Attractions of Israel

To help inspire or plan your trip to Israel, some of its major attractions for travellers are shown below, including some of the best natural, historical, cultural and adventure sites in the country. These include all of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for Israel which represent the best of the world's cultural and natural heritage.
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Natural	History	Wildlife	Trekking	Cities	Religious Monument	Boat Journey	Rail Journey	Diving	Cultural	Adrenaline	UNESCO WHS

Historical attractions in Israel

Jerusalem
Jerusalem Jerusalem is a holy city for the three great monotheistic religions of the world - Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It holds importance as a place of pilgrimage and symbolism and has been the site of conflict for centuries. Among its 220 historic monuments are some of the holiest Jewish, Christian and Muslim sites in the world. The Temple Mount was the site of the First Temple, built by King Solomon, and the Second Temple, destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. Today, only the Western Wall remains, which was part of the supporting structure for the temple and is now perhaps the most revered of all Jewish sites. The atmosphere at the plaza around the Wall is amazing at sunset on Shabbat or for bar mitzvahs as is filled with people celebrating with music, singing and dancing. The most sacred Christian site is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, marking the site of the crucifixion, tomb and resurrection of Jesus, still tensely shared between the different Christian churches. Via Dolorosa is believed to be the route taken by Jesus on the way to his crucifixion (though most historians believe it to be inaccurate). When the Arabs captured Jerusalem in the 7th century, they built the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Asqa Mosque on the Temple Mount (Al-Haram ash-Sharif). The Dome is the third most sacred site in Islam, believed to be the site of Mohammed's ascension to heaven. Other sites of note in Jerusalem include the Mount of Olives, offering superb panoramic views over the city and hosting numerous churches and the historic Citadel (or Tower of David). The old city itself it wonderful for wandering its narrow streets and alleyways and noting the contrast between the different quarters - The Christian quarter filled with tour groups and souvenir shops, the Muslim quarter with its hectic hustle and bustle of everyday life and the more modern and quiet residential areas of the Jewish quarter. Outside of the old city lie two excellent museums - the Israel Museum charting the history of the country and including the Dead Sea Scrolls and Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the Holocaust. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls

Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Jerusalem is a holy city for the three great monotheistic religions of the world - Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It holds importance as a place of pilgrimage and symbolism and has been the site of conflict for centuries. Among its 220 historic monuments are some of the holiest Jewish, Christian and Muslim sites in the world. The Temple Mount was the site of the First Temple, built by King Solomon, and the Second Temple, destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. Today, only the Western Wall remains, which was part of the supporting structure for the temple and is now perhaps the most revered of all Jewish sites. The atmosphere at the plaza around the Wall is amazing at sunset on Shabbat or for bar mitzvahs as is filled with people celebrating with music, singing and dancing. The most sacred Christian site is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, marking the site of the crucifixion, tomb and resurrection of Jesus, still tensely shared between the different Christian churches. Via Dolorosa is believed to be the route taken by Jesus on the way to his crucifixion (though most historians believe it to be inaccurate). When the Arabs captured Jerusalem in the 7th century, they built the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Asqa Mosque on the Temple Mount (Al-Haram ash-Sharif). The Dome is the third most sacred site in Islam, believed to be the site of Mohammed's ascension to heaven. Other sites of note in Jerusalem include the Mount of Olives, offering superb panoramic views over the city and hosting numerous churches and the historic Citadel (or Tower of David). The old city itself it wonderful for wandering its narrow streets and alleyways and noting the contrast between the different quarters - The Christian quarter filled with tour groups and souvenir shops, the Muslim quarter with its hectic hustle and bustle of everyday life and the more modern and quiet residential areas of the Jewish quarter. Outside of the old city lie two excellent museums - the Israel Museum charting the history of the country and including the Dead Sea Scrolls and Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the Holocaust.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls

Tiberias
The historic town of Tiberias is located on the Sea of Galilee. One of the holiest Jewish towns, Tiberias became the centre of Jewish life when Jews were expelled from Jerusalem in the 2nd century AD and was the site where the Mishnah and the Palestine Talmud holy books were completed.

