Roavina

Country guide

Israel

A photograph of Israel
Photograph · Dani Lavi 0007 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Israel occupies the Southern Levant, bordered by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, with the Mediterranean along its western coast, the Red Sea at its southern tip and Earth's lowest point, near the Dead Sea, to the east. Two cities carry most of what a visitor comes for and they are nothing alike. Jerusalem is the government seat and proclaimed capital, holding the sites the three Abrahamic religions hold in common; Tel Aviv is the largest urban area and the economic centre, a twentieth-century city on a beach. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict persists, and it governs where a visitor can go and when as firmly as any opening time does.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Hebrew; Arabic has special status
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+972
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Israeli new shekel (ILS)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
100 police · 101 ambulance · 102 fire
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and H · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor statement was recorded for this content pack

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre
    02 1 hour

    Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre

    מרכז סוזן דלל למחול ולתיאטרון

    The Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre is Tel Aviv-Yafo's principal dance campus and a major cultural landmark in the Neve Tzedek neighbourhood.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Tel Aviv
  2. Old City of Jerusalem Old City of Jerusalem
    03 45 min

    Old City of Jerusalem

    העיר העתיקה

    The Old City of Jerusalem is a walled area within the modern city of Jerusalem, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. It holds profound significance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Jerusalem
  3. Western Wall Western Wall
    04 30 min

    Western Wall

    הכותל המערבי

    The Western Wall is an ancient limestone retaining wall on the western side of Jerusalem's Temple Mount. It is one of the city's most important Jewish prayer and pilgrimage sites and holds deep significance within Jerusalem's wider religious landscape.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  4. Al-Aqsa Mosque Al-Aqsa Mosque
    05 30 min

    Al-Aqsa Mosque

    מסגד אל אקצא

    Al-Aqsa Mosque stands as one of Islam's holiest sites, occupying the southern portion of the Haram al-Sharif, or Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City. The silver-domed mosque serves as a place of worship and pilgrimage for Muslims worldwide.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  5. Tower of David Tower of David
    06 45 min

    Tower of David

    מגדל דוד

    The Tower of David is a historic citadel beside Jaffa Gate, at the western edge of Jerusalem’s Old City. Its name reflects a later identification rather than a direct connection with King David.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Jerusalem
  6. Mount of Olives Mount of Olives
    07 20 min

    Mount of Olives

    جبل الزيتون

    The Mount of Olives is a ridge east of Jerusalem's Old City, rising above the Kidron Valley. It is sacred within Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions and combines broad views, churches, pilgrimage landmarks and a vast Jewish cemetery.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Jerusalem
  7. Dormition Abbey Dormition Abbey
    08 45 min

    Dormition Abbey

    كنيسة رقاد السيدة العذراء

    Dormition Abbey is a Benedictine monastery on Mount Zion, southwest of Jerusalem’s Old City walls. The early twentieth-century church commemorates the dormition, or falling asleep, of the Virgin Mary according to Christian tradition.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Jerusalem
  8. Gethsemane Gethsemane
    09 1 hour

    Gethsemane

    حديقة الجثسيماني

    The Garden of Gethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem. It holds profound significance in Christian tradition as the site where Jesus is said to have prayed before his crucifixion.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Jerusalem
  9. Montefiore Windmill Montefiore Windmill
    10 45 min

    Montefiore Windmill

    טחנת הרוח

    Montefiore Windmill is a historic landmark in Jerusalem’s Yemin Moshe neighborhood. Funded by the British Jewish philanthropist Moses Montefiore in the nineteenth century, it represents an effort to support Jewish settlement, agriculture and economic activity beyond the Old City walls.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Jerusalem
  10. Temple Mount Temple Mount
    11 30 min

    Temple Mount

    الحرم القدسي الشريف

    Temple Mount is the religious compound in Jerusalem's Old City known in Islamic tradition as al-Haram al-Sharif.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  11. Hurva Synagogue Hurva Synagogue
    12 30 min

    Hurva Synagogue

    בית הכנסת החורבה

    The Hurva Synagogue is a prominent Jewish house of worship in the Old City of Jerusalem, situated in the Jewish Quarter.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  12. Dominus Flevit Church Dominus Flevit Church
    13 30 min

    Dominus Flevit Church

    Dominus Flevit Church is a Roman Catholic church on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Its name means "The Lord Wept" in Latin, referencing the Gospel account of Jesus weeping over the city.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  13. Jaffa Clock Tower Jaffa Clock Tower
    14 45 min

