Find places in Israel

Must-Haves

• Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Christian Quarter)
  The traditional site of the crucifixion and tomb of Jesus, shared by several ancient churches.
• Tower of David Museum (Jaffa Gate)
  A citadel museum on the city's story, with a spectacular evening light show on its walls.
• Israel Museum (Givat Ram)
  Home of the Dead Sea Scrolls and a vast model of Second Temple Jerusalem.
• Yad Vashem (Mount Herzl)
  Israel's national Holocaust memorial, a profound and essential visit.

Off the Beaten Path

• Austrian Hospice (Via Dolorosa)
  Climb to its rooftop for one of the best views over the Old City, then have strudel.

Must-Haves

• Western Wall (Jewish Quarter)
  The holiest place where Jews can pray, open day and night and moving at any hour.
• Western Wall Tunnels (Jewish Quarter)
  A guided walk along the hidden length of the Wall beneath the Old City streets.
• Dome of the Rock (Temple Mount)
  The golden dome that defines the skyline, viewable from the plaza at limited visiting times.
• City of David (Silwan)
  Archaeology of the earliest Jerusalem, with a wade through Hezekiah's water tunnel.

Fun for Everyone

• First Station (Emek Refaim)
  A restored Ottoman railway station with food stalls, events and a walking trail.

Must-Haves

• Mount of Olives Lookout (Mount of Olives)
  The classic panorama over the Old City, best in soft morning light.

Fun for Everyone

• Jerusalem Biblical Zoo (Malha)
  A large family zoo featuring animals mentioned in the Bible.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ein Karem (Ein Karem)
  A village of churches, springs and galleries on the city's green edge.

Must-Haves

• Mahane Yehuda Market (City Centre)
  The city's great food market by day, which turns into a bar street at night.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Old City Souk (Muslim Quarter)
  Covered lanes of spices, ceramics and sweets for bargaining.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Abu Shukri (Muslim Quarter)
  A long-running hummus counter on the Via Dolorosa loved by locals.
• Azura (Mahane Yehuda)
  Slow-cooked Turkish and Kurdish stews served from pots on kerosene burners.
• Ja'far Sweets (Muslim Quarter)
  Warm knafeh with stretchy cheese and syrup, a sweet Old City ritual.

Great for Date Night

• Machneyuda (Beit Yaakov Street)
  A loud, joyful chef's restaurant inspired by the market next door.

Fun for Everyone

• Kadosh Cafe (Shlomzion HaMalka Street)
  A classic European-style cafe for breakfast and pastries in the centre.

Must-Haves

• King David Hotel (King David Street)
  A historic grand hotel with views of the Old City walls.

Great for Date Night

• American Colony Hotel (Sheikh Jarrah)
  A storied Ottoman mansion hotel with a courtyard garden.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Abraham Hostel (Davidka Square)
  A sociable hostel that runs tours and events.

Must-Haves

• Old Jaffa (Jaffa)
  Stone lanes, galleries and harbour views from one of the world's oldest ports.

Fun for Everyone

• Tel Aviv Port (Old Port)
  Boardwalk, restaurants and a weekend farmers' market at the north end.

Great for Date Night

• Neve Tzedek (Neve Tzedek)
  Boutiques, lanes and dinner spots in the city's first neighbourhood.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ilana Goor Museum (Jaffa)
  An artist's eccentric home and sculpture terrace overlooking the sea.

Must-Haves

• Carmel Market (Kerem HaTeimanim)
  Tel Aviv's main market of fruit, spices and street food.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jaffa Flea Market (Jaffa)
  Antiques and curiosities by day, bars and restaurants by night.
• Sarona Market (Sarona)
  An indoor gourmet market in a restored Templer colony.

Fun for Everyone

• Nahalat Binyamin Arts and Crafts Fair (Nahalat Binyamin)
  Local makers sell their work beside the Carmel Market on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Levinsky Market (Florentin)
  Spices, dried fruit and delis in an old Balkan and Persian quarter.

Must-Haves

• Gordon Beach (City Centre)
  A lively central beach with lifeguards, cafes and volleyball.

Fun for Everyone

• Metzitzim Beach (Tel Aviv Port)
  A calm family beach near the port.
• Yarkon Park (North Tel Aviv)
  The city's big green park with cycling, boating and lawns.

Off the Beaten Path

• Charles Clore Park (Jaffa)
  A seaside park for sunset views on the walk to Jaffa.

Must-Haves

• Tel Aviv Museum of Art (Shaul HaMelech Boulevard)
  A superb modern collection in a striking angular building.
• ANU Museum of the Jewish People (Ramat Aviv)
  The global story of Jewish communities, told with flair.

Fun for Everyone

• Independence Hall (Rothschild Boulevard)
  The room where the State of Israel was declared in 1948.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bauhaus Center (Dizengoff Street)
  Walking tours of the White City's Bauhaus buildings.

Great for Date Night

• Suzanne Dellal Centre (Neve Tzedek)
  Israel's dance hub, home to the Batsheva company.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Abu Hassan (Jaffa)
  Legendary hummus served until it runs out around lunchtime.
• Sabich Frishman (Frishman Street)
  A popular kiosk for sabich, aubergine and egg in pita.
• HaKosem (Shlomo HaMelech Street)
  Falafel and shawarma with a free falafel ball while you wait.

Great for Date Night

• Port Said (Great Synagogue)
  A buzzing, music-filled spot for modern Israeli plates.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Abulafia Bakery (Jaffa)
  A historic Jaffa bakery for sesame bagels and stuffed breads.

