Must See

Bethlehem

Located in the West Bank under Palestinian Authority, Bethlehem is a typical Arab town in appearance. It lies about 10 km (6 mi) south of Jerusalem, standing at an elevation of about 765 m (2,510 ft) above the sea. The town is the traditional site of Rachel's tomb (an important holy site in Judaism), and is an important pilgrimage site for Christians, who flock to see the oldest complete and working church. The Church of the Nativity, built by Constantine the Great in 330, stands in the centre of Bethlehem over a grotto called the Holy Crypt, which according to Christian tradition is the place where Jesus was born.

Caesarea

Located half way between the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa, along the Israeli Mediterranean coastline, is Caesarea, once a great Roman city, with later Byzantine and Crusader sections. Visitors may see the Caesarea Experience multimedia presentation or simply wander the marked paths.

The Dead Sea

The lowest point in the world, at 400-metres below sea level, this lake is known for its high levels of salt which allow swimmers to float on the surface. Supposedly brimming with health-giving minerals, the Dead Sea has spawned a tourism industry based upon the health and beauty potential of the region.

About a mile inland from the northwestern shore is Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in ancient pottery jars in a cave by a Bedouin shepherd boy in 1947.

Eilat

Israel's southernmost city is located at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba - the eastern sleeve of the Red Sea. Due to its proximity to the Negev, Sinai, Arabian and Sahara deserts, Eilat's weather is very hot and dry; summer temperatures are often in excess of 40°C, whilst winter temperatures average 22°C. However, the cool and clean waters of the Red Sea make Eilat one of Israel's most popular tourist attractions. Visitors may enjoy the sea at sandy well-equipped beach resorts where they may sail, surf, swim, waterski or simply sunbathe. The clear, coral-rich waters are home to a large number of tropical marine species, which can be viewed by snorkelling, scuba diving, taking a submarine tour, or by watching through the windows of the Eilat's amazing Underwater Observatory.

Jerusalem

The country's capital (under Israeli law), Jerusalem, is located in the Judean Mountains, between the Mediterranean Sea and the northern tip of the Dead Sea. It has a history that goes back as far as the 4th millennium BC and has been the holiest city in Judaism and the spiritual centre of the Jewish people since the 10th century BC. It is also considered the third-holiest city in Islam and contains a number of significant ancient Christian sites.

The walled area of Jerusalem, which constituted the entire city until the 1860s, is now called the Old City. The Old City has been traditionally divided into four quarters: the Armenian, Christian, Jewish and Muslim Quarters, each with its own distinct character. Although the Old City has an area of only 0.9 square kilometres (0.35 square mile), it is home to several sites of key religious importance: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christians, the Temple Mount and its Western Wall for Jews and the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims.

Visitors may enter the Old City through the impressively fortified Jaffa Gate (also known as David's Gate), just one of eight gates in Jerusalem's walls. The Tower of David is on the right, which contains a museum that vividly displays the history of the city, from its beginnings as a Canaanite city to modern times. Exhibits are divided according to periods, with displays including means of maps, video, holograms, drawings and models. The rooftop gives a glorious vista towards Temple Mount.

The open-fronted Arab stores along the Street of the Chain (the main market street) offer the chance to haggle and buy anything from gold jewellery to bargain souvenirs. A number of side turnings lead into even more exotic market streets.

Visitors may trace the traditional path taken by Jesus from judgment to crucifixion along the Via Dolorosa. The nine 'stations' along the route lead to five more in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of the Crucifixion.

The Western Wall (sometimes referred to as the Wailing Wall) is a 20.2 m (67 ft) high and 27.7 m (91 ft) long wall that dates from the time of the Jewish Second Temple (516 BC - 70 AD). The Western Wall derives its holiness due to its proximity to the sacred Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount, which is the holiest place in Judaism. It is a tradition to deposit slips of paper with wishes or prayers on them in the crevices and crannies of the wall.

The Temple Mount (known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary) is the holiest site for Judaism and the third most important Islamic holy site, after Mecca and Medina. Both Israel and the The Palestinian Authority claim sovereignty over the site, and it is one of the most contested religious sites in the world.

According to a commonly held belief in Judaism, it is to be the site of the final Third Temple, to be rebuilt with the coming of the Jewish Messiah. Visitors may climb the newly reconstructed Hulda Steps, once the main entrance to the Temple, in the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, a few paces from Western Wall Plaza. Its Davidson Centre includes a virtual reconstruction of a visit to the Temple 2,000 years ago. The area is also the site of two major Muslim religious shrines, the Dome of the Rock (built c. 690) and Al-Aqsa Mosque (built c. 710).

There are a number of interesting museums in Jerusalem, such as the Wohl Archaeological Museum in the Herodian Quarter, where six cool, spacious villas and a mansion (dating back 2,000 years) can be toured, each with collections of household antiquities on display. There's also the Israel Museum, which houses the country's principal collection of its archaeology and ancient art, including the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Visitors can pay tribute to the 6 million Jewish people wiped out in the Holocaust, with a visit to deeply moving Yad Vashem - Israel's official memorial.

Kibbutz

The kibbutz is a system of communal farms, in which people are granted food, lodging and some pocket money in return for eight hours' work. It makes for an unforgettable experience, as most former kibbutzniks will testify. Many have good facilities for tourists who simply want to visit.

Masada

Masada is located on top of an isolated rock plateau on the eastern edge of the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. It is believed to be the site of the legendary siege of the fortress by troops of the Roman Empire during the First Jewish-Roman War, which led to a mass suicide of Jewish Sicarii fugitives when defeat became imminent. Many major archaeologists and historians however dispute whether Masada was more than a myth. In any case, visitors can still enjoy some breathtaking views of the Dead Sea, the Negev Desert and the mountains of Moab from the ruins.

Nazareth

Nazareth, home to the largest Arab community in Israel, is said to be the childhood home of Jesus, and is a centre of Christian pilgrimage, with many shrines commemorating biblical associations. These include the Church of the Annunciation, which is the largest Christian church building in the Middle East, and is said to mark the site where the Archangel Gabriel announced the future birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary. The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is located at the traditional site of the synagogue where Jesus preached, whilst the Church of St. Joseph's Carpentry occupies the traditional location for the workshop of Saint Joseph.

There are also many beautiful sites around the area, such as the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Cana, and the Mount of Beatitudes.

Negev Desert

The Negev Desert is home to an arid, stone-strewn landscape, which comprises about half of the country's land mass, but contains just seven per cent of the population. Its trails are suitable for travel by four-wheel-drive jeep, or on the back of a horse or a lolloping camel.

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv (or more properly, Tel Aviv-Yafo) is located on the Mediterranean coast and is Israel's second most populous city. The United Nations and most countries (including the UK) do not recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and most countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv combines a Mediterranean feel with culture and complexity. The city has a number of museums, the most notable of which are the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Eretz Israel Museum, which is known for its rich collection of archaeology and history exhibits. Also worth a visit is the Jewish Diaspora Museum, located in the university campus, which is dedicated to Jewish history throughout the world.

The city also has several public parks and gardens, the biggest being the Yarkon Park, which includes botanical gardens, an aviary, various sports facilities and a waterpark. Visitors can enjoy the bustle of Tel Aviv's fascinating Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel) where shoppers throng between stalls piled high with herbs and exotic fresh produce.

The nearby town of Jaffa is the oldest working port in the world. Now considered to be part of Tel-Aviv, Jaffa is the place to enjoy some freshly caught fish, particularly at one of the seafront restaurants in the traffic-free centre of town, which also offer some stunning sea views.