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While a small country, Israel is incredible in its beauty and vastness. When planning a trip to Israel, it can be hard to narrow down which places to visit. Below, we will go over our favorite places and some of the most beautiful ones.
We took a 10-day road trip around Israel to see all four corners. We were lucky enough to cross some amazing things off our bucket lists. Starting in Eilat, we swam in all the seas, floated in the Dead Sea, hiked Masada, explored Nazareth, and walked in the historic Caesarea. So, I think we have an excellent understanding of the amazing places to see in Israel.
Amazing Places in Southern Israel
We start our way to the south of Israel. Here, you find the amazing Negev Desert, the Dead Sea, Eilat, Mitzpe Ramon and its crater, and the impressive Masada. It is a unique landscape with some of the most impressive places in Israel.
The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is by far one of the most unique places we’ve ever visited, not just in Israel but in the world. From the moment you get out of the car/bus, you can taste the salt in the air. The entire landscape is nothing like anything else on Earth.
On the border with Jordan, the Dead Sea landscape is barren salt lake surrounded by mountains. This lowest point on Earth is so salty that nothing can live in the Dead Sea. But it also means you have to be cautious while visiting the Dead Sea.
Near the Dead Sea is a super cool Bedouin experience. It has camel rides and delicious food!
Unique salt formations in the Dead Sea
The oily water of the Dead Sea makes for some incredible Salt Formations. There are salt islands through out the Dead Sea that are so solid you can walk on them. Additionally, the bottom of the lake has many salt rocks and formations.
There are parts of the Dead Sea that have some very mineral rich mud. People like to lather themselves with this mud. It is great for your skin, but be sure to wash it off.
Eilat
The southern most city in Israel is a great place to visit to enjoy the Red Sea. This city is known as a beach getaway for all Israelis. It is set up for many fun beach activities, hiking trails, and family fun! There are so many reasons why Eilat is worth visiting.
Hiking through Red Canyon & Amram Columns
About 15 minutes north of Eilat are the Red Canyon and Amram Columns. The columns are naturally carved into the side of the mountain. They are an impressive 70 meters high.
This place to visit in Israel is fairly easy to visit. There is a sign along side the road, follow the signs down the gravel road to the parking lot. From there it is an easy hike up through some rocks to find the impressive columns.
The Red Canyon is part of the Wadi Shani from the Sinai Desert in Egypt through the Eilat Mountains. The wadi carves deep into the red sandstone, creating this narrow canyon. It is one of the most popular routes to hike for a total of 5km.
Interested in more amazing hikes or walks throughout Israel? Check out the 15 best hikes in Israel here!
Swim in the Red Sea
The Red Sea is one of the warmest true seas in the world. Because of this, there are many coral reefs and tropical fish to see. Larry’s bucket list item was to scuba dive in the Red Sea.
This is the incredible scuba diving lesson that we took! It’s definitely worth doing. Otherwise, head to Coral Reef National Park and snorkel there to see the fishies.
Ein Gedi (Hidden Falls)
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is a desert oasis. There are two spring-fed canyons, Wadi David and Wadi Arugot. There are incredible hikes, amazing waterfalls, and fresh swimming pools (yes, you can swim here)!
Mitzpe Ramon
Mitzpe Ramon is the only populated area along/in the large crater in the Negev Desert. This impressive crater offers many hikes, amazing views, and fun wildlife (Ibexes). While the town is relatively small, it is absolutely worth visiting!
Mitzpe Ramon can be a great stopping place between Tel Aviv and Eilat. The small town has its original spice quarter full of stores, restaurants, a cafe, and an outdoor market. Being on the edge of the crater, the weather is cooler than other places in the southern part of Israel.
Some must-visit spots include the star gazing balcony, the camel lookout point, and the walkway along the crater. All throughout town, you’ll see Ibexes lounging or eating. There’s also the colorful sand lookout just inside the crater which really shows off the beauty and vastness of the crater.
Beautiful Places in Central Israel
Old City Jerusalem
Jerusalem may be my hands-down favorite place to visit in Israel. The Old City is incredible, with so many religious and historically significant places. It truly transports you to a different time in history.
There are so many things to do in the Old City. Some of our favorites include visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, exploring the market, the Church of Dominion, and the Western Wall. The Old City isn’t that big, yet there are so many alleys and streets to explore, which makes it feel so big.
We genuinely believe you can spend a whole day exploring the Old City and still find new things. There are many wonderful tours through the Old City that you can go on in order to learn about the history and religious importance of the different areas.
