If you want stunning beaches, great weather, interesting cities and tasty food, why not give Israel a chance to prove itself?
Israel is one of the most historical countries in the world with world famous religious places of importance.
Backpacking in Israel can a really amazing experience due to the amount of diverse cultural sites and tourist attractions, but this country is also very expensive.
View my tips for how to make the most of your time here including how to save money and where the best places to go are.
Israel Tours
If you are traveling solo, or just want to see the best locations in Israel without the hassle of arraign transport or accommodation consider booking small group adventure tours with G Adventures. They offer several itineraries with weekly departures and will show you all the main highlights.
Getting to Israel
Several international airlines fly direct to Israel daily, including Arkia Airlines, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Aegean, Swiss International Airlines, KLM, EL AL Israel Airlines and Lufthansa from European and worldwide destinations. If you are on a budget consider easyJet which flies from several cities in Europe. Search cheap flights on Skyscanner.
I would recommend flying into Tel Aviv or Ovda, these destinations will put you in great locations to explore the country, with latter airport just 60 kilometres away from the city of Eilat. I take a closer look at these two destinations and everything they have to offer on my destination guides.
Also o arrival I didn’t have any problem entering the county and if you specifically state not to put a stamp in your passport, they won’t do it. This is important if you want to visit some other countries in the Middle East region.
Hotels
Accommodation is available from cheap dormitories to very expensive 5-star hotels at around 350 US$ per night. It is definitely more expensive to stay here than in other Middle Eastern countries. You could stay in a kibbutz which have middle class accommodation, i.e. a room with TV, bathroom and there was a small kitchen. Another alternative option is to spend a couple of months at a kibbutz as a volunteer. Find the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
Essential Places to Visit
Jerusalem is a unique, historical and very religiously important city, with the walls, the magnificent Tower of David-museum, the Temple Mount and many more amazing attractions.
If it’s your first time visiting Jerusalem, I definitely recommend staying in the Old City. Not only will you be closer to the main sites and attractions, you’ll experience a greater sense of atmosphere and spend less time being transported back and forth every day.
There are plenty of affordable street food options there, and an exceptional restaurant called Amigo Emil that I highly recommend for a wine dinner.
Vibrant, youthful and left wing city with a great atmosphere. While Jerusalem is head coverings and pilgrimage sites, Tel Aviv is beach yoga, food and nightlife. There are other things to be seen for sure, but the point is that a visit to Tel Aviv is a visit to a modern, bustling city. If tradition is what you’re looking for however, you can certainly take some time to explore the Yemenite quarter and take a stroll down the beach to Old Jaffa.
For those looking for an alternative to the historical cities, Eilat is the perfect destination. Located at the southernmost tip of Israel it has a warm climate late into the year and all the amenities of a resort city. Occupying a spot on the Bay of Eilat, it is protected by the granite mountains behind and offers plenty of opportunities for a relaxing break.
Haifa is a port city in the north of Israel with beautiful scenery and views of the Mediterranean up the north slope of Mount Carmel. Spectacular gardens and nature experiences, modern art and daytrips to Akko are included among my top tips for visiting Haifa.
The Bahai gardens, Mount Carmel National Park, the Haifa Museum of Art and a variety of outdoor cafes are some of the things you’ll want to experience in this city.
We enjoyed a spectacular lobster ravioli lunch for less than sixty bunch with a view of the Mediterranean to my right and the Bahai world center gardens on my left. It’s a great city with lots to see, and why many people bypass it is beyond me.
Massada
Masada is an ancient mountaintop fortress in southeastern Israel, site of the Jews’ last stand against the Romans after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 ce. In 2001 it was made a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Other
I did get to visit a few other places in Israel, although just for an overnight or less – Nazareth, Lake Tiberius (AKA the Sea of Galilee ). However, Qumran, Masada, Bethlehem and Gaza did not, so I definitely need to make those stops happen on the next visit. Also, I would have liked to have more time to explore the area around Lake Tiberius.
Israel Travel Tips
Recommended Itineraries
If you plan to travel independently either by car or bus these are some routes to consider:
• Tel Aviv – Jaffa – Ein Avdat – Mitzpe Ramon
• Tel Aviv – Caesarea – Acco – Golan
• The North: Nimrod – Banyias – Tiberias
• Jerusalem – Massada – Dead Sea – Ein Gedi – Jericho
• Eilat – Timna Valley
Getting Around
Israel has a well established tourist infrastructure and you can get around the country independently or by organised tour. You could rent a car in Israel which is recommended, or to see the main attractions in a short period consider small group tours.
Sightseeing
Entrance fees are quite high to the main tourist attractions. The average fee is around 15 NIS, but some sights or museums charge around 25 NIS. On the other hand, the sights are very well presented with nice leaflets explanation in English, accessibility for wheelchairs etc.
It’s worth checking out whether a “Green Card” is a good option. This card costs 60 NIS (10/98) and gives you free access to a lot of sights. Once you visit 4 or more of them, you’re doing some profit.
However, there are still a lot of sights who don’t take part in the green card, and I had the impression that you’ll often find a site giving you free access with the Card, and few kilometer next to it there’s another one which will charge (f.i. Nimrod is free with the card, but Banyias will charge Ein Avdat is free but Mitzpe Ramon will charge etc..).
Here’s a an excerpt of the list of some amazing locations from North to South:
• Nimrod, Hamat Tiberias, Belvoir, Bet Shean, Megiddo, Mt. Carmel, Caesarea, Samaria, Qumran, Masada, Ben Gurion’s burial place, Ein Avdat, Avdat, Ein Gedi antiquities. Important places which do not participate are several sites in Jerusalem (Temple Mount, Tower of David, Jerusalem Walls although it’s mentioned on the card), all parks around Eilat, Banyias, Ein Gedi natural springs.
Cuisine
Just as our western palates have adapted to accept and even love Mediterranean flavours, they can adjust to the flavours of the Middle East. Israel is well known as a centre for culinary excellence and innovation, so expect traditional ingredients served up in myriad tempting ways. From falafel for lunch to a sit down meal in the evening, refuelling in this city is an exciting experience. Be sure to have authentic hummus, shawarma and halloumi during your stay.
How to Visit Israel on a Budget
You need to know Israel is a VERY expensive country.
A simple beer or soft drink will put you back 2 to 3 US$, and entrance fees for the sights are also quite high. In return for these higher prices however, you will often get service which is more comparable with “western standards”. You’ll get a nice leaflet at the sights, signs are always in English, sights are often accessible for wheelchairs and there’s often a free guided tour etc.
If you are a student might want to get an ISIC card that gives you reductions ranging from 25 to 50% on sightseeing, accommodation and activities.
Plan Your Trip to Israel
I went to Israel and came back with mixed feelings.
On the one hand it’s true that Israel has some magnificent sights but on the other it is very expensive if you are on a backpackers budget, especially compared to other countries to travel in the Middle East. But this country really is somewhere you need to visit at least once though!
Be sure to let me know your favourite travel experiences in Israel!