A fun guide to some of the more useful (and some less useful) Hebrew words and phrases for travelers to Israel.
Israel
Travel blogs, travel photos and features from Israel
Israel Travel Guide
The ultimate guide to the coolest things to do and see when traveling in Israel – only from Travels of Adam
Israel is just a tiny stretch of land on the western edge of the Mediterranean Sea, stretching down to the Red Sea and across the Jordan Valley, but this small slice of Earth is one of the most remarkable places. And also quite contentious and confusing. It’s a place of history and mystery. We’ve read about these places and Israeli cities in our Bibles, Torahs and Qur’ans, but seeing them first-hand, experiencing the diversity of local cultures and meeting the people here—there’s really nowhere like it. Start here with my basic Israel travel tips, or jump down below to read my latest Israel travel blogs.
Top Israel Travel Guides
Popular Israel Travel Blogs
- 24 Amazing Places to Visit in Israel, Jordan and Palestine
- Hebrew Words for Travelers in Israel
- Getting Around Israel – Public Transportation Tips
- Is Israel Safe to Visit? Is Tel Aviv Safe?
- Za’atar – The Best Spice in the Middle East
- Hiking in Israel’s Negev Desert at Mitzpe Ramon
- Should you visit Israel?
- Camping at Masada, Israel
When to Visit
Like most places along the Mediterranean, Israel is especially popular in the summertime. The beaches of Tel Aviv are some of the best in the world with warm, blue water and plenty of beach amenities. Tel Aviv’s city life also makes it one of the most dynamic places in the region with incredible nightlife, an amazing culinary scene and a savvy tech & start-up scene. Just a half hour drive from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem remains one of the most intense and historically important cities—often contentious politically but also surprisingly hip, fun and an amazing city to visit as a tourist.
Throughout Israel, the northern regions and cities provide countless opportunities for hiking, history and exploration, and the south of Israel with the Negev Desert, the Dead Sea and Eilat on the Red Sea Coast offer great summer and winter destinations. Israel’s fascinating history lends itself to be a year-round destination with plenty of cool things to do and ways to explore. The country is often more interesting and more surprising for first-time visitors than expected.
Israel Tours & Trips
Because Israel is relatively far away from most major European destinations, it’s a good idea to plan a trip for a long weekend. Of course, city trips to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are easy on a weekend from Europe, but plan a one or two week visit to take in even more of the amazing cities and destinations within Israel. With that much time, you can usually include a weekend in Tel Aviv, three or four days in Jerusalem and then trips up to Haifa in the north and/or the Dead Sea south of Jerusalem. I also recommend taking tours or a solo backpacking trip through Palestine in the West Bank. Many multi-day tours leave from Jerusalem or else you can catch public buses to Palestinian cities such as Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus or Hebron.
LGBTQ – Gay Israel Guide
The open-minded, relaxed and welcoming nature of Tel Aviv makes it one of the world’s best gay hotspots. The annual Tel Aviv Pride draws crowds of over 100,000 international visitors with a film festival, street parties, a parade through the city and beach events each summer. Meanwhile, Jerusalem and other parts of Israel remain conservative and less welcoming, however there are still many pockets of LGBT life throughout the country. Jerusalem even has a number of gay or mostly gay bars where you can catch drag shows or other regular events.
Traveling in gay Israel can be a lot of fun. A few tips: use the gay app Atraf — it’s how you’ll meet local gay guys and you can also buy party tickets through it for many of Tel Aviv’s best queer clubs. Israel’s best gay city is 100% Tel Aviv, though you’ll find queer-friendly parties and even the odd gay club night in Jerusalem. Atraf works throughout the country, though, and it’s easy and safe to meet other gay travelers and gay locals throughout Israel.
Follow @travelsofadam on Instagram for more Israel travel tips!
Israel Travel Blogs
One of my favorite parts of the world is also one of the most complicated. The tiny stretch of land on the western edge of the Mediterranean Sea, stretching down to the Red Sea and across the Jordan Valley, this little part of the Middle East is all at once both fascinating and beautiful. And …
Tel Aviv with its bearded hipsters in tank tops, its craft beer bars and its 24-7 culture of hedonism is one of the most exciting and fun cities to visit
Cheap and free things to do & see in Tel Aviv — it’s possible to visit Tel Aviv on under $75/day, making it one of Europe’s best budget destinations.
The essential travel apps you’ll need to make your visit to Tel Aviv easier and more enjoyable + special emphasis on gay travel apps to meet locals & more!
New photos from one of the sexiest gay travel trips I ever took — to Tel Aviv gay pride where I convinced sexy Israeli guys to strip down for free Andrew Christian underwear!
Photos of Tel Aviv’s Fire and Water Fountain in Dizengoff Square – a colorful place in the center of Tel Aviv great for photos
Tel Aviv boutique hotels are more than just a place to sleep—many of the design hotels in TLV offer bars and places to meet for tourists & locals alike.
Is it easy to travel in Israel? An extensive guide to public transport & getting around Israel including resources oon trains, buses & sheruts
Ever since I read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler as a kid, I’ve had a slight obsession with the idea of sleeping in a museum. So when Atlas Hotels reached out to me this summer about staying at their Artplus Hotel in Tel Aviv during Gay Pride, I didn’t pass up on …