Fun for Everyone

• Benedict (Rothschild Boulevard)
  Breakfast served all day, every day.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Florentin bars (Florentin)
  Street art and small bars in the city's creative district.

Must-Haves

• Tel Aviv Pride (City Centre)
  One of the largest Pride celebrations in the region, held in June.

Great for Date Night

• The Norman (Nachmani Street)
  A boutique hotel in restored 1920s buildings.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Montefiore (Montefiore Street)
  A small boutique hotel with a well-known restaurant.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv (Levontin Street)
  A big, social hostel with tours and a rooftop.

Must-Haves

• Bahai Gardens (Mount Carmel)
  Nineteen terraces of gardens cascading down Mount Carmel.

Fun for Everyone

• German Colony (Ben Gurion Boulevard)
  Templer houses turned into restaurants below the gardens.
• Carmelit (Lower Town)
  A tiny underground funicular climbing the mountain.
• Haifa Cable Car (Bat Galim)
  A short cable car ride from the beach to Stella Maris.
• Caesarea National Park (Caesarea)
  Herod's Roman port, theatre and a seafront to wander.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Wadi Nisnas (Wadi Nisnas)
  An Arab neighbourhood of market stalls, bakeries and street art.

Must-Haves

• Stella Maris Monastery (Mount Carmel)
  A Carmelite monastery with sea views at the top of the cable car.
• Akko Old City (Akko)
  A UNESCO walled port with Crusader halls and a souk.

Off the Beaten Path

• Elijah's Cave (Mount Carmel)
  A cave sacred to several faiths at the foot of the mountain.
• Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art (Carmel Center)
  An unexpected and calm collection of Japanese art.

Fun for Everyone

• Madatech (Hadar)
  Israel's national science museum, made for families.

Great for Date Night

• Louis Promenade (Carmel Center)
  The best sunset views over the bay.

Fun for Everyone

• Dado Beach (South Haifa)
  A long beach with a promenade and lifeguards.

Off the Beaten Path

• Rosh HaNikra Grottoes (Rosh HaNikra)
  White chalk sea caves reached by a steep cable car.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Falafel HaZkenim (Wadi Nisnas)
  One of the country's most famous falafel stands.

Great for Date Night

• Fattoush (German Colony)
  Arab dishes in a candlelit garden setting.
• Uri Buri (Akko)
  A famous seafood restaurant by the sea walls.

Must-Haves

• Hummus Abu Shaker (Wadi Nisnas)
  A local favourite for hummus and warm pita.

Must-Haves

• Holiday of Holidays (Wadi Nisnas)
  A December festival celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas and Ramadan together.

Must-Haves

• Colony Hotel Haifa (German Colony)
  A boutique hotel in a Templer house near the gardens.

Great for Date Night

• Efendi Hotel (Akko)
  A restored Ottoman palace hotel in Akko's old city.

Must-Haves

• Capernaum (North Shore)
  The ancient synagogue and Saint Peter's house site.
• Church of the Multiplication (Tabgha)
  Famous for its loaves and fishes mosaic.
• Mount of Beatitudes (North Shore)
  A church and gardens above the lake.

Fun for Everyone

• Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter (Tabgha)
  A small church on the water's edge.

Off the Beaten Path

• Magdala (Migdal)
  An excavated first century synagogue by the lake.

Must-Haves

• Yardenit Baptismal Site (Southern Shore)
  A baptismal site on the Jordan River.

Great for Date Night

• Golan Heights Winery (Katzrin)
  Tastings at one of the country's best-known wineries.

Fun for Everyone

• Tiberias Hot Springs (Tiberias)
  Mineral pools by the lake.

Great for Date Night

• Fauzi Azar Inn (Nazareth)
  A guesthouse in an Ottoman mansion in the old town.

Fun for Everyone

• Ein Gev Fish Restaurant (Ein Gev)
  St Peter's fish served on the lakeshore.

Must-Haves

• Mount Arbel (Arbel)
  A cliff hike with views over the whole lake.
• Banias Nature Reserve (Golan Heights)
  Waterfalls and springs at the source of the Jordan.

Off the Beaten Path

• Gamla Nature Reserve (Golan Heights)
  Ancient ruins and griffon vultures above a canyon.

Must-Haves

• Masada National Park (Masada)
  Herod's clifftop fortress, unforgettable at sunrise.

Must-Haves

• Ein Gedi Nature Reserve (Ein Gedi)
  Desert springs, waterfalls and ibex.

Fun for Everyone

• Ein Bokek Public Beach (Ein Bokek)
  A lifeguarded beach for an easy float.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ein Gedi Botanical Garden (Kibbutz Ein Gedi)
  A garden of world plants in the desert.
• Ramon Crater (Mitzpe Ramon)
  A vast desert crater for hiking and stargazing.

Must-Haves

• Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel (Ein Gedi)
  Garden rooms in a desert kibbutz.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Masada Youth Hostel (Masada)
  Ideal for an early sunrise climb.

Off the Beaten Path

• Qumran National Park (Qumran)
  Where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

Must-Haves

• Coral Beach Nature Reserve (South Beach)
  Snorkel over coral reefs straight from the shore.
• Timna Park (Timna)
  Red rock formations and ancient copper mines.

Off the Beaten Path

• Red Canyon (Eilat Mountains)
  A short colourful canyon hike.

Fun for Everyone

• Coral World Underwater Observatory (South Beach)
  See the reef without getting wet.

Fun for Everyone

• Dolphin Reef (South Beach)
  Watch and swim near dolphins.

Fun for Everyone

• Eilat Promenade (North Beach)
  Shops and cafes along the bay.