Israel — Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Dead Sea
Overview
Israel is a country of approximately 9.8 million people at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the southwest, and the Mediterranean to the west. It encompasses some of the most historically and religiously significant territory on Earth — the Old City of Jerusalem contains sites sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam within a single square kilometer, and the country's landscape overlaps with the biblical geography of three of the world's great religions.
Israel welcomed 1.3 million international visitors in 2025, recovering toward the 4.5 million pre-war peak of 2019. Visitor numbers reached 60-65% of pre-war levels by late 2025 as flight routes reopened and travel confidence returned. The US was the largest source market (447,100 visitors), followed by France (176,100) and the UK. Of 2025 visitors, 88% expressed high satisfaction and 83% said they would recommend Israel to others. Major international airlines operating to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) include United, Delta, American, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, and El Al. New hotels opened in 2025 (Gymnasia Hotel in Tel Aviv) and multiple openings are planned for 2026.
Current safety context (as of April 2026): All primary tourist regions — Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and the Galilee — are operating normally and are considered safe by most recent visitors. The US State Department advises travelers to 'reconsider travel' and specifically to avoid Northern Israel within 4 kilometers of the Lebanese and Syrian borders, and not to travel to Gaza. Most travel to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea, and central Israel proceeds normally. Always check current advisories from your government before traveling and maintain awareness of local security conditions. Start planning at palapavibez.com.
Fast Facts
Israel has a Mediterranean climate in the coastal areas (hot dry summers, mild wet winters) and a desert climate in the Negev and Dead Sea region. The best time to visit is spring (March through May) and autumn (September through November) — comfortable temperatures, lower hotel rates than peak summer, and the most pleasant conditions for walking in Jerusalem and the Old City. Summer (June through August) is very hot but peak season — Tel Aviv's beaches are at their most social. Jerusalem is cooler than Tel Aviv year-round due to elevation (800 meters).
Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) near Tel Aviv is the only international airport in Israel. All major routes arrive here. The airport is approximately 45 minutes from Jerusalem by road, and 20 minutes from Tel Aviv by train (a dedicated airport rail link was added in 2018 — fastest and cheapest transport option). Israel's rail network connects major cities efficiently. Uber does not operate; apps Gett and Yango (local rideshare) are the practical alternatives, plus regular metered taxis.
Currency: Israeli New Shekel (ILS — approximately 3.7 NIS = US$1). Credit cards accepted almost universally. Language: Hebrew (official) and Arabic — English is very widely spoken throughout Israel in tourist areas, hotels, and business settings.
Top Attractions
Jerusalem's Old City is divided into four quarters — Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian — within the walls built by Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century. The Western Wall (the most sacred accessible site in Judaism, a remnant of the Second Temple complex destroyed by Rome in 70 CE) is in the Jewish Quarter. The Dome of the Rock (completed 691 CE, the oldest existing Islamic monument, its golden dome covering the rock from which Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven) and Al-Aqsa Mosque (the third holiest site in Islam) are on the Temple Mount above. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (built over the traditional site of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus — the holiest site in Christianity, shared by multiple Christian denominations) is in the Christian Quarter. The Israel Museum (the Dead Sea Scrolls, the largest collection of biblical archaeology in the world) and the Tower of David Museum (1,000 years of Jerusalem history in the historic citadel) complete the essential Jerusalem cultural experience.
Tel Aviv is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its White City — the largest concentration of Bauhaus architecture in the world, built by European Jewish immigrants in the 1930s. The city's beach stretches 13 kilometers along the Mediterranean, with lifeguarded sections organized by neighborhood character (dog beach, drum beach, gay beach — each with distinct personality). The ancient port city of Jaffa (Yafo) at Tel Aviv's southern end — one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world — has been transformed into a neighborhood of art galleries, antique shops, and the finest hummus restaurants in the country (Abu Hassan in Jaffa is widely considered the finest hummus institution in Israel). The Carmel Market (HaCarmel) is the most vibrant food market and a daily spectacle of Israeli food culture.
