

Subsequent we headed to Mount of Beatitudes, the place the place Jesus is alleged to have given the Sermon on the Mount.

It is a lovely and peaceable spot overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Whether or not or not in the event you’re spiritual, this can be a religious place to replicate.

Tabgha is one other vacationer cease on the Sea of Galilee. Right here is the place you may discover the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. The mosaics listed below are lovely and that is the spot the place Jesus multiplied the fish and bread to feed the multitude of individuals.

Make sure that to cease on the museum to see the Historical Galilee Boat, additionally identified on the Jesus Boat from the first century AD! Found in 1986 on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee the boat was carbon dated to close the time when Jesus was residing and dealing as a fisherman on the ocean.

Subsequent, we drove to Capernaum, which is taken into account by many as Jesus’ residence base throughout his Galilean ministry because it’s talked about so usually within the New Testomony.

This fishing village was the place Jesus was staying, preaching, and performing miracles. The stays that had been discovered are intensive. There are enormous temple ruins in addition to outlines of houses. Right here is the place Jesus collected disciples, as Jesus was stated to be a fisher of males. All of the disciples had been fisherman besides Matthew, who was a tax collector and Judas who wasn’t from Capernaum.

That is the place you may discover the stays of a synagogue and Peter’s home.

We rounded out our day within the Golan Heights, the place we shockingly noticed snow on the hillsides!

Golan Heights is a surprisingly lovely place with epic viewpoints and beautiful landscapes. 

Subsequent we went to a very shifting spot, Eli Cohen Bunker. Right now, you may see the previous Syrian bunkers that stay on the Golan Heights from 1967 (in addition to the tanks from 1973).

Eli Cohen performed a significant function in spying for Israel in 1961–65 in Syria, the place he developed shut relationships with the Syrian political and navy hierarchy. (There’s a terrific Netflix sequence referred to as “The Spy” that I extremely advocate!).

That is an extremely shifting expertise to see and find out about what occurred right here in addition to the story of Eli Cohen.

Cap your time off with some scrumptious scorching chocolate at De Karina.

Day 4: Jesus Baptism Web site on the Jordan River, The Useless Sea, Qumran

It is a bit of a dispute as to the place Jesus was baptized, we went to the Baptism web site in Jordan in addition to Israel. However regardless of the place you might be, it is a shifting expertise to go to the Jordan River and dip your hand within the water the place he was baptized.

A stupendous place to go to along with the Baptismal web site is Yardenit Baptismal web site is an attractive place the place many Christians come to get baptized.

Subsequent, we headed to a Kibbutz, that are communal settlements in Israel right here historically all wealth is held in frequent and earnings are reinvested within the settlement. Ein Geddi Resort and Kibbutz has an attractive botanical backyard, spa, and a spot for retreats.

The following cease is the well-known Useless Sea! The water is extremely salty and you’ll’t assist however float. In actual fact, it is essential that you aren’t getting the water in your mouth!

There’s additionally black mud that’s stated to have therapeutic properties. So ensure that to cowl your self in it! Yow will discover this mud at a lot of the spas close to the Useless Sea. We headed to Kalia Seaside the place you may float like a cork and expertise the true feeling of weightlessness.

As a result of the water is so salty, you may float simply! You’ll be able to watch me float right here!

Wadi Felt Viewpoint is alleged to be the setting for Psalm 23:4 “the Valley of the Shadow of Loss of life.” It is a lovely spot to see the Wadi Qelt gorge. 

Lastly, we went to Qumran, the place the place the Useless Sea Scrolls had been found!

The Useless Sea Scrolls are a set of 972 historical manuscripts that had been discovered within the Qumran Caves in 1947. They’re the oldest identified copies of the Hebrew Bible and date again to 400 BCE. The scrolls had been written by the Essenes, a Jewish spiritual sect who lived in Qumran from the 2nd century BCE to the first century CE.

You’ll be able to see a number of the scrolls on show on the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, nevertheless it’s actually cool to see the place they had been discovered!

We ended our day in Jerusalem so we may rise up early the subsequent day and discover.

Day 5: Jerusalem

Ensure you go away time for Jerusalem as a result of there’s an immense quantity to see. I would advocate a minimum of 2 days right here to get a grasp of every little thing you should see and do.

First cease is the Hill of Golgatha. You may get an unimaginable view of the Previous Metropolis of Jerusalem from right here. It is often known as the place of the Cranium as a result of it’s stated that that is the place Jesus was crucified.

The Mount of Olives is crowded with church buildings and residential to the world’s oldest constantly used cemetery, which makes it a must-see for spiritual vacationers to Jerusalem. Even the nonreligious could benefit from the breathtaking metropolis views from the height.

That is the place Jesus ascended to heaven after his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection.

The Church of the Ascension, perched on prime of the mount, was in-built 1910 and provides spectacular views of Jerusalem.

