What to Do
Activities around Israel
Tel Aviv
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Morning: Start your day with a visit to the Carmel Market (“Shuk HaCarmel”), a bustling flea market where you can find everything from fresh produce to souvenirs.
Afternoon: Head to Jaffa, the historic old city of Tel Aviv. Explore the narrow streets, visit the Jaffa Clock Tower, and climb to the top of Jaffa Museum for stunning views of the city.
Evening: Enjoy a delicious meal at one of Tel Aviv's many restaurants. Some popular options include HaBamba, a casual Israeli restaurant with a lively atmosphere, or Machneyuda, a more upscale restaurant with a tasting menu.
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Morning: Start your day with a visit to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, one of the largest and most comprehensive museums in Israel. The museum houses a collection of over 250,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, and drawings from the 19th century to the present day.
Afternoon: Head to the Neve Tzedek neighborhood, a charming and historic district known for its cobblestone streets, art galleries, and boutique shops.
Evening: Enjoy a delicious meal at one of Tel Aviv's many rooftop restaurants. Some popular options include Mona, a Mediterranean restaurant with stunning views of the city, or Ha'Masa Restaurant, a more casual restaurant with a lively atmosphere.
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Morning: Start your day with a visit to the White City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its distinctive Bauhaus architecture.
Afternoon: Take a walk along the Tayelet, Tel Aviv's waterfront promenade. Enjoy the views of the Mediterranean Sea and stop for a coffee or a snack at one of the many cafes along the way.
Evening: Catch a show at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, one of the largest and most modern performing arts centers in Israel. The center hosts a variety of performances, including plays, musicals, and concerts.
Jerusalem
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Morning: Visit the Old City of Jerusalem, which is home to many important religious and historical sites, including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock.
Afternoon: Take a walk through Mamilla and enjoy the shops and restaurants. Also, visit Shuk Machane Yehuda for street food and vendors.
Evening: Enjoy a traditional Israeli meal at a restaurant in the Old City.
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Morning: Visit the Mount of Olives, which offers stunning views of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Afternoon: Visit the Israel Museum, which houses a collection of over 500,000 artifacts from the ancient Near East.
Evening: Visit Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center.
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Morning/Afternoon: Take a day trip to Masada, a desert fortress that was built by King Herod in the 1st century BC. If you head over early enough, you can catch a beautiful sunrise over the dessert.
Evening: Enjoy a farewell dinner at a restaurant in Jerusalem.
Haifa
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Morning: Visit the Baha'i Gardens, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tours are available by reservation.
Afternoon: Take a cable car up to Mount Carmel, where you can enjoy stunning views of the city. It’s about a 5 minute ride each way, though one-way tickets can be purchased if you prefer to walk.
Evening: Enjoy a traditional Arabic meal at a restaurant in the Wadi Nisnas neighborhood.
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Morning: Visit the German Colony, a historic neighborhood that is home to a number of Bauhaus buildings.
Afternoon: Take a walk along the Haifa Promenade, which offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Evening: Enjoy dinner and drinks on Haifa’s beach boardwalk by Dado Beach.
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Morning: Visit the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery, which is a beautiful monastery that overlooks the city.
Afternoon: Take a day trip to Caesarea, an ancient Roman city that is located about an hour from Haifa.
Evening: Enjoy a farewell dinner at a restaurant in the Bat Galim neighborhood.
Additional Spots
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The Dead Sea, located on the border between Israel and Jordan, is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world. It is also the lowest point on Earth, at 430 meters (1,410 feet) below sea level.
Floating: This is the most popular activity at the Dead Sea. The high salinity (~30%) of the water makes it easy to float on your back without any effort.
Mud bathing: The mud from the Dead Sea is said to have therapeutic properties. Mud bathing involves covering your body in the mud and then letting it dry. The mud is said to help with skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema.
En Gedi Nature Reserve: This nature reserve is located nearby. It is home to a variety of plants and animals, including desert foxes, ibex, and gazelles. En Gedi is a great place to go hiking, swimming, and camping.
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Tzfat, known as the “City of Kabbalah,” is located in the Upper Galilee region, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Tel Aviv.
Visiting the old city: The old city is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways, lined with old houses and synagogues. The city is also home to a number of art galleries and studios, making it a great place to explore the arts.
Kabbalah: There are a number of Kabbalah classes and workshops offered in Tzfat. These classes are a great way to learn more about this fascinating tradition.
Tzfat Museum of Art: The museum is a great place to see the work of local artists and houses a collection of over 2,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, and drawings.