Recommendations
Jerusalem Old City (UNESCO)
Western Wall, Dome of Rock, Holy Sepulchre in 1km² — arrive early, security checks at major sites
Tel Aviv White City (UNESCO Bauhaus)
1930s European Jewish modernism — walking tours from Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Dead Sea (Lowest Point on Earth)
Float effortlessly (34% salinity), mineral mud — Ein Bokek resort area on Israeli side
Masada (UNESCO Fortress)
Sunrise cable car before heat — Jewish Zealots' last stand 73 CE, extraordinary Dead Sea views
Abu Hassan Hummus (Jaffa)
The finest hummus in Israel — arrive at 8am for fresh hummus, closes when it runs out (~noon)
Israel Museum (Dead Sea Scrolls)
World's largest collection of biblical archaeology, original Dead Sea Scrolls — 3-4 hours minimum
Galilee and Sea of Galilee
Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, baptism sites — Jesus's ministry geography, northern Israel
Eilat (Red Sea Diving)
Year-round Red Sea diving — coral reef begins at shore, Eilat Airport (ETH) direct connections
The Dead Sea (430 meters below sea level — the lowest point on the surface of the Earth, shared with Jordan) is one of the most specific natural experiences anywhere — the water's 34% salinity (nine times that of the ocean) makes floating effortless and involuntary. The mineral-rich black mud at the shore is used in Dead Sea cosmetics. The Ein Bokek resort area on the Israeli side has the most developed infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, beach access). Masada (a UNESCO World Heritage Site on a mesa above the Dead Sea — the fortress where Jewish Zealots made their last stand against Rome in 73 CE, one of the most significant and most moving archaeological sites in Israel) is best combined with a Dead Sea day.
Where to Stay
Israel's hotel geography splits between Tel Aviv (beach hotels and design boutiques — the most cosmopolitan, most international scene), Jerusalem (historic hotels inside or near the Old City — the most atmospheric, many with extraordinary views), and the Dead Sea (resort hotels on the Ein Bokek shore — primarily for Dead Sea floating and spa experiences).
In Tel Aviv: The Norman (the most acclaimed boutique hotel, a restored 1920s building in the White City, rooftop pool, James Brown-designed interiors — consistently one of the finest small hotels in the Middle East), Brown Hotels (the most beloved local boutique chain, multiple properties, distinctly Israeli character), and the new Gymnasia Hotel (Isrotel, opened March 2025, rooftop pool, 145 rooms). In Jerusalem: The American Colony Hotel (the most historic and most celebrated — a 130-year-old former pasha's palace in East Jerusalem, where journalists and diplomats have stayed for a century), the King David Hotel (on the New City overlooking the Old City walls — the most storied luxury hotel in Israel), and the Mamilla Hotel (directly facing the Jaffa Gate). At the Dead Sea: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar and the Herods Dead Sea are the most complete spa resorts.
Recommendations
The Norman (Tel Aviv)
Restored 1920s White City building, rooftop pool — consistently finest small hotel in Israel
American Colony Hotel (Jerusalem)
130-year-old former pasha's palace — journalists, diplomats, the most storied address in Jerusalem
King David Hotel (Jerusalem)
Overlooking Old City walls — storied history (Churchill, Einstein, presidents), finest Jerusalem view
Kempinski Ishtar (Dead Sea)
Most complete Dead Sea spa resort — private beach, mineral pools, Masada day trip access
Food & Drink
Israeli cuisine has become one of the most globally influential food cultures of the past two decades — a synthesis of Levantine (hummus, falafel, tabbouleh, shawarma), Ashkenazi Jewish (gefilte fish, borscht, challah), Mizrahi Jewish (Yemenite soup, Moroccan spices, Iraqi stuffed vegetables), and modern Mediterranean cooking traditions, elevated by extraordinary local produce. Hummus is the most fundamental Israeli food — a fresh breakfast dish as much as a dip, made daily and consumed in dedicated hummus restaurants (hummussiyas) that open early and close when it runs out.
