Manger Square, Bethlehem, State of PalestinePhoto: Fjmustak, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Palestine
Palestine, made simple: ancient towns, olive hills and the warmest welcome
Palestine holds some of the oldest towns on Earth: Bethlehem and its Church of the Nativity, Jericho in its palm oasis, the stone souqs of Nablus and Hebron, and the cafés and galleries of Ramallah. Visitors are rare and welcomed warmly. Travel here takes more care than most places, so this guide explains the crossings, checkpoints, safety advice and customs plainly before you go.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyTravel advice, entry through Israel or Jordan, seasons, dress and money, answered
- ArrivingBen Gurion or the Allenby Bridge, then the first ride into Bethlehem or Ramallah
- Your days in PalestineBethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho, Nablus and Hebron, paced around checkpoints
- Home againLeaving through the bridge or the airport, and the questions to expect
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-time visitors actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain shared taxis, entry tickets, tipping and currencies so nothing catches you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Palestine should feel like discovery, not dread. We answer the questions about crossings, checkpoints, travel advice, dress, money and getting between towns before they start, so you can travel with care and confidence and find your Bliss.
Planning a pilgrimage to Bethlehem, a first look at the West Bank, a study trip, or a visit home to family in Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron or Jenin? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels calm and well planned.
- Read the travel adviceStart with your government's current advice: it shapes where you can go and what your insurance covers.
- Choose your townsBethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho, Nablus or Hebron: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for food, holy sites, souqs, walks and stays across the West Bank.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to fit crossings, checkpoints and towns into a realistic plan.
Everything your Palestine trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho, Nablus and Hebron, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, holy sites, souqs, walks and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Tel Aviv or Amman and stays across the West Bank.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Food, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic West Bank trip
From the Nativity to the oldest town on Earth
Most first trips use Bethlehem as a base: the Church of the Nativity and the old souq, the wall murals, a day to Jericho and the Mount of Temptation, then north to Ramallah and the Palestinian Museum, and on to the Old City of Nablus for kunafa and a hammam. Hebron's old town is a powerful, sobering day. Five to seven days covers it well when conditions allow.
- Manger Square, the Milk Grotto and Star Street in Bethlehem
- Tell es-Sultan, Hisham's Palace and Wadi Qelt near Jericho
- The Palestinian Museum and Darwish Museum around Ramallah
- Kunafa, soap and hammams in the Old City of Nablus
Plan with care
Your route, without the worry
Palestine rewards careful planning: checking travel advice before and during the trip, choosing between Ben Gurion and the Allenby Bridge, allowing time for checkpoints, and planning around Fridays, Sundays, Ramadan and Christmas. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic travel times between towns
- Holidays, seasons and crossing hours to plan around
- Where to base yourself each night
Where to go in Palestine
From Bethlehem and its holy sites to the cafés of Ramallah, the oasis of Jericho and the old souqs of Nablus and Hebron.
Bethlehem Governorate
Bethlehem
The Church of the Nativity, a lively stone souq, wall murals and terraced villages just south of Jerusalem.
Read the guidePhoto: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate
Ramallah
Palestine's busy administrative centre, with museums, theatres, cafés and hill villages close by.
Read the guidePhoto: أمين, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jericho Governorate
Jericho
An ancient oasis below sea level, with the world's oldest town, desert monasteries and palm groves.
Read the guidePhoto: Deror_avi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nablus Governorate
Nablus
An Ottoman old city famous for kunafa, olive oil soap and hammams, between two mountains.
Read the guidePhoto: Mohammad Hijjawi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hebron Governorate
Hebron
The largest West Bank city, with the shrine of Abraham, an Ottoman souq, glass blowing and keffiyeh weaving.
Read the guidePhoto: Guy Butavia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is it safe to visit Palestine?
It depends on where and when. Gaza is closed to visitors and most governments advise against all travel there. Conditions in the West Bank change quickly, with raids, settler violence and closures in some areas, while Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jericho have often been calmer. Read your government's current travel advice before and during your trip, and check your insurance covers you.
How do I get into the West Bank?
There is no working airport in Palestine. Most visitors fly into Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv and travel on by road through Jerusalem, or fly to Amman and cross at the Allenby Bridge, called the King Hussein Bridge in Jordan. Israel controls both entry points.
Do I need a visa for Palestine?
Entry is controlled by Israel, so Israeli rules apply, and many passports now need an ETA-IL before travel. Rules differ for people of Palestinian origin and some nationalities. Check the official Israeli ETA-IL site and your own government's advice before you book.
What currency is used in the West Bank?
The Israeli new shekel is used for almost everything. Jordanian dinars are used for some large payments such as rent and land, and US dollars are sometimes accepted. Cash matters, as cards are not taken everywhere.
What should I wear in Palestine?
Light clothes that cover shoulders and knees work everywhere and are respectful in mosques, churches and conservative towns like Hebron and Nablus. Ramallah is more relaxed. Women should carry a scarf for mosques.
How many days do I need in Palestine?
Three days covers Bethlehem, Jericho and a look at Ramallah. Five to seven days lets you add Nablus, Hebron, Sebastia and a walk in the hills without rushing, conditions allowing.
Ready to find your Bliss in Palestine?
Use the free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question through the contact page.