Masada
Masada Masada is a fortress of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, set in the Judean desert south of Jerusalem overlooking the Dead Sea. Located on a flat-topped hill, Masada was built as a palace complex during the reign of Herod the Great from 37-4 BC. It was the site of the last stand of the Jewish Zealots at the end of the First Jewish-Roman War in AD 73 when the fortress held out for two years after the fall of Jerusalem. The 1000 inhabitants committed suicide rather than surrender. Aside from the ruins of the fortress, the site also includes the most complete surviving Roman siege works. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Masada

Masada

Masada is a fortress of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, set in the Judean desert south of Jerusalem overlooking the Dead Sea. Located on a flat-topped hill, Masada was built as a palace complex during the reign of Herod the Great from 37-4 BC. It was the site of the last stand of the Jewish Zealots at the end of the First Jewish-Roman War in AD 73 when the fortress held out for two years after the fall of Jerusalem. The 1000 inhabitants committed suicide rather than surrender. Aside from the ruins of the fortress, the site also includes the most complete surviving Roman siege works.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Masada

Incense Route in the Negev Desert
The Negev Desert in southern Israel encompasses almost half the landmass of the country. This vast desert wilderness was the site of the incense route, the trade of frankincense and myrrh from southern Arabia to the Mediterranean coast, which flourished between the 3rd century BC and the 2nd century AD. The ruins of the four Nabatean towns of Haluza, Mamshit, Avdat and Shivta are testament to this time. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev

Incense Route in the Negev Desert

The Negev Desert in southern Israel encompasses almost half the landmass of the country. This vast desert wilderness was the site of the incense route, the trade of frankincense and myrrh from southern Arabia to the Mediterranean coast, which flourished between the 3rd century BC and the 2nd century AD. The ruins of the four Nabatean towns of Haluza, Mamshit, Avdat and Shivta are testament to this time.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev

Acre / Akko
The port city of Acre has been settled since Phoenician times but is best known for its remains as a Crusader town in the 12th and 13th centuries, which lie almost intact above and below street level, providing a unique insight into the layout of the capital of the Crusader kingdom. Acre was destroyed in the 16th century but reconstructed by the Ottomans in the 18th century. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Old City of Acre

Acre / Akko

The port city of Acre has been settled since Phoenician times but is best known for its remains as a Crusader town in the 12th and 13th centuries, which lie almost intact above and below street level, providing a unique insight into the layout of the capital of the Crusader kingdom. Acre was destroyed in the 16th century but reconstructed by the Ottomans in the 18th century.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Old City of Acre

Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba
Tels are prehistoric settlement mounds found in the eastern Mediterranean. There are more than 200 in Israel, of which Megiddo, Hazor and Beer Sheba have the most substantial remains and have biblical connections. The tels reflect sophisticated underground water-collecting systems while Beer Sheba highlights a definitive urban plan. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba

Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba

Tels are prehistoric settlement mounds found in the eastern Mediterranean. There are more than 200 in Israel, of which Megiddo, Hazor and Beer Sheba have the most substantial remains and have biblical connections. The tels reflect sophisticated underground water-collecting systems while Beer Sheba highlights a definitive urban plan.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba

Mount Carmel Caves
On the western slopes of the Mount Carmel range lie the caves of Tabun, Jamal, el-Wad and Skhul.which provide an archive of early human life in south-west Asia. Representing at least 500,000 years of human evolution, the site demonstrates the unique existence of both Neanderthals and early anatomically modern humans as well as the transition from a hunter-gathering lifestyle to agriculture and animal husbandry and has become a key resource for the study of human evolution, particularly in the Levant. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel: The Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el-Mughara Caves

Mount Carmel Caves

On the western slopes of the Mount Carmel range lie the caves of Tabun, Jamal, el-Wad and Skhul.which provide an archive of early human life in south-west Asia. Representing at least 500,000 years of human evolution, the site demonstrates the unique existence of both Neanderthals and early anatomically modern humans as well as the transition from a hunter-gathering lifestyle to agriculture and animal husbandry and has become a key resource for the study of human evolution, particularly in the Levant.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel: The Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el-Mughara Caves