The Church of the Pater Noster, constructed close to to the location the place Jesus instructed and gathered his disciples.

Then there’s the Church of Dominus Flevit is which is supposedly constructed over the location the place Jesus wept for Jerusalem. Inbuilt 1955 within the historical Byzantine fashion by Christian’s, its referred to as the weeping church or the church of the tear, as a result of there are 4 corners which have locations for choices which seem like urns or tears.

Church of Mary Magdalene is a Orthodox Christian church positioned on the slope of the Mount of Olives, immediately throughout the Kidron Valley from the Temple Mount. The church was in-built 1888 by Tsar Alexander III and his brothers to honor their mom, Empress Maria Alexandrovna of Russia who was killed by Rasputin.

The Gardens of Gethsemane is an attractive backyard amongst a grove of olive bushes considered the place the place Jesus suffered agony within the backyard and was arrested earlier than his crucifixion.

For the Greek Orthodox, the Virgin Mary’s tomb is positioned within the Church of All Nations. The inside of the church is superb with hanging lanterns throughout. 

Church of the Holy Sepulchre is maybe an important spot for Christians as that is the place Jesus died on the cross and was buried and resurrected. Ensure you go away a minimum of half-hour to an hour to discover right here as you may stroll inside Jesus’ tomb and see the slab the place he was laid after his crucifixion.

The following cease is the Wailing Wall, or the Western Wall, which is the holiest web site in Judaism. It’s a remnant of the Second Temple and is a spot the place Jews come to hope.

There are separate sides for women and men. You may see individuals praying and inserting notes within the cracks of the wall. I like to recommend writing a notice and inserting it within the wall your self. It is actually a shifting expertise.

Then we went to the Western Wall Museum. I extremely advocate this. In actual fact, that is one among my favourite issues I did on the journey. This underground tour helps provide you with a a lot better overview of the historical past of the wall, the those that come to hope, and why this place is so essential.

What we see of the Western Wall is such a tiny quantity, going to this museum helps us perceive the influence on so many at the moment.

Make sire you head to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, on the south finish of the Western Wall Plaza, the place archaeologists have discovered unimaginable remnants of previous Jerusalem.

We walked up By way of Dolorosa Avenue, the identical pathway Jesus walked to be crucified. That is the place you may see the fourteen stations of the cross marked. On the way in which, you may additionally see the Chapel of Flagellation, Station 2, the place Jesus is consider to have been flogged.

Lastly, cease within the Room of the Final Supper, additionally referred to as the Cenacle. That is positioned on an higher ground of King David’s Tomb, that is thought-about to be one of many holiest websites in Jerusalem.

Day 6: Jerusalem

We spent the early a part of the day taking the Rampart Stroll. To succeed in it stroll by means of Jaffa Gate, one of many fundamental Gates to the Previous Metropolis of Jerusalem. The Rampart Stroll is a path that goes alongside the highest of the Previous Metropolis partitions and provides unimaginable views.

Ensure you cease at one of many a number of lookout factors to get a view of your complete metropolis. You may also see the Mount of Olives and the Dome on the Rock from right here.

We then went as much as Dome on the Rock. There’s a roof on the doorway and you will undergo safety with a purpose to attain the Dome. You can’t go inside until you are Muslim, nevertheless it’s an attractive and ornate place to view from the surface.

Based on Jews, Christians, and Muslims, that is the spot the place Abraham (father of all three monotheistic faiths) provided his son as a sacrifice to God, the place Solomon constructed the First Temple for the Ark of the Covenant, and the place Prophet Muhammad is alleged to have ascended to heaven throughout his early years of preaching Islam.

It’s a holy web site for individuals of religion, and it has been the scene of many a spiritual quarrel over who rightfully owns this space.

Jerusalem’s most well-known monument, the Dome of the Rock, is encircled by an enormous plaza that extends south from the Previous Metropolis. The sacred stone underneath the golden dome the place Jews and Muslims consider Abraham provided his son to God and the place Muslims consider the Prophet Muhammad started his journey to heaven.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the southern slope of the mount, is among the world’s oldest mosques.

Jerusalem is damaged up into completely different quarters: Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Armenian. Regardless of being tightly packed, they every are distinct from each other. Make sure that to depart time to go to every.

The Armenian Patriarchate Highway is the primary thoroughfare of the Previous Metropolis’s tiny Armenian Quarter. The St. James Cathedral and St. Mark’s Chapel will be discovered inside the winding pathways of this district, which obtain considerably much less visitors than different websites within the metropolis.

Cap the time off by heading to the Israel Museum. This homes unimaginable collections together with the Useless Sea Scrolls. I additionally advocate Yad Vashem museum, which is a memorial complicated to Holocaust victims. A shifting and essential museum that share tales, recollections, and the resilience of the Jews in the course of the Holocaust.

