Israel Travel Blog - The TOP Highlights & Travel Tips

Before our trip to Israel, there was some information available online, but in our opinion, not enough. We had to do a lot of research, spent several hours in the public library, and browsed through a few travel guides. Of course, we gained most of our experience on the ground and would like to share our knowledge here to make planning your trip to Israel as easy as possible. In our new section, “In Our Footsteps,” we’ll show you how to easily put together such a trip yourself. This is especially interesting for those who don’t have much time for research. Have fun browsing and trying it out!

What you should also know:

What else you should know:
Book flights for your trip to Israel
Book a rental car for your trip to Israel
Your route for The Israel Trip
1. Start in Tel Aviv
2. Continue to Jerusalem
3. Weightless in the Dead Sea
4. Plenty of sun in Eilat
5. Canyons & craters in the Negev Desert
End of your Israel trip

Book flights for your Israel trip

Before you plan your Israel trip in detail, you should first find the right flights. You can fly from Germany to the capital Tel Aviv or to the south to Eilat. Both places are ideal for starting a round trip. We flew from Berlin to Eilat (Ovda) and started our tour there. Update: There are currently no more direct flights to Eilat.

There are more options for flights to Tel Aviv. Here you can fly from Berlin, Memmingen, Nuremberg, Munich, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf. Prices range from €59 to €270. We always compare prices via Skyscanner* and then book either on a dedicated platform or directly with the airline. The cheapest prices (with Ryanair from Berlin and Memmingen) usually only include hand luggage. You can, of course, book a check-in baggage allowance.

Flight-Israel-Tel-Aviv-with-Ryanair

Book a rental car for your trip to Israel

Would you also like to explore the country with a rental car? Then it’s best to book a suitable car before your trip to Israel. We highly recommend self-drive travel because a) it’s very safe and b) you’re simply flexible and mobile. 95% of all our bookings are made through www.billiger-mietwagen.de*. We’ve been satisfied with this platform for many years and have never had any problems or complications. The good thing about this platform is that you can book all the important included services in advance, so you only have to pick up the car when you get there.

Prices are significantly cheaper if you book a rental car from Eilat City rather than directly from the airport. Make sure the rental company has good reviews, that glass, tire, and underbody protection are included, as well as unlimited mileage, fully comprehensive and theft protection, and a high level of liability insurance. In our experience, you won’t be talked into any additional insurance on the spot. And even if they do, simply decline politely, because you’re adequately covered with billiger-mietwagen.de.

The selection is naturally much larger in Tel Aviv, which is why you can also get a cheaper rental car there. Here, too, you should pay attention to the tips mentioned above. Although we started from Eilat, this article focuses on a round trip from Tel Aviv. Most people fly to Tel Aviv, start their round trip there, and pick up their car there.

Your route for your trip to Israel

So you’ve booked your flight and your rental car? Then your trip to Israel can almost begin. Unless you’re one of those backpackers who likes to take things as they come and don’t book anything in advance, you should give some thought to your route. There are truly many options for how you can ultimately plan your route. If you only have 8 to 9 days and want to get a feel for the country first, you might like the following route.

If you have even more time, you could, of course, extend your route. There are countless sights in Israel, so you definitely won’t get bored. This way, you can also plan more time for a few stops and don’t have to move on after just one day. We found the mix of city, nature, and beach simply perfect and would do this tour again. On our next trip to Israel, we will, of course, explore other parts of it.

The routes in Israel are generally quite manageable, as the country is very small. From Eilat to Tel Aviv are just 350 km. You should plan on a 4 to 5 hour drive for this route. Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are only 66 km apart, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea only 45 km apart. Our longest route took us from Eilat to Jerusalem (350 km). On the way, we stopped at the Red Canyon and the mighty Ramon Crater in the Negev Desert.

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1. Start in Tel Aviv

Let’s start this tour in Tel Aviv. After landing at Ben Gurion International Airport, you’ll first have to clear immigration. It’s not a big deal, but you should allow yourself some time, as you’ll be asked a ton of questions about your trip to Israel. You can read more about this here: Entering Israel. Once you’ve done that, head to the nearest ATM and withdraw some cash. You can find all the information here: Currency in Israel & Cash.

From the airport to the city

If you can’t pick up your rental car right away, you can first use the Tel Aviv Airport Shuttle. These small buses and cars are quite modern and will take you to the center of Tel Aviv for as little as €17. You can book your shuttle in advance (including waiting time in case of a flight delay). We did some research and found the following providers online:

Shuttledirect
With Flo
Welcome Pickups
Abraham Hostel Transfer

Alternative: There are also so-called “Sheruts,” yellow shared taxis that can carry up to 10 people. These minibuses travel to various destinations in the city; for an additional charge, they can also take you to a specific address. If you’re unlucky, however, you’ll have to wait a long time, as these buses only leave when all seats are full. So, plan considerably more time if you choose this transfer.

