Israel Travel Highlights

By Author: Billy Bobb
Total Articles: 41
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Israel is an exciting and rewarding place to travel. The country is full of traditional historical and spiritual sites, impossible to believe geographic adaptation for such a little country, good food, generally fantastic weather, and an interesting mix of cultures. Sadly it's a country in conflict, and the portrayal of this region on the news shocked a large amount of travelers away from this engaging land. But supplied with a little bit of information and basic precaution, traveling in Israel is actually quite safe.

From a geographic viewpoint, Israel is so different from region to region that it feels like many different countries in one. The tidal plain which contains the towns of Tel-Aviv and Haifa features rolling sand dunes and palm trees, beautiful beaches, and mild but awfully damp subtropical weather. It's a great area to absorb the sun, enjoy nightlife, and absorb the atmosphere of modern Israel's culture. Yafo is a part of Tel Aviv, and is a restored traditional city all the way back to biblical times. Further north in Haifa you can visit the world headquarters of the Baha'i faith. Further north ...
... in Akko you can visit the Medieval old city and experience its Arabic atmosphere.

To the east of Haifa and Akko lies the Galilee region, the region where Jesus was raised. The city of Nazareth lies in this area lies in this area, and has a number of churches and cathedrals to honor Jesus. Nazareth is populated mainly with Israeli Arab citizens, so you can experience the contrast with Jewish Israeli culture. To the east of Nazareth lies the city of Tiberias and the ocean of Galilee. This is where Jesus walked on water, and where John the Baptist was baptised. There is some beautiful scenery in the area, and some wonderful churches dedicated to Jesus and events concerning him in the area. A fun activity is to rent a bicycle in Tiberias and ride the bicycle around the sea of Galilee. This will take a whole day, but if you can resist the heat, it's a superb short trip.

In the south of Israel lies the Negev desert, the latest and driest part of Israel. Its main focal point is the resort city of Eilat, which is known for scubadiving, snorkelling, and decent weather year round. The summers in Eilat are freakishly hot, often reaching fifty degrees. Bring a washing suit!

And naturally the diamond in the crown of any trip to Israel is Jerusalem. Lying in the Judaen hills and having a faith heritage rivalled by no other city on Earth, Jerusalem has a cultural atmosphere like nowhere else in Israel. This is the place where King Solomon ruled, where Muhammad rose to heaven, and where Jesus was crucified. The Old city of Jerusalem lies in East Jerusalem and has a Palestinian majority, so you can experience the Palestinian way of life while also seeing the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian holy sites within its walls. The city of Bethlehem lies simply to the south of Jerusalem, but inside the Palestinian autonomous area. Many tourists visit Bethlehem and it is mostly safe. But check the news before traveling there, because often there are Problems between Israeli troops and Palestinians in the area. The Church of the Nativity marks the spot where tradition claims that Jesus was born.

Israel is an interesting land with so much to see, and more than things to see there's so much to learn and experience. Chatting to Israelis and Palestinians and understanding their country, its conflict, and its cultures is an engaging and eye-opening experience. I hope you can experience this land too.
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Billy Bobb is an enthusiastic traveler and citizen of the world. He's a geography nerd and can study maps for hours on end. His blog Free Printable Maps features maps and travel destination profiles such as