Things to do Israel

Jerusalem, the capital and the largest city of Israel, lies alongside the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the most extraordinary cities in the world, boasting a unique combination of ancient history, spiritual sanctity and colorful cultures. Dating back thousands of years, Jerusalem is the Holy City for the world's three main religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Old City and its walls have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It offers visitors a rich history and endless information about its religious heritage, which is shared between its Armenian, Christian, Jewish and Muslim quarters. Here the Western Wall, the most important site of Judaism, built 2000 years ago, can be found. It provides the focal point for Jewish worship and stands as an enduring symbol of the Jewish homeland. The old city is also very important to Christians and Muslims, as Jesus Christ lived and died here. It is home to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the extremely sacred Noble Sanctuary which houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the place from which Prophet Muhammad is believed to have ascended to Heaven.
Jerusalem is a city of overwhelming emotions that promises a religious and spiritual experience, excitement and pleasure, exciting tours and entertaining adventures. Alongside Jerusalem’s fascinating historic and archeological sites, there are marvelously modern tourist attractions for all lovers of culture, arts, theater and music, architecture and gastronomic delights. Jerusalem boasts several interesting museums including the Israel Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Bloomfield Science Museum. There is the magnificent market, where visitors can buy Armenian-style ornamented ceramics, beautiful strings of beads, authentic clothing, embroidered cushions, colorful wool carpets, candles and marvelous glassware, as well as numerous special souvenirs. In addition, Jerusalem is an outstanding destination in which to organize congresses, conventions, seminars and other kinds of events.  It hosts many important international fairs and congresses. Jerusalem's International Convention Centre, which possesses 27 meeting halls, is the largest meeting facility in the Middle East. It also houses Israel's largest auditorium.

Dome of the Rock

The Dome of the Rock is the most famous Islamic site in Jerusalem. It is not a mosque, but a Muslim shrine, like the Ka'ba in Mecca. It was built by the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik in 691 AD, half a century after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. This impressive edifice is one of the oldest Islamic shrines in the world and certainly one of the most beautiful. The sacred rock located at the Dome of the Rock is the most important sight to be seen here. It is believed to have been there even before the arrival of Islam and is also the place where Abraham brought Isaac as a sacrifice. This site has a tremendous religious importance to Muslims, Jews and Christians alike. Dominating the skyline of Jerusalem, the Dome of the Rock features multicolored Turkish tiles on the exterior. The octagonal section displays Quran verses and a number of Arabic inscriptions. Its interior features a number of floral ornamentations and several other inscriptions. These mosaics can also be seen at the shrine's garden, which resembles a paradise.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the holiest Christian site in the world and is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Jerusalem. It has been an important pilgrimage destination since the IVth century. Located within the walled Old City of Jerusalem, the edifice was originally built by the mother of Emperor Constantine in 330 A.D. It commemorates the hill of crucifixion and the tomb of Christ's burial. The beautiful architecture of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a combination of Crusader, Byzantine and Greek structures. Today, the monument is home to six denominations including Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, and Ethiopian Orthodox.

Dead Sea

Located around 40km from Jerusalem lies the famous geographical attraction known as the Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on earth at 407m below sea level. It is one of the most spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the whole world. A float in the Dead Sea is one of the highlights of every visitor's trip to Israel. As its name suggests, the Dead Sea is devoid of life due to an extremely high content of salts and minerals, which gives its waters the renowned curative powers, therapeutic qualities and buoyancy which have been recognized since the days of Herod the Great, more than 2000 years ago. These elements, combined with natural springs and the warm, dry climate, create an extraordinary feeling of well-being and offer visitors a relaxing break. The Dead Sea is flanked by mountains to the east and the rolling hills of Jerusalem to the west, giving it an almost otherworldly beauty.

Stretching out along the beautiful beach strip of the Mediterranean, Tel Aviv is Israel's commercial and cultural center. It has a well-deserved reputation as Israel's party town and is one of the most liberal cities in the Middle East. The metropolis is also one of the best Mediterranean destinations, offering visitors a lively combination of entertainment venues, shopping malls, exotic markets and nonstop active nightlife, as well as cultural heritage, stunning golden beaches and wonderful restaurants of all varieties. Visible from a distance with its seafront skyscrapers and exclusive hotels, Tel Aviv is a busy metropolis which inspires its visitors with a unique, energetic atmosphere of excitement and fun. It boasts magnificent sights that run all the way from the port leisure area in north Tel Aviv to the old quarter of Jaffa, an historic port town. Tel Aviv is also home to an array of modern museums, galleries, theatres, concert halls and old Bauhaus residential buildings, which were built by the immigrants who escaped the Holocaust of Germany. This special blend of Mediterranean ambience, seaside resort and modern façade is what makes the city so uniquely appealing.

Tel Aviv is also an outstanding destination for business tourism. Meeting venues are well equipped for events of all sizes, from small corporate gatherings up to large-scale international events. There is also a wide selection of hotels which offer business facilities and ensure satisfactory recreation for conference participants after a long work day.

Tel Aviv Museum of Art

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is Israel’s leading museum of modern and contemporary art and one of the countrys’s biggest museums. Receiving around 500,000 visitors per year, it boasts a selection of European art, including paintings by artists such as Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Matisse, and Picasso. The museum also has an interesting department for photography, as well as design and architecture. In addition to its collections, it puts on music and dance performances, film screenings, and lecture series on philosophy and art.

The Underwater Observatory Marine Park

The Underwater Observatory Marine Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Israel. Here, visitors will explore the magical Red Sea’s amazing underwater world. The variety and vibrant color of the fish makes it the world's most unique and beautiful reef site. The Park maintains an extensive exhibition of fish and other living creatures from the Red Sea, including several aquariums, a Shark Tank, a Turtle and Stingray Pool and two underwater observatories.