By the way: From the airport, there are train connections (€7-8) to the central train station in Jerusalem, as well as the Egged bus 485 (€4).

Your accommodation in Tel Aviv

Check! Flights, rental car, and transfer are now organized, let’s check your accommodations. You have many options, whether it’s a cool hostel, a chic boutique hotel, or a room in an Airbnb. We definitely recommend staying in the center so you can explore the city in a relaxed way by bike or on foot. There are some really cool hostels in Tel Aviv that offer both shared rooms and chic private rooms.

Abraham Hostel*
Beachfront Hostel*
Florentine Backpacker Hostel*
3* Hotel Gilgal*
3* Maxime Design Hotel*
4* Prima Tel Aviv Hotel*

We usually book our accommodations through Booking.com* or Airbnb. If you don’t have an Airbnb account yet, you can create one using our invitation link*. You’ll receive a discount of between €20 and €35 on your first booking as a new customer. Really cool, right? We’ve been really happy with both platforms for many years and can only recommend them. You can always compare prices and take a look at the respective accommodation’s website.

Exploring Tel Aviv

Now the trip to Israel itself can finally begin. Tel Aviv is an ultra-cool city by the sea, exuding so much flair and charm. We immediately fell in love with this little corner of the world because it combines everything: sea, beach, cool cafés, young people, and great activities. You can surf in the Mediterranean, stroll through the cool markets, explore the colorful street art scene, or stroll along the promenade in the evening.

You should plan at least 2 full days for Tel Aviv (better yet more) to get a good impression of this city. You can find our comprehensive Tel Aviv guide here: Highlights & Activities in Tel Aviv. Below we have listed some really cool tours and excursions for you, which you can book in advance:

Popular Tours in Tel Aviv

Bike Tour through the City*
Street Food Tour*
Israeli Cooking Class in Tel Aviv*
City Walking Tour*
Street Art & Graffiti*
Day Trip to Caesarea, Haifa and Akko*
Levinsky Market & Food Tour in Florentin*
Bethlehem Old City & Jericho: Guided Day Tour*
Tel Aviv: Architecture Tour*

We recommend the following highlights: You should definitely visit the flea market in Jaffa, explore the long beach promenade, cycle through one of the city’s most beautiful parks, visit the cool districts of Florentin and Neve Zedek, take a street art tour, stroll to Carmel Market, and experience a sunset on the beach. And one more tip: For a first impression, the Free Walking Tours are ideal. These take place every day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The meeting point is at the bell tower in Old Jaffa and takes you through Old Jaffa. More about this here: Our top sights in Tel Aviv.

2. On to Jerusalem

From Tel Aviv, you’ll then head over to Jerusalem with your rental car. The best way to get there is via Highway 1, which takes about an hour (depending on traffic). In Jerusalem, you can park your car either at your accommodation (if there is one) or in one of the few free parking spaces. Parking is generally subject to a fee; you are only allowed to park at blue-and-white curbs with a parking ticket (digitally available via an app). More on that in this article: Driving in Israel.

If you’re traveling by public transport, you can easily take the bus (EGGED). The journey only takes about 40 to 50 minutes and costs around €5 each way. They depart every 15 to 20 minutes from Tel Aviv’s main train station in the south of the city. Look for bus numbers 480 and 405. But remember that public transport doesn’t run on Shabbat (Friday evening to Saturday evening).

Your accommodation in Jerusalem

For your stay in Jerusalem, you’ll naturally need a roof over your head. As in any other big city, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Whether it’s a hostel, hotel, private room, or apartment—all options are available in Jerusalem. During our trip to Israel, we stayed in a simple room in a shared apartment and had a great interaction with the other residents. That was pretty cool. We’ve put together a list of some really good accommodations for you below:

Abraham Hostel Jerusalem*
Mike’s House*
The Post Hostel*
Hebron Youth Hostel
Hi Agron Hostel*
Stay Kook Suites*
Avital Hotel*

Exploring Jerusalem

Jerusalem is a melting pot of cultures and one of the most special cities in the world, at least in our opinion. You should plan at least a full day for Jerusalem, but two are better. To get a first impression of the magical Old City, we recommend the Free Walking Tour. This starts every day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. from the Jaffa Gate. You’ll spend two hours exploring the four different parts of the city: the Muslim Quarter, the Armenian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, and the Christian Quarter.

