Israel Travel - Why a trip to the Middle East is worthwhile

Have you always wanted to travel to Israel, but are still undecided? Or perhaps you have no idea what awaits you in Israel? Today, we’ll tell you why a trip to Israel is worthwhile and what you can look forward to in this country. In December 2017, we took a Israel tour and got a firsthand look at the country. Israel has since been one of our favorite countries, and for very specific reasons.

This might also interest you:

This might also interest you:
1. Israel is a safe country to travel to
2. The wonderful climate
3. No problem with a rental car
4. Israel is not that expensive
5. You broaden your horizons
6. Pulsating metropolis vs. Holy City of Religions
7. The friendly people in Israel
8. Israel’s location is also a plus
9. Travel to Israel – Incredibly diverse
10. The food in Israel is simply delicious

1. Israel is a safe travel destination

Top question number 1: Is a trip to Israel even safe? And how! For tourists, Israel is an extremely safe country. While we were in the country, we received numerous emails. Many of our readers couldn’t even imagine the security situation. And why? Because the media presents us with a completely different picture: bombs, rocket attacks, deaths, and wars.

But we hardly noticed any of that on site. Of course, you have to get used to seeing armed soldiers, civilians, and even tanks all the time. But it’s part of Israel. In the past 60 years, nothing has happened to a tourist in Israel or Palestine. More on this topic here: Entering Israel.

israel-round-trip-desert-red-canyon-bolle-marco

2. The wonderful climate

One reason to travel to Israel is definitely the climate. While it gets icy cold in Germany, in Israel you can sit by the sea and even go swimming in warm temperatures. Even in December, we had 22 degrees Celsius in Tel Aviv and an incredibly warm 28 degrees Celsius in the south on the Red Sea. The best and ideal time for a tour through Israel isn’t easy to say.

We like to travel in the off-season anyway and avoid holidays and high season. You can have a wonderful time in Israel, especially in spring and fall. It’s nice and warm then and not too hot. There’s even still snow on Mount Hermon well into the spring months, so you could even go skiing.

3. No problem with a rental car

We love traveling through a country by car. For one thing, it gets us from A to B quickly, and for another, it allows us to be flexible and self-determined. At first, we were skeptical about whether driving through the country in a rental car would be a good idea. But in the end, it was the best decision. We started in Eilat in southern Israel and drove to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Dead Sea.

We paid only €129.58 for the rental car for 7 days, including fully comprehensive insurance, no deductible, and a full-to-full fuel policy. The roads were almost always very well-maintained. Traffic outside the cities was very quiet and relaxed. You can also easily travel from point A to point B by bus in Israel, so you wouldn’t even need a rental car.

4. Israel Isn’t That Expensive

Of course, you’d think that Israel would be quite cheap. But Israel is a relatively expensive country. Nevertheless, the costs are reasonable. You can rent a car for around €20 a day, a bus ticket costs just a few euros, falafel in pita bread starts at €4-5, and a bed in a simple hostel room can be had for as little as €15.

Flights to Israel are also becoming increasingly cheaper. We flew from Berlin to Eilat/Ovda in December for 40€ round trip. Crazy, right? We spent little money on sightseeing because we did a lot of things on our own. We spent only 380€ per person for a week in Israel. That’s quite impressive, isn’t it?

5. You broaden your horizons

One thing that’s incredibly important to us on our travels: Every trip broadens your horizons. That sounds somewhat cliché, but it’s simply true. Our trip to Israel has helped us understand the Middle East conflict much better. We explored the country’s history and past, speaking with Israelis and Palestinians. In interesting conversations with Jews and Muslims, we learned about different perspectives and were able to exchange ideas with them.

There is no other country we left with such fascination. Israel is simply magical and has an incredible attraction for us. On our next trip, we will visit more places and continue to form our own impressions of the people, cultures, and religions.

6. Vibrant Metropolis vs. Holy City of Religions

Another reason to travel to Israel: the fascinating cities. One moment you’re standing in the Old City of Jerusalem, marveling at the different religions, the next you’re at the sea in Tel Aviv, enjoying a drink on the beach. The contrasts in Israel couldn’t be greater.

You have to see and experience Jerusalem. This city is unique and should definitely not be missed on your trip. Since our trip, Tel Aviv has been one of our top cities worldwide. The sea, the climate, the people, the atmosphere, the food, this magic – Tel Aviv is probably the trendiest and most colorful city in the Middle East.

7. The Friendly People in Israel

The people in Israel are friendly, helpful, and incredibly cool. No matter what religion or origin, we were never mistreated and always felt very comfortable. Of course, you have to adapt a bit depending on your religion, but that’s really not that difficult.

So, you shouldn’t go to a holy site lightly dressed. No matter where you are, someone will always help you if you have a problem. The younger generation in Israel, in particular, is very cosmopolitan and modern. You’ll notice this especially in Tel Aviv. Everything there is super relaxed and easy-going.

8. Israel’s location is also a plus.

What’s also really cool is that you can easily combine your trip to Israel with other countries. In Eilat, you can see Egypt on one side and Jordan on the other. So how about a detour? We would have loved to travel to Jordan, but we want to take our time there.

Crossing the border from Eilat is quite easy. However, you must check and observe the visa regulations beforehand. Many people, for example, take a day trip from Eilat to the rock city of Petra in Jordan. You can also go to the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula and explore the underwater world there.

9. Israel Travel – Incredibly Diverse

Perhaps you’ve already read our many articles about Israel ➳? Then you certainly also know that Israel is an incredibly diverse country with many sights. You can hike into deep gorges, trek through the arid desert, swim in three “seas,” learn about history, experience religions and cultures, explore cool neighborhoods, and devour fantastic food. We practically did it all during our trip to Israel.

We visited the En Gedi oasis, floated in the Dead Sea, cycled along the beach promenade in Tel Aviv, felt the magic of Jerusalem, and met amazing people. We visited gorges, feasted on great food, and enjoyed the diversity of the country. Israel has so much to offer, take your time and discover this wonderful country.

10. The food in Israel is simply delicious

And of course, we also want to mention the super delicious food. If you love hummus, falafel, and pita, you’ll be on cloud nine in Israel. We ate almost every day and stuffed our stomachs. Israel is a melting pot of diverse cultures, and so is the country’s cuisine. Many flavors mingle, with all their contrasts and similarities. There’s no such thing as typical Israeli cuisine; it’s more of a mix of East and West.

Typical specialties generally include: shakshuka, avocados, falafel, shishlikim, seniya, Israeli Medjool dates, and hummus. Especially in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, you can enjoy wonderful food and also find Western food and fast food (pizza, pasta, burgers, fries, kebabs, fish, etc.). If you’re in Tel Aviv, visit one of the wonderful markets (more about this in our Tel Aviv Guide ➳). You can also get delicious Asian food in Israel.