Skip to Content

Instagramming Israel: Beer, hummus and city skylines in Israel

Israel is no stranger to online media and technology. When I lived in Tel Aviv a few years ago, FourSquare was seemingly more popular there than in my hometown of Boston. Maybe it’s because the country is new and the people there have struggled for so long and for so much, but innovation and creativity seem to flourish in this little corner of the Middle East.

For years, Tel Aviv has had a reputation for creativity and innovation in start up companies, so it’s no surprise that Instagram is equally popular in Israel. Perhaps too much.

Here’s a quick summary of my 10 days traveling around Israel though my Instagram photos. Be sure to follow me Instagram here and stay tuned for many more posts about my travels in Israel and the West Bank!

Israel on Instagram

 

Goldstar Israel

 

Goldstar beer at the Tel Aviv port

Goldstar is one of Israel’s most popular beers. There are many other beers in Israel but this is the most common one you can find in bars and restaurants alike. It’s not bad, but I also like some of Israel’s many microbrews. On my very first night in Tel Aviv, I got caught in a rainstorm while wandering around the Tel Aviv port, so stumbled into a tapas bar and enjoyed a cold one.

tel aviv instagram

Tel Aviv skyline

From the rooftop of the Melody Hotel there were views of both the Tel Aviv beaches and the city skyline. Read my review of the hotel here.

israel instagram

Graffiti in Tel Aviv

I’ve always thought of the street art in Tel Aviv as “cute”—so many small iconic designs hidden around the city. But there are plenty of bigger murals and graffiti pieces as well, most notably by Dede.

 

tel aviv beach

 

Tel Aviv beaches

Even though the few days I spent in Tel Aviv this winter were the worst weather days Israel has seen in years, I still love the Tel Aviv beaches.

 

hummus israel

 

Hummus

One of my all-time favorite hummus restaurants in Tel Aviv is at Hummus Abu Dhabi. The reggae restaurant serves up some great hummus varieties among interesting people.

 

mitzpe ramon

 

Mitzpe Ramon

Leaving behind Tel Aviv, I went to the desert. In Mitzpe Ramon I went for a morning hike (about 3 hours) through the massive makhtesh—not a crater formed by a meteor, but rather geology. Inside the crater at Mitzpe Ramon in southern Israel. Lots of treks/hikes through the crater. I started at the top and went inside before hitch hiking back to town. In Mitzpe Ramon, I stayed at the Green Backpackers—an awesome hostel where I met other hikers and backpackers. Mitzpe Ramon was also home to a pretty cool art gallery and an excellent hummus restaurant called Jinjy.

 

nazareth instagram

 

Nazareth

In the north of Israel I visited Nazareth–an Arab city that a lot of tourists sadly skip (or only visit for a day trip). I stayed for two nights at the legendary Fauzi Azar Inn and even if the old city of Nazareth was a bit quieter than Israel’s bigger cities, there were still plenty of things to keep me occupied. And, really, the views were spectacular.

 

snow in jerusalem

 

Snow in Jerusalem

Upon arriving in Jerusalem, I was surprised to find snow on the rooftops! This photo was from outside my window at Abraham’s Hostel in the downtown area of western Jerusalem.

 

jerusalem

 

Old City (Jerusalem)

What view of Israel wouldn’t be complete with out a photo from Jerusalem’s Old City? I think the city of Jerusalem fascinates me so much because not only are some of the world’s most ancient historical sites located here, but you’ve also got religious holy sites and archaeology digs. And on top of it all, there are people who live in Jerusalem. It’s truly a living city. Here, taken from the Jewish Quarter, you can spot the Western Wall and Dome of the Rock.

 

  1. Adam, your photos just keep getting better and better and better! (Especially the landscape shots.) I want to fly back to Israel just to go to Hummus Abu Dhabi in Tel Aviv. Do I like hummus? Yes, very much so, sir.

    • Adam says:

      Thanks Justin! No surprise that you like hummus but I’m sure you’ve got a few amazing recipes up your sleeve :)

  2. Very cool photos! Mmm, that hummus makes me hungry, and those city views beckon me to at last visit!

    • Adam says:

      If you like hummus then you definitely need to get over to the Middle East – best place in the world for it!

  3. David @ That Gay Backpacker says:

    That hummus looks incredible! Middle Eastern food is some of my favourite in the world – unfortunately, I like it considerably more than Thai food. :(

    • Adam says:

      Hope you’re able to find some hummus and Middle Eastern food over in Bangkok. If you haven’t been to Israel yet, then I’m sure you’d find the food (and the men) quite appetizing in Tel Aviv!

  4. Scarlett says:

    That hummus looks DELICIOUS xx

  5. Steve says:

    Somewhere I’m keen to visit. Great photography as always – the hummus looks particularly good.

    • Adam says:

      Thank you Steve! Let me know if you do eventually visit Israel – I’d love to share my tips (or just stay tuned over the coming weeks while I write more and more about the MidEast).

  6. Steve says:

    Great photos Adam. I starting to love Instagram the more I use it. It does help that you are in a beautiful city to use as your canvas.

    • Adam says:

      Hey Steve, thanks! I enjoy Instagram quite a bit but it’s just a fun way to quickly edit and share photos when I’m traveling. I’m sure you can capture equally beautiful shots when you travel as well!

  7. Oh, those food pix…. YUM!!! Your photos are so beautiful – makes me want to go even more!

    • Adam says:

      Thank you so much! It’s a beautiful part of the world, though, so I can’t take all the credit.

  8. Larissa says:

    Oh that photo of Hummus takes me back, particularly with the warm chickpeas on top–the true Israeli experience! :)

  9. Lane says:

    OK, I give. What’s your secret to taking great Instagram photos? Yours always look great.

    • Adam says:

      Haha, thanks Lane. That’s very sweet.

      I do tend to do a bit of editing on all my iPhone photos using the SnapSeed app. That’s the only thing I do, though — and all the photos were taken with my iPhone 4.

  10. Jennifer says:

    “Instagramming Israel,” eh? What’s next, videoing Vietnam? Or maybe Pho Photography…actually i really like that one! Anyway, thanks for giving me a jones for hummus after dinner. :)

  11. I’ve been craving hummus lately – hard to find the good stuff in Thailand – and I think that photo just put me over the edge…

  12. Cole @ FourJandals.com says:

    That hummus looks damn good! And the Tel Aviv beach looks empty. Need to visit one day :)

  13. Micki says:

    Oh my gosh, that hummus looks amazing. I would travel to Israel just for that.

  14. Fab photos! Love the photo of Mitzpe Ramon… nice to see a different side of Israel.

  15. Hi Adam!

    You are pro photographer! I love the photo of Hummus and Jerusalem! Great shots!

Comments are closed.