Shakshuka (eggs poached in a spiced tomato-pepper sauce, served in the pan with crusty bread — originated in Tunisia but perfected in Israel and best eaten for breakfast), sabich (an Iraqi-Israeli sandwich of fried eggplant, hard-boiled egg, hummus, tahini, amba mango sauce, and salad in a pita), and the Yemenite soup (a rich meat broth flavored with hawaij spice blend — the most comforting dish in Israeli cooking) represent the diversity. Tel Aviv's food scene is Michelin-adjacent without a guide — Machneyuda (Jerusalem, consistently the most acclaimed Israeli restaurant), Miznon (modern Israeli street food, multiple international locations), and the Levinsky Market (Tel Aviv, the finest spice and specialty food shopping) are essential.
Recommendations
Abu Hassan Hummus (Jaffa)
Arrive 7-8am — fresh hummus, closes when it runs out (~noon), the finest in the country
Shakshuka (Israeli Breakfast)
Eggs in spiced tomato — at any café, best in Tel Aviv's Carmel Market area
Machneyuda (Jerusalem)
Jerusalem, consistently finest restaurant — Shuk Ha'im (the bar below) equally excellent
Levinsky Market (Tel Aviv)
Greek neighborhood, specialty food shops — best spices, cheeses, pickles, burekas in Tel Aviv
Alcohol is widely available (Israel is not dry). Israeli wine has improved dramatically — Golan Heights Winery and Yarden wines are internationally recognized. Goldstar and Maccabee are the national beers. The local arak (anise spirit, mixed with water) is the traditional social drink.
Getting There
Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) near Tel Aviv is Israel's only international airport. United, Delta, American Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, Swiss, El Al, and most major carriers operate routes to TLV. From the US: United (Newark, Washington Dulles), Delta (Atlanta, JFK), American (JFK, Miami) all operate direct service — approximately 11-12 hours from East Coast. British Airways and El Al fly direct from London (approximately 4.5 hours). Air France from Paris, Lufthansa from Frankfurt/Munich.
From TLV airport to Tel Aviv city center: the most practical option is the train (approximately 20 minutes, NIS 16 — running Sunday through Friday, with reduced service Friday evening and no service Saturday/Shabbat). Taxis and rideshare (Gett, Yango) also operate. From TLV to Jerusalem: Sherut (shared taxi, approximately NIS 40, runs 24/7) or private taxi (approximately NIS 280-350) — the most practical option as no direct train exists. The bus is cheapest but most complicated with luggage.
ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization): required since January 2024 for citizens of visa-exempt countries before boarding. Apply online through the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority website — costs approximately 25 NIS (~$7 USD), valid 2 years, processed usually within hours.
Practical Info
Classic 7-day Israel itinerary: Days 1-3 Jerusalem (Old City day 1 — Western Wall, Jewish Quarter, Church of Holy Sepulchre; Israel Museum and Yad Vashem day 2; Mount of Olives and Old City sunset day 3). Days 4-5 Dead Sea and Masada (drive 1 hour from Jerusalem, Masada sunrise cable car, Dead Sea float and mud afternoon). Days 6-7 Tel Aviv (Jaffa port morning, Abu Hassan hummus breakfast, Carmel Market, Tel Aviv beach afternoon, Bauhaus architecture walk day 7).
Shabbat planning: Friday evening to Saturday evening, most businesses close (restaurants in tourist areas often stay open). Train service stops Friday afternoon and resumes Saturday night. Plan Jerusalem activities for non-Shabbat days when everything is fully accessible. The Western Wall on Friday evening (Shabbat entrance) is one of the most moving experiences in Israel.
Recommendations
Classic 7-Day Israel
Jerusalem Old City (3 days) → Dead Sea/Masada (2 days) → Tel Aviv/Jaffa (2 days)
Western Wall on Friday Evening
Shabbat beginning — thousands gathering, singing, prayer, the most emotionally powerful Jerusalem moment
Masada at Sunrise (Cable Car)
First cable car up before heat — fortress at dawn, Dead Sea far below, most dramatic Israeli landscape
Shabbat Planning
Friday eve–Saturday eve: trains stop, many businesses close — plan Jerusalem activities accordingly
Security context: Israel has comprehensive security infrastructure in public spaces — security checks at malls, major attractions, and transport hubs are routine and efficient. Follow instructions of security personnel immediately. Do not photograph military personnel or installations. In case of alarm (rocket siren), follow locals' instructions and enter the nearest shelter — follow Israeli Home Front Command guidelines.