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is a very fun, beach city. While it is known for its nightlife, there is so much to do and see here. We have loved exploring Tel Aviv and going to the beach. It is truly an outdoor city.
In the southern part of Tel Aviv is Jaffa. This part of the city is so fun to explore. Old Jaffa is so fun to explore, but make sure to bring your walking shoes. Also, you can see the port where Noah left to escape God’s command to go to Nineveh.
There are many cool neighborhoods in Tel Aviv to check out. From Jaffa you can walk north through Neve Tzedek, Florentin, into city center and north into Old North. It is such a walkable city, but public transportation and scooters are available everywhere which is great!
Bet Shemesh
Nestled between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is Bet Shemesh. This area is a beautiful, hilly, grassy area. It is also the land of many caves and caverns. The Stalactite National Park is located here.
This national park is so cool; you get to walk through the largest stalactite cave in Israel. Additionally, there is the Twins Cave which allows you to see bats between April-October. Its such a fun way to see a different part of Israel. Finally, there’s an IKEA out there so you can see the Israeli version of Swedish meatballs.
Caesarea
One of the coolest places to visit in Israel is Caesarea. The national park allows you to step back in time to Roman times. Old Caesarea was a thriving seaport city and a hub of trade for the Roman Empire.
This town was also popular in Byzantine times. In the National Park, you’ll explore a stadium, bathhouses, and even a racetrack. Its so impressive. Finally, you’ll find the most intact aqueducts outside of Italy here.
Incredible Places in Northern Israel
Nazareth
Jesus’ hometown is a pretty cool place to visit. You’ll be able to visit the Jesus trail through the middle of town. This will take you through the Basilica of Annunciation through the market, up to the Holy Caves, to the Ancient Bathhouse, to Mary’s Well and ending at the Greek Orthodox church.
The Basilica of Annunciation was by far my favorite church. Every country provided a depiction of Mother Mary. We loved exploring the church and participating in Holy Hour.
On an important note, we found that driving through Nazareth to be very challenging. It is constantly going up and down the mountain with poorly labeled roads. We would recommend taking a bus or tour to Nazareth instead of driving.
Sea of Galilee
Sea of Galilee or Lake Kinneret, is the lowest body of fresh water in the world. The lake is shaped like a harp. It is also famously where Jesus walked on water and fed the masses.
Along the Sea of Galilee is Capernaum, the town of Jesus. This is a great place to see Jesus’s house in Capernaum and the church built over it. There are many original structures from Biblical times.
Mount Arbel
Mount Arbel is another national park in Israel. It is a great place to visit and get stunning views of the Sea of Galilee and the northern part of Israel. The hike is definitely on the easier and shorter side, which makes it a great pit stop.
Tabgha
Tabgha church, or the Church of the Multiplication, is the location of the fish and loaves miracle. Here Jesus fed a mass of 5000 people with just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. The floor mosaics inside the church are truly beautiful and so intricate.
This is also the location where Jesus raised a little girl from the dead. “Talitha, cumi” or “little girl, I say to you rise” is now the mantra of many women in the world, relating to this miracle.
Rosh Hanikra Caves
Found on the border with Lebanon, these caves are truly spectacular. There is a steep cable car that goes along the chalk-white cliffs into the beautiful caverns near the water. There are plenty of cool activities in this area. From speedboats to seeing elephants, the caves are just one part of the attraction.
Banias Waterfall, The Golan Heights
For an incredible hike in Golan Heights, head to Banias Waterfall. While you cannot swim there, the entire hike and area are absolutely gorgeous. This spring comes from Mount Hermon, the highest mountain in Israel. Did you know you could ski Mount Hermon?!
Haifa
North of Caesarea, Haifa is the fourth largest city in Israel. This port city sees the most cargo in the country. The coolest thing to see in Haifa is the Baháʼí Garden. From the Louis Promenade you can see the gardens or you can enter the garden to explore more closely.
There are plenty of things to do in Haifa such as Carmelit underground train, the German Colony, and some cool cable cars. The cable car ride gives you a great view of the city, definitely check it out.
Final Thoughts about Beautiful Places to Visit in Israel
Israel is truly an amazing place to visit. There are so many varieties of ecosystems and environments for a relatively small country. It can be hard to narrow down where to visit when planning a trip to the Holy Land.
Our Israeli road trip really showed us the beauty of this country. We recommend spending plenty of time in Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv as those bigger cities have the most to offer but don’t skip out on the smaller towns mentioned. Luckily with ten full days you can really explore all the beautiful places Israel has to offer. Especially the holier sites.
