|
 Fast
Facts
 Regions
of Israel
Calendar
of events
Money
in-depth
Women
travelers
Tips
on accommodation
Tips
on dining
Tips
for Seniors
Tips
for gays
Tips
for students
Health
and safety
Private
Tours
Daily
Group Tours
Package
Trips
Shore
Excursions
Resources
Israel
Travel Info
 About
us
Contact
us
 Prices
Trip
Planner
|
The Regions of Israel
Israel is a tiny country but for such a small space it is
enormously varied. A quick review of the landscape will help you to decide where
best to spend your time.
Jerusalem - a city of many worlds: modern and timeless; Jewish and Arab;
religious and atheist. Named a World Heritage Site and houses more than 4,000
years of history. It contains the great holy places of Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam: the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Highlights
of the New City include the remarkable Israel Museum, which houses the Dead Sea
Scrolls, and Yad VaShem, the Holocaust Memorial and Museum.
Dead Sea - Easy to visit for a day from Jerusalem, it is the lowest point on
the earth. The Fortress of Masada, the most dramatic ancient site in the
country, is perched on a plateau above The Dead Sea. It was here that the last
Jewish zealots who resisted the Romans chose suicide rather than surrender. The
beautiful canyon oasis of Ein Gedi is another attraction, as is the unique
experience of trying to sink in the salty Dead Sea. The southern Israeli shore
of the sea is now lined with world-famous spa/hotels, offering therapeutic and
beauty packages.
Negev - The southern part of Israel (nearly two-thirds of the country) is
desert and semi-desert; it contains beautiful nature reserves, and is great for
hiking and nature tours. This part of the country, least visited by tourists, is
perhaps the most mysterious. At the southern-most tip of Israel is Eilat, famous
for its coral reef and laid-back snorkeling and diving. Eilat has
dozens of new high-rise hotels and fancy restaurants grouped on the city's few
miles of Red Sea shoreline. The Sinai Coast of Egypt, a bit farther south and
easily accessible from Eilat, offers a less developed option for those looking
for a more relaxed atmosphere.
Tel Aviv - Full of energy and young vibe (some say worlds apart from the
hour-drive Jerusalem), Tel Aviv has great restaurants, good beaches, and three
inventive museums: the Diaspora Museum, the Eretz Israel Museum, and the Tel
Aviv Museum of Art. From April to October, Tel Aviv is a good first stop in
Israel - you can spend a day or two at the beach recovering from jet lag before
plunging into the rest of the country.
Mediterranean Coast - If you want to relax on the beach, get to know this
area, also known as the Golden Coast. Netanya, in the mid-coast region, is a
favorite of older, long-term English and French-speaking travelers. It has lots
of hotels in all prices, and many apartments and studios for rent. The ruined
Roman and Crusader era city of Caesarea is the most dramatic archaeological site
along the coast; farther north, the Old City of Acre, with its bazaars, cafes,
and minarets beside the Mediterranean, is the most exotic site.
Haifa -- Israel's third major city offers an atmosphere quite different from
Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. It is a business and industrial city, but it is
beautifully laid out on a stepped mountain above its harbor that it makes for a
memorable view. Haifa is a good urban base for exploring the northwestern part
of the country.
The Galilee - Israel's northern region is lovely countryside, with forested
mountains and olive groves dotted with Arab cities and towns, kibbutzim, and the
remains of ancient ruined cities, synagogues, and churches. At the heart of the
Galilee is the freshwater Sea of Galilee, a beautiful body of water made all the
more special by its association with both New and Old Testament sites. The
Galilee also offers great hiking and nature trails.
Petra, Jordan - Israel's neighbor offers dramatic, totally unspoiled landscapes
as well as magnificent sites from ancient times, such as the legendary city of
Petra, in the southern part of the country.
* The information is provided by the good people at Frommers
Back to the top of the page
|
 |