Be sure to visit the Western Wall in the Jewish Quarter, the beautiful Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the markets and bazaars in the Muslim part of the Old City, and the view from the tower of the Church of the Redeemer. There’s truly a lot to see in Jerusalem; we’ve compiled all the highlights and sights separately for you here: Jerusalem Guide – Everything you should know. Here, too, you can book some cool tours in advance, such as:

New Jerusalem: Tour of the Holy City*
Jerusalem: Ultra-Orthodox Judaism Guided Walking Tour*
New Jerusalem: Mount of Olives Tour*
Jerusalem: Mahane Yehuda Market Tour*
Jerusalem City Pass: Attractions & Public Transport*
From Jerusalem: Day Tour to Masada, En Gedi, and the Dead Sea*
Half-Day Tour to Bethlehem*

Jerusalem also offers several highlights outside of the Old City, such as the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and Mosque, the Mount of Olives, or the city walls themselves. The Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum is super interesting but not for the faint of heart. If you want to feast on the city’s many delicacies, you should visit the Mahane Yehuda Market. Around 250 vendors await you here, spread across over 1,000 meters of open-air stalls.

3. Weightless in the Dead Sea

Now it’s time to finally explore the lowest freely accessible place in the world: the Dead Sea. From Jerusalem, it’s just under two hours by car to the Dead Sea. You can’t really get lost; just follow the “Dead Sea” signs on Highway 90. Eventually, you’ll see the blue Dead Sea in front of you and the Jordanian mountain range on the horizon. Every now and then, you’ll pass viewpoints where you can stop for a break. We drove to the town of Ein Bokek, one of the most popular and largest beach resorts in all of Israel.

Your accommodation at the Dead Sea

If you want to spend a little more time in this area, you should check into a hotel for a night. This way, you can not only swim in the Dead Sea, but also take a detour to En Gedi National Park and go hiking. The beach resorts are home to large hotel chains, although an overnight stay can quickly add up. It’s somewhat cheaper in the surrounding towns of Arad, Noeve Zohar, and En Gedi.

Isrotel Ganim Hotel Dead Sea*
Zman Midbar Eco Spirit Lodge for Peace*
Dead Sea Camping*
En Gedi Camp Lodge*
HI – Arad Hostel*

Explore the Dead Sea & En Gedi

Park your car in the large parking lot in En Bokek, get a parking ticket (5 shekels per hour), and then go straight to the beach. It’s best to wear flip-flops or water shoes when entering the water, as the seabed is very sharp due to the salt crystals. The difference from other “seas” is that the salt content in the Dead Sea is not around 3 to 4% (like in the Mediterranean), but 33%. Fish and larger animals cannot survive here, hence the lake’s name “Dead Sea.” Due to its high density, you float in the water like a buoy and can even relax and read a newspaper. The feeling is truly incredible.

En Gedi National Park

En Gedi National Park is located around 30 kilometers from the seaside resort of En Bokek. We visited there before our swim in the Dead Sea and went for a hike. The two gorges (Wadi Arugot & Wadi David) are accessible year-round and await you with natural springs, natural pools, waterfalls, and fantastic viewpoints.

You have the feeling of being in the middle of a green oasis, while all around you are stone deserts. However, you should be aware that Israelis themselves also love this park, so it can get crowded, especially if you’re there on weekends or during school holidays. Entrance fee: 28 shekels.

Several tours are offered with great highlights. For example, you can first take a trip to Masada and then continue to En Gedi Park and the Dead Sea. These day trips from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv are primarily for vacationers who don’t want to travel alone and/or don’t have their own car to explore the country. You can find out everything about our trip to the Dead Sea here..

Tour from Tel Aviv/Jerusalem: Masada, Ein Gedi & Dead Sea*
Masada at sunrise, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea from Jerusalem*
Day trip to the Dead Sea from Tel Aviv*
From Tel Aviv: Highlights of Jerusalem & Dead Sea Tour*

4. Plenty of sun in Eilat

From the Dead Sea, continue south on Highway 90 to Eilat. Not only is it usually much warmer here on the Red Sea, but you can also enjoy a whole host of activities. From Ein Bokek on the Dead Sea, it’s about a 2.5-hour drive to Eilat. However, plan on spending about half an hour longer. Eilat is a popular vacation spot in Israel and a diverse paradise, especially for divers. Even in December, we had temperatures over 25°C in Eilat, allowing us to escape the winter in Germany.