    Jaffa Clock Tower

    מגדל השעון יפו

    Jaffa Clock Tower is an Ottoman-era clock tower standing in central Jaffa, the ancient port district now incorporated into Tel Aviv-Yafo. Built during the late Ottoman period, it remains the defining landmark of this historic area.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Tel Aviv
  14. Holy Trinity Cathedral, Jerusalem Holy Trinity Cathedral, Jerusalem
    15 30 min

    Holy Trinity Cathedral, Jerusalem

    השילוש הקדוש

    Holy Trinity Cathedral is a Christian religious site in Jerusalem. It serves the Russian Orthodox community and stands as a significant place of worship within the city's diverse religious landscape.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  15. Yarkon Park Yarkon Park
    16 1 hour

    Yarkon Park

    גני יהושע

    Yarkon Park, known locally as פארק הירקון, is Tel Aviv-Yafo’s principal urban park and largest green space. It follows the Yarkon River through the northern part of the city, bringing lawns, gardens, paths and recreation into a dense coastal metropolis.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Tel Aviv
  16. Gabbatha Gabbatha
    17 45 min

    Gabbatha

    Lithostrotos

    Lithostrotos is an exposed stone-pavement site inside the Convent of the Sisters of Zion in Jerusalem’s Old City.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Jerusalem
  17. Church of the Flagellation Church of the Flagellation
    18 30 min

    Church of the Flagellation

    The Church of the Flagellation is a Roman Catholic church located in the Old City of Jerusalem. It stands within the Franciscan Monastery of the Flagellation complex near the traditional Via Dolorosa path.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  18. American–German Colony American–German Colony
    19 45 min

    American–German Colony

    המושבה האמריקאית–גרמנית

    The American–German Colony is a historic neighborhood in Jaffa, within Tel Aviv-Yafo. Its streets reflect nineteenth-century settlement by American and German communities and form part of Jaffa’s layered urban heritage.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Tel Aviv
  19. Tell Qasile Tell Qasile
    20 45 min

    Tell Qasile

    תל קסילה

    Tell Qasile is an archaeological site in Tel Aviv, Israel, located within the Eretz Israel Museum complex. It contains the remains of a Philistine settlement dating to the 12th-11th centuries BCE.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Tel Aviv
  20. Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross
    21 30 min

    Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross

    Church of the Condemnation

    The Church of the Condemnation is a Roman Catholic chapel in Jerusalem's Old City, situated along the Via Dolorosa. It commemorates the traditional site where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  21. Charles Clore Park Charles Clore Park
    22 1 hour

    Charles Clore Park

    פארק צ'ארלס קלור

    Charles Clore Park is a broad waterfront green space in Tel Aviv-Yafo, stretching along the Mediterranean coast between central Tel Aviv and Jaffa.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Tel Aviv
  22. Cameri Theater Cameri Theater
    23 1 hour

    Cameri Theater

    הקאמרי

    The Cameri Theatre is a prominent repertory theatre located in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Established in 1944, it has grown to become one of the country's leading theatrical institutions.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Tel Aviv
  23. Cenacle Cenacle
    24 30 min

    Cenacle

    علية صهيون

    The Room of the Last Supper, also called the Cenacle, is an upper-floor chamber in Jerusalem traditionally venerated as the site of Jesus's final meal with his disciples.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  24. Tomb of the Virgin Mary Tomb of the Virgin Mary
    25 30 min

    Tomb of the Virgin Mary

    قبر السيدة العذراء مريم

    The Tomb of the Virgin Mary is a Christian shrine in Jerusalem traditionally believed to be the burial place of Mary, mother of Jesus.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  25. Jerusalem Botanical Gardens Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
    26 1 hour

    Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

    הגן הבוטני

    Jerusalem Botanical Gardens is a living plant collection and public green space in Jerusalem. It combines botanical conservation, research, education, and visitor enjoyment.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Jerusalem
  26. Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
    27 30 min

    Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

    الكنيسة اللوثرية

    The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer stands in the Old City of Jerusalem, serving as a Protestant house of worship within the Christian Quarter. Completed in the late nineteenth century, it represents German Lutheran presence in the Holy Land.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  27. Chapel of the Ascension Chapel of the Ascension
    28 30 min

