Top 10 Things to do in Israel

Israel is a fascinating contrast between the ancient and the modern. It is a land of bustling cities and nature reserves. Fertile hills and arid deserts. Gilded temples and glistening skyscrapers. Sacred shrines and glorious Mediterranean beaches.

A treasure trove of attractions, every little corner of the country is worth visiting. Here’s a list of top 10 things to do in Israel.

1. Tour the Old City of Jerusalem

Experience the special thrill of walking in the footsteps of history. Visit the museums and archeological sites. Pay your respects at the religious sites including the Temple Mount, the Western Wall of Wailing, the Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Dome of the Rock. Browse the stalls in the narrow streets of the Old City and roam through the surrounding Jerusalem Mountains.

2. Float in the Dead Sea

Rejuvenate at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth at 400 meters below sea level. The lake is so saturated in salts and minerals that you can't sink in it. Float unsinkably on the highly saline water, immerse yourself in the sulphur pools, coat yourself with the natural black mineral mud on its shore. A 100% organic spa experience!

3. Shop in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, one of the Mediterranean Sea's most glamorous cities, has a New York's worth of shopping and a London's worth of culture. Its chic shopping malls and boutiques are a shopper’s delight. So is the Carmel market in central Tel Aviv to hone your bargaining skills. Wander past the many clothes stalls before you hit the market’s epicentre; the food and spices with their amazing colors and smells!

4. Marvel at the Baha’i Gardens in Haifa

The magical Bahai Gardens in the heart of Haifa comprise of a staircase of nineteen terraces. The golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, the resting place of the Prophet-Herald of the Bahá’í Faith, stands on the central terrace and attracts pilgrims from around the world.

5. Snorkel or scuba at Eilat on the Red Sea

Eilat on the Red Sea has top hotels and that all important blend of sun and sand. One of the world’s best diving sites, it has amazing coral reef, beautiful fish, and crystal-clear water. The list of activities is endless: snorkeling, scuba diving, glass bottom boat rides, yachts, the Underwater Observatory Marine Park, the Dolphin Reef, parasailing and much more.

6. Enjoy a sunset on Tel Aviv beach

The gorgeous beach of Tel Aviv has enough golden sand to compete with the Mediterranean's best beaches and is a truly the perfect spot to catch a sunset. Lie on the beach, feel the sand between your toes, sip some wine as the Mediterranean laps gently at the shore.

7. Visit the mountain fortress of Masada

The mountain fortress of Masada stands on an isolated rock plateau in the south east of Israel, overlooking the Dead Sea. Take a cable car to the fortress where about 1,000 Jewish inhabitants committed mass suicide rather than surrender to their Roman enemies.

8. Be moved at the Yad Vashem, Jerusalem

Visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Located on the Western outskirts of Jerusalem, the large complex of museums, outdoor monuments, exhibition halls with major archives, library and other resource centers extends over 45 acres.

9. Relax at the Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee, at 213 meters below sea level, is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth. The dark basalt sand at the bottom of the lake gives the water a dark blue color. Its coastline and surrounding hills are a year-round vacation resort, with nature trails, historical sites and holiday spots.

10. Have a night out in Tel Aviv, the City That Never Sleeps

The nightlife in Tel Aviv is legendary. Known as the “city that never sleeps”, there are countless clubs, pubs, piano bars, restaurants and cafés that stay open until very late. There are theatres, galleries, and concert halls for a more cultured evening.

Travel to Israel – quite simply, there's nothing else like it.