Enjoying the nightlife: There are a number of bars and clubs to choose from, in addition to several live music venues where you can enjoy traditional Israeli music and dance.
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The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Kinneret, is located in northern Israel and is the second largest freshwater lake in the Middle East. The Sea of Galilee is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its beautiful scenery, mild climate, and many activities.
Swimming: The Sea of Galilee is a great place to swim, thanks to its warm water and clear blue skies. There are a number of beaches to choose from, ranging from secluded coves to busy resorts.
Boating: Whether you're looking for a leisurely cruise or a more adventurous watersport, there are a number of boat rental companies to choose from and you can also take a guided boat tour.
Hiking: There are a number of hiking trails around the Sea of Galilee, ranging from easy to challenging. The trails offer stunning views of the lake and the surrounding countryside.
Visiting historical sites: The Sea of Galilee is home to a number of historical sites, including Capernaum, the town where Jesus lived and taught, and Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
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Sde Boker is a kibbutz in the Negev desert of Israel, best known as the retirement home of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion.
Visiting Ben-Gurion's Hut: Ben-Gurion lived and worked here for many years. The structure has been converted into a museum that offers a glimpse into the life of this iconic Israeli leader.
Hiking in the Negev desert: There are a number of nearby hiking trails to choose from, ranging from easy to challenging. The trails offer stunning views of the desert landscape.
Visiting the Sde Boker Museum: The museum tells the story of the kibbutz, from its founding in 1952 to the present day. The museum also houses a collection of artifacts from the Negev desert.
Mitzpe Ramon: This small town located near Sde Boker is home to a number of restaurants, shops, and hotels. It is also a great place to go hiking and stargazing.
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Eilat is a resort city located in the southern tip of Israel, on the shores of the Red Sea.
Snorkeling and diving: The Red Sea is home to a variety of coral reefs and marine life, making it a great place for snorkeling and diving. There are a number of dive shops in Eilat that offer guided tours and equipment rental.
The Coral World Underwater Observatory: The observatory, located in a natural coral reef, is a great place to see the marine life of the Red Sea without getting wet.
The Red Canyon: A natural wonder located near Eilat, the canyon is made up of red sandstone and offers stunning views of the desert landscape.
Transportation
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Fares for the bus, trains, and light rail are all recommended to be purchased through the Moovit app. Alternatively, a rechargeable fare card called the Rav-Kav (“multi-line”) can be purchased at any bus station. Conductors also accept cash, but do no accept credit cards. No public transit runs on Shabbat, from Friday afternoon to Saturday night.
More details including journey planners are available online here.
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Driving in Israel is very similar to the United States: everyone uses the right side of the road, traffic lights use the same colors, and most traffic signs are identical with important exceptions below. Highway signs list all locations in Hebrew, Arabic, and English. When filling gas, it is recommended to use the “full service,” which entails having an attendant fill the vehicle for you. You generally only need an American drivers license to rent a car, but check the rental car company to ensure an International Drivers Permit is not needed.
A few important driving differences:
When turning left at traffic lights: if you have the green light, oncoming traffic has the red light. No need to give them the right of way, you'll only delay the cars behind you.
There is no “right on red.”
The center lines separating traffic directions are white, not double yellow.
There are no four-way stop signs. If you have a stop sign in a junction, then you give right of way to the road that crosses yours. Always.
Curb colors are important indicators for street parking.
Blue/white stripes: you can park your vehicle but need to pay. Almost all payment is done using apps, especially Pango.
Red/white or red/yellow stripes: thou shall not park.
Gray (uncolored): You can park for free without limitations unless there's a sign that tells you otherwise.
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Israel Railways operates the national heavy rail system, the first railway line being between Jaffa and Jerusalem inaugurated in 1892. Currently there are 69 stations throughout the country and about 600 trains daily, connecting the major metropolitan areas in Israel as well as cities, towns and rural villages, throughout the State of Israel. Current projects are aiming to electrify about 280 miles (450 km) of track. Note that no public transit runs on Shabbat, from Friday afternoon to Saturday night.
As with the bus system, payment is collected through the rechargeable fare card called the Rav-Kav (“multi-line”). As a often more convenient substitute, many people use the Moovit app.
More details including journey planners are available online here, or the Israel Railways app.
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Taxis in Israel are very common and generally cheap by European standards. It is best to agree on a price with the driver at the start of the journey, but if in doubt, insist that the meter is used. Tips for drivers are not expected nor necessary.
The Uber or Lyft equivalent in Israel is called Gett. The app works in English too. Inside cities prices are automatically set at the meter rate, whereas outside of cities rates are set a fixed price.