    Chapel of the Ascension

    كنيسة الصعود

    The Chapel of the Ascension is a Christian shrine on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It marks the traditional site where believers hold that Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after resurrection.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  28. Church of All Nations Church of All Nations
    29 30 min

    Church of All Nations

    كنيسة كل الأمم

    The Church of All Nations, also called the Basilica of the Agony, is a Roman Catholic church beside the Garden of Gethsemane on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  29. Sacher Park Sacher Park
    30 1 hour

    Sacher Park

    גן סאקר

    Sacher Park is a large public green space in central Jerusalem, offering an outdoor pause within the city. It serves residents and visitors seeking open air, informal recreation, walking, and rest.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Jerusalem
  30. Jerusalem Bird Observatory Jerusalem Bird Observatory
    31 1 hour

    Jerusalem Bird Observatory

    התחנה לחקר ציפורי ירושלים

    Jerusalem Bird Observatory is an urban nature site in central Jerusalem, where wild birds can be watched against a city backdrop.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Jerusalem
  31. Wohl Rose Park Wohl Rose Park
    32 1 hour

    Wohl Rose Park

    גן וואהל לוורדים

    Wohl Rose Park is a landscaped public garden near Jerusalem’s Knesset and Israel Museum area. Its focus is roses, arranged in formal beds that create a calm outdoor stop within the city’s governmental and cultural district.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Jerusalem
  32. Muristan Muristan
    33 45 min

    Muristan

    مورستان

    The Muristan is a historic complex in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City. Its name derives from the Persian word for hospital, reflecting its origins as a medical institution founded by the Knights Hospitaller during the Crusader period.

    • High
    • Market
    • Jerusalem
  33. Tel Kudadi Tel Kudadi
    34 45 min

    Tel Kudadi

    תל כודאדי

    Tel Kudadi is an archaeological site in Tel Aviv-Yafo containing remains of an ancient settlement.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Tel Aviv
  34. Christ Church, Jerusalem Christ Church, Jerusalem
    35 30 min

    Christ Church, Jerusalem

    כנסיית המשיח

    Christ Church Jerusalem is a historic Anglican church within the Old City walls near Jaffa Gate. Founded in the nineteenth century, it is recognised as the oldest Protestant church in the Middle East.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  35. Sheva Tahanot Sheva Tahanot
    36 45 min

    Sheva Tahanot

    שבע טחנות

    Sheva Tahanot, or שבע טחנות, is an archaeological site in Tel Aviv-Yafo whose name means Seven Mills. The name connects the place with milling and industrial activity, adding a practical, working dimension to the city’s historical landscape.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Tel Aviv
  36. Tel Gerisa Tel Gerisa
    37 45 min

    Tel Gerisa

    גבעת נפוליאון (תל גריסה)

    Tel Gerisa, also called Tel Napoleon, is an archaeological mound within Tel Aviv-Yafo. A tel is a settlement hill formed by layers of occupation built up over successive periods, making the landscape itself part of the historical evidence.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Tel Aviv
  37. Tel Zeton Tel Zeton
    38 45 min

    Tel Zeton

    תל זיתון

    Tel Zeton is an archaeological site within the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipal area.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Tel Aviv
  38. Four Sephardic Synagogues Four Sephardic Synagogues
    39 30 min

    Four Sephardic Synagogues

    ארבעת בתי הכנסת הספרדיים

    The Four Sephardic Synagogues constitute a historic synagogue complex in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  39. Carmel Market Carmel Market
    40 45 min

    Carmel Market

    שוק הכרמל

    Carmel Market, or Shuk HaCarmel, is Tel Aviv-Yafo’s lively open-air market along Carmel Street. It is part of everyday city life as well as a popular stop for visitors.

    • High
    • Market
    • Tel Aviv
  40. Church of the Holy Sepulchre Church of the Holy Sepulchre
    41 30 min

    Church of the Holy Sepulchre

    كنيسة القيامة

    The Church of the Holy Sepulchre stands in Jerusalem's Old City as a major Christian pilgrimage destination. UNESCO recognizes its significance within the World Heritage Site of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  41. Church of the Pater Noster Church of the Pater Noster
    42 30 min

    Church of the Pater Noster

    Église du Pater Noster

    The Church of the Pater Noster stands on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, traditionally identified as the place where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord's Prayer.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  42. David's Tomb David's Tomb
    43 30 min