In addition to the many diving and snorkeling spots, Eilat offers several beaches on the Red Sea, numerous restaurants, clubs, an adventure park, shopping opportunities, water sports, and entertainment. Huge, unmistakable hotel complexes line the coast, waiting for the next package holidaymakers. Eilat isn’t exactly a feast for the eyes (visually speaking), but it’s still worth a stop if you want to get to know the Red Sea better. Everything about Eilat can be found here: Eilat Guide & Tips.

Your accommodation in Eilat

In Eilat you can find many possible accommodations, whether it’s a simple private room with locals or a room in a chic hotel right on the Red Sea. We booked a room with a very nice local (Martin) through Airbnb for €30 per night, who also gave us lots of valuable tips. You’ll be spoiled for choice; we’ve picked out a few nice accommodations for you:

Exodus Hostel & Dive Center*
Little Prince Hostel*
Las Palmas*
Hanna’s Place – Great Location*
5* Aria Hotel by the Sea*
Apartment with Balcony*

Explore Eilat

If you take a day for Eilat, you should definitely explore the coast and stop at Coral Beach (Coral Beach Nature Reserve) or Dolphin Reef Beach. At Coral Beach, you can snorkel and dive directly on the coral reef. And of course, you’ll also find a variety of water sports in Eilat. Whether kite surfing, water skiing, stand-up paddling, parasailing, or windsurfing – boredom is unlikely to arise here.

Shopping in Eilat is also very popular with many visitors, as it is considerably cheaper here than in other Israeli cities (see the Shopping section). From Eilat, you can take many excursions in the surrounding area. Take a trip to the Red Canyon, the Negev Desert, Timna Desert Park, or the Eilat Mountains. We recommend a day in Eilat.

From Eilat: Tour of the Highlights of Timna National Park*
Eilat Mountains: Sunset Jeep Ride to Mount Joash*
Introduction to Scuba Diving in Eilat*
2-Hour Glass-Bottom Boat Tour on the Red Sea*
From Eilat: Red Canyon and Kibbutz Visit*

5. Canyons & Craters in the Negev Desert

Now we come to the final item on your Israel itinerary. From Eilat, we’ll take the N12 to the Red Canyon, which is only about 20 km from Eilat. Although this canyon is only 200 meters long, it’s truly worth seeing. If you arrive before 10 a.m., you can have the place all to yourself. In our case, numerous buses didn’t arrive until we were back at the car. Click here for our article about the Red Canyon in Israel.

Back on Route 12, your Israel trip continues north through the dry and dusty Negev Desert. After about 1.5 hours, you’ll reach Mitzpe Ramon and the Ramon Crater. It is the largest erosion crater in the world, measuring 40 km long and between 2 and 10 km wide. In the small town of Mitzpe Ramon, you have a wonderful view from the crater rim. It must be especially impressive here at sunrise and sunset. You can read all the information about our trip to the Negev Desert and the Ramon Crater here.

Your accommodation in the Negev Desert

If you start early enough in Eilat, you can easily drive to Jerusalem on this day. However, you’ll be on the road all day and won’t arrive until dark. If you prefer a more relaxed trip, we recommend an overnight stay in Mitzpe Ramon and the surrounding area. We’ve picked out a few cool accommodations for you:

Camel Mountain View Vacation Apartment*
Ein Mor – Desert View House*
Cool guesthouse with terrace*
Desert Shade Eco Camp*
Desert Home*
Boutique Khan Ramon*

Explore the Negev Desert

As already mentioned, you shouldn’t miss the Red Canyon or the Mitzpe Ramon Crater. The desert is very sparsely populated, so you can probably imagine how gigantic the starry sky must be, right? Unfortunately, we only had this idea after our trip, but we recommend it to you now: STARGAZING! Marvel at the night sky with the Milky Way, galaxies, and a carpet of stars! Whether alone with a companion or as a guided tour, you’ll find some cool tour offers below:

From Eilat: Guided tour through the Red Canyon*
Jeep tour with guide in Timna National Park from Eilat*
Negev Night Sky Tour
Rappelling from the crater
Negev Desert Night Safari Tour
Sandboarding in the Negev Desert

End of your Israel trip

After around 8 days and almost 1,000 km, your Israel trip is coming to an end. You can add another day in Tel Aviv to round off your trip in a relaxed manner. Of course, you can adapt and modify this itinerary to suit your individual needs. Israel is a fascinating country and well worth the effort, even if it’s just a week.

On our next trip, we want to explore the north of the country and bring home new impressions. We highly recommend our Israel trip; it was a wonderful tour for a first impression. We wish you lots of fun planning and completing your trip.

Israel Travel Blog – All information, highlights, tips & more