City: Israel
Top Things to do in Israel
Top Hotels in Israel
- 1. Royal Beach Tel - Aviv
- 2. Dan Eilat Hotel
- 3. Fabric Hotel Tel Aviv - an Atlas Boutique Hotel
- 4. Jerusalem International YMCA, Three Arches Hotel
- 5. Isrotel Dead Sea Hotel & Spa
- 6. 65 Hotel Rothschild Tel Aviv - An Atlas Boutique Hotel
- 7. The American Colony Hotel
- 8. Shalom Hotel & Relax Tel Aviv - an Atlas Boutique Hotel
- 9. Oasis Spa Club Hotel
- 10. Port and Blue TLV Suites Hotel
10 Ancient Ruins in Israel That You Shouldn't Miss
Coordinates: 31°N 35°E / 31°N 35°E / 31; 35
Restaurants in Israel
1. Magdala
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,128 reviews
A unique Holy Land site known as the hometown of Mary Magdalene, located at the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The archaeological site features a complete first century town from the times of Jesus. It is one of Israel´s most recent archaeological discoveries with the best preserved synagogue in the Galilee. Complementary tours of the site are available upon request. The site also features "Duc in Altum" a place for worship and prayer. Magdala is known as a crossroads of Jewish and Christian History, and will soon also feature a guesthouse in opening mid-2018.
Reviewed By RobynDavid_25 - Melbourne, Australia
This is a special place. The small excavation site contextualises the role of Mary Magdalene in the life of Jesus and is complemented by the exquisite modern church nearby, its altar a boat which appears to be sailing on the Sea of Galilee outside the window, with its mast forming a cross above. It is surrounded in the atrium by eight vibrant pillars honouring women of faith. Fr Eamon Kelly is a warm and welcoming presence. We were invited into a private room at the end of our visit where he and volunteer Rosa led the singing of ‘Happy Birthday’ to our guide, Eyal Carmel. It was a delightful moment!
2. Herod's Western Palace
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 151 reviews
Reviewed By neeratraveler - San Francisco, United States
Masada in the Dead Sea region is a must see. It has an interesting history. It was a palatial refuge - a fortification, built by Herod the Great. The siege of Masada by the Romans ended in mass suicide. The palace has many areas to explore and we were fortunate to have an excellent guide who made history come alive. The cable car takes you to the top. The views are beautiful. Hiking to the top is another option.
3. Susita (Hippos) Nature Reserve and National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By 682ofrab
It was not too difficult to walk the path up to Susita Hippos Mountain. but what an amazing surprise when you enter that ancient Roman Holy City overlooking the sea of galilee. Walking in these Roman Streets you feel as if you are walking back in time. the beautiful Roman houses and streets are made of naturla big stones. There are several Altars and temples for rituals and prayers all made of big marbel pillars with beautiful Roman carvings and art of the time. Lately the archiologist of susita Dr. Michael Eizenberg has discovered a grand Roman Theater there which makes this city of Susita a very important place. I feel this place is very powerful and special and the view from there is absolutely fantastic : you see the entire sea of galilee from there and part of the Golan Heights too. don't miss it.
4. Masada Fortress
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 426 reviews
Reviewed By 107lyndau - Beerwah, Australia
Our tour group took the large cable car up to the top of the mountain that is MASADA - UNESCO World Heritage Site - King Herod's magnificent mountain-top palace and fortress - and site of the last Jewish revolt against the Romans in 73AD.
5. Western Wall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,159 reviews
The remains of the Second Temple of Jerusalem and a place of prayer sacred to the Jewish people.
Reviewed By PeterWJr46 - Poughkeepsie, United States
It was hard to believe that part of the temple that existed when Our Lord walked the earth, is still there. The West Wall is sacred to the Jewish faith and a testament to the life of Our Savior and His teaching in this very temple. The wall, itself, is divided by a separation for men and for women. It was interesting to see how this divide is so prevalent in this religious atmosphere. Security was ever present around the entrances and within the courtyard leading to the West Wall. It is a holy site and should be treated as such.
6. Mamshit
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 66 reviews
This Nabatean and later Byzantine site includes ruins of two churches: Nilus Church and a larger basilica, which is believed to have been built before 427 CE.
7. Megiddo National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 410 reviews
This archaeological site of an ancient fortress town has revealed more than 20 layers of ruins, ranging in time from the Neolithic Period (7000 BC) to the end of the Persian Period (332 BC).
Reviewed By KimGTravels - Pacific Grove, United States
Also known as Tel (Hill) Megiddo, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is an historically significant ancient location of artifacts & ruins from various cultures, dating back from the Neolithic Period (7th-6th Century BC), through the Kings of Israel, and abandoned under the times of the Persians. Portions of the Canaanite City Gate remain from the Late Bronze Age as the visitor enters onto the Megiddo site, along a pathway winding up through sparse ruins. At the Northern Observation Point, a view overlooking the famous Jezreel Valley reveals the former battlefield below, where major battles occurred in the 15th Century BCE under Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III, later Alexander the Great and more recently in World War I (1918), General Edmund Allenby, who successfully fought the Ottoman Turkish forces here. Napoleon observed at Megiddo that: "All the armies of the world could maneuver their forces on this vast plain". Yes; this is the location of the final "Biblical Battle of Armageddon" and has numerous historic references within the Jewish "Tanakh" & the Christian "Bible". A former trade route that linked Egypt with Mesopotamia, this strategic site overlooks the key pass through the Carmel Mountains. This formerly fortified city used chariots for protection and its horses were sheltered in two stable complexes, whose foundations are now outlined. Most intriguing was our exploration through the protected water system and its tunnel, built under the period of the Israelite Kings, within the former walls of Megiddo. A 10 minute film prior to your tour explains the history of Megiddo and its archeological excavations. A visit to Megiddo is awe-inspiring and should not be missed!
8. Nabatean Avdat Acropolis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 167 reviews
Reviewed By YitzchakMiskin - Ramat Gan, Israel
The Nabatean Avdat Acropolis, perched on the peak of the old Nabatean city of Avdat on the ancient Arabian Spice Route, is the “crown jewel” of the Central Negev desert. The ruins of the ancient temple and fortress on the top of the hill are very impressive indeed – reminding me of the Acropolis of Lyndos on the Isle of Rhodes, Greece (the second largest acropolis after Athens). This acropolis is actually a part of a large national park, the “Avdat National Park” (see my Tripadvisor review). At the time that I wrote that review, I thought the park was strictly the visitor’s center (worth checking out), the impressive hill on which Avdat lies, and the ancient city and temple on top – and that’s what I wrote about. I now understand that the national park also includes the surrounding valleys and canyons and streams and springs and hiking trails – all also worthwhile to visit.
9. Theatre at Caesarea National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 454 reviews
Reviewed By TimC948
This is somewhere I have been wanting to visit for a long time. Caesarea Maritima was the capital of Roman Judaea, so included many of the features of Roman civilisation, including this magnificent amphitheatre. When we visited, we were free to wander around and even sit where theatre goers of two thousand years ago would have enjoyed, perhaps, a Roman adaptation of a Sophocles play or other Greek drama. The theatre is still in use which explained the modern sound and other equipment on the stage when we were there. It somewhat marred what otherwise would have been some evocative photographs, but so be it. If you are interested in classical antiquity, do not give this a miss.
10. Herodyon National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 342 reviews
Reviewed By 722vital - Chicago, United States
Guide Helen Cohn with IsraelDaysOut picked us up at our hotel and guided us through Herodyon, pointing out West Bank and Territories sites en route. The depth and breadth of her knowledge about Herodyon as well as the current political situation was most enlightening.
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