    David's Tomb

    David's Tomb is a sacred site on the ground floor of a historic building on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. It sits beneath the Cenacle, the traditional location of the Upper Room.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  43. Dome of the Rock Dome of the Rock
    44 30 min

    Dome of the Rock

    The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. Completed in 691 CE, it is one of the oldest surviving Islamic monuments.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  44. Garden Tomb Garden Tomb
    45 30 min

    Garden Tomb

    بستان قبر السيد المسيح

    Garden Tomb is a rock-cut tomb set within a peaceful garden north of Jerusalem’s Old City. It was proposed in the nineteenth century as an alternative location connected with the burial and resurrection of Jesus.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Jerusalem
  45. Haas Promenade Haas Promenade
    46 20 min

    Haas Promenade

    Haas Promenade is an elevated scenic viewpoint on a southern Jerusalem ridge. Its main experience is the broad panorama across the city, including views toward the Old City and Jerusalem’s surrounding urban landscape.

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Jerusalem
  46. HaOpera HaIsraelit HaOpera HaIsraelit
    47 1 hour

    HaOpera HaIsraelit

    האופרה הישראלית

    Israeli Opera, known locally as האופרה הישראלית, is a major performing-arts institution in central Tel Aviv-Yafo. It presents staged opera with singers, orchestra, drama and visual design, making it a destination for visitors interested in classical music and theatre.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Tel Aviv
  47. Jaffa’s Flea market Jaffa’s Flea market
    48 1 hour

    Jaffa’s Flea market

    Jaffa Flea Market, known locally as שוק הפשפשים יפו, is a longstanding antiques and street-market district located in Jaffa within the municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Tel Aviv
  48. Levinski Market Levinski Market
    49 45 min

    Levinski Market

    שוק לוינסקי

    Levinsky Market is a distinctive spice and food market embedded in south-central Tel Aviv-Yafo. Its local name is שוק לוינסקי. The market occupies a network of streets rather than a single enclosed structure, creating a dispersed commercial atmosphere.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Tel Aviv
  49. Mahane Yehuda Market Mahane Yehuda Market
    50 45 min

    Mahane Yehuda Market

    שוק מחנה יהודה

    Mahane Yehuda Market is Jerusalem's principal public market and a significant independent food and cultural destination. Operating for over a century, it functions as a traditional Middle Eastern shuk with covered alleyways and open-air sections.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Jerusalem
  50. Mount Herzl Mount Herzl
    51 20 min

    Mount Herzl

    הר הרצל

    Mount Herzl is a prominent hill in western Jerusalem that serves as Israel's national cemetery and the site of The Herzl Museum dedicated to Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism.

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Jerusalem
  51. Tel Hashash Tel Hashash
    52 45 min

    Tel Hashash

    תל חשאש

    Tel Hashash (תל חשאש) is a named archaeological tell mapped within Tel Aviv-Yafo, where a historic landscape feature is recorded inside a developed coastal-plain municipality.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Tel Aviv
  52. Ein Lavan
    53 1 hour

    Ein Lavan

    עין לבן

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Jerusalem

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Israel be?

Seven to ten days can divide time between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv with one carefully chosen extension to Haifa, the Galilee, Dead Sea or Negev. Religious calendars and changing security conditions can alter access, so keep the route flexible rather than booking every transfer tightly.

What entry documents are needed for Israel?

Use Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority for the current entry rule, including whether electronic travel authorisation is required. Eligibility depends on nationality and travel circumstances; recheck immediately before departure because border procedures may change faster than ordinary guide content.

What is the best way to travel around Israel?

Ben Gurion Airport links into the intercity rail and bus networks, and major cities have their own local transit products. Many public services reduce substantially from Friday evening to Saturday evening, so build a separate plan for that period and confirm current operations.

When is a practical time to visit Israel?

Spring and autumn can balance coastal heat with walking in Jerusalem, but holidays may sharply affect hours, transport and demand. Desert excursions need separate heat planning, and any official security restriction takes priority over the seasonal itinerary.

What money and payment basics apply in Israel?

The Israeli new shekel is the working currency. Cards are widely accepted in cities, while markets and small operators may make cash useful; inspect the ILS amount and any service convention before payment instead of applying habits from another destination.

What practical safety details should I save for Israel?

Emergency services use 100 for police, 101 for ambulance and 102 for fire; electricity is Type C and H at 230 V. Tap-water guidance is Not recorded in this dataset, and current civil-defence instructions should be checked through official channels.