Jerusalem is huge and there is a lot to see and do on this one metropolis. I spent two days however may have simply stayed extra. We headed again to Tel Aviv that night time and spent the night time right here.

Day 7: Tel Aviv

On our final day we explored extra of Tel Aviv! Since Jerusalem is stepped in spiritual historical past, this was one of the best ways to finish the journey. We explored Carmel Market, one of many oldest and hottest markets, or Shuk Hacarmel, in Tel Aviv.

You may discover spices, nuts, dried fruit, olives, cheese, fish, meat, and way more. It is a terrific place to do some memento searching for foodie associates again residence.

Ensure you get some pomegranate juice, halva, and, you actually cannot leae with out attempting “malawach.” The vigorous and scrumptious malawach stand is a spot I like to recommend you return to many times! It is a Yemenite dish served on a spongy bread referred to as lachuch with tahini, tomato, egg, meat and spices.

Additionally, ensure that to strive the cauliflower! It is scrumptious!

Take a look at the Tel Aviv Museum of Artwork. the chief for Israel’s up to date artwork scene with works from Picasso, Van Gogh, Degas, Monet and extra!

Stroll Rothschild Boulveard to see a few of Tel Aviv’s best Bauhaus structure. Make sure that to pop in to completely different cafes, eating places, boutiques, and even hidden bars!

Go away some additional time to soak up the seaside at sundown or loosen up at one of many seaside bars. Its one of the best ways to unwind!

Additional time?

Head to Masada! That is an historical fortress positioned on a plateau within the Judean Desert. It was the final stronghold of the Jews in the course of the Nice Revolt towards the Romans.

The Jews of Masada dedicated mass suicide slightly than give up and endure humiliation by Emperor Vespasian’s troops, taking their households with them.

One of the simplest ways to see Masada is to take the cable automobile up after which hike down. There are additionally ranger-led excursions out there.

Or, keep longer in Jerusalem. Exterior the Previous Metropolis’s Damascus Gate is East Jerusalem, which has a largely Arab inhabitants. The cave system referred to as Solomon’s Quarries runs underneath town beneath the gardens on the base of the wall. Based on historical mythology, this was the place Jerusalem’s stone for its First Temple was quarried.

I additionally advocate spending some additional time in Tel Aviv as there are tons of issues to see and do right here.

How lengthy to remain in Israel

I’d advocate staying in Israel for a minimum of per week. This provides you with sufficient time to see all the fundamental sights and do some exploring. When you have extra time, you may discover extra of Tel Aviv or locations like Masada.

Is Israel Secure?

For essentially the most half: sure. Nonetheless, there are issues to notice about security whereas touring like many different locations. Israel, now and up to now has handled terror assaults and that is essential to acknowledge. So sure, you want to concentrate on your environment. As a girl I felt very secure strolling round Israel.

Israel is taken into account a secure nation to journey to. Nonetheless, as with every vacation spot, you will need to take precautions and concentrate on your environment. Petty crime akin to pick-pocketing and theft does happen, so you should definitely preserve your belongings shut and safe.

When touring to Israel, you will need to be respectful of spiritual customs and websites. Keep in mind that this can be a holy land for a lot of completely different religions and be thoughtful of others.

What to pack for Israel

Many marvel what you should put on in Israel. Israel doesn’t have the identical customs as close by Center Jap nations, you need not fear about overlaying up. The one time you do is that if visiting Temple Mount in Jerusalem – you may must put on pants or a skirt and to cowl your shoulders.

It could get cool at night time and highly regarded in the summertime.

When to go to Israel

I like to recommend the Fall or Spring time to go to to keep away from the warmth. It is also a good suggestion to notice when spiritual holidays happen like Passover and Ramadan. Issues will be closed or crowded.

Issues to Know Earlier than You Go to Israel

English is extensively spoken, whereas Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages in Israel. Most individuals converse English nevertheless it’s good to know a couple of Hebrew phrases like “shalom” for hiya, and “toda” for thanks.

Many locations take bank cards, however within the markets money is most well-liked. The “Shekel” is the foreign money however many locations really take American {dollars}.

Israel is in contrast to anyplace I’ve ever visited. With trendy eating places and nightlife together with historical past steeped in faith and traditions that make you are feeling such as you’ve stepped again in time.

The historical past right here is a number of the most vital and essential on the planet. Jerusalem is the holiest place on earth with the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre the place Jesus died on the cross and Temple Mount. However there’s many extra locations with essential historical past just like the Sea of Galilee, Qumran Nationwide Park, and Caesarea. If biblical websites are essential to you Israel actually cannot be beat.

Backside line: in the event you’re eager about historical past, spiritual important websites, pure magnificence and tradition I believe it’s best to go to Israel. Normally, I consider in visiting most locations with a purpose to acquire an understanding and to study. Locations which are sometimes within the information are value visiting so you may type your personal opinions.