ISRAEL TRAVEL GUIDE
I never would have expected I would visit Israel. In fact, I didn’t even know Israel was anything more than Bethlehem… which in fact, I did not visit. But after spending 10 days in Israel, it’s hard to believe I had NO interest in visiting the country before I had the opportunity of a lifetime to explore it.
Let’s back up. What was I doing in Israel? As part of my Bachelor of Commerce degree, I was fortunate enough to get accepted into an exchange program for the International Business course requirement, and my school is fortunate enough to get massive funding for this truly remarkable exchange program, in which students from Israel and students from Winnipeg spend one month together and immerse each other in our cultures, values, and communities, and day to day lives; many of which are entirely different from one another!
After a few weeks in Winnipeg and 5 days in Toronto, we were wheels up, headed for Tel Aviv on a 12 hour flight… EEK! This was the longest flight I’ve ever been on but surprisingly it went way better (and faster) than expected. Once we touched down, we were ready for the journey of a lifetime, headed to 4 different places over 10 days within the tiny country of Israel. Really, its tiny. But with the diversity of terrain, cultures, and religions, you’d expect it to be the size of Canada.
Be’er Sheva
Be’er Sheva is a university town but I fell in love with it quickly! Maybe because it was the home of my Israeli friends, but this is the place that I really got to experience the Israeli lifestyle. Laid back, candid, but so happy.
1. HOTEL: We stayed at a hotel called the Leonardo Hotel Negev and it was easily my favourite hotel of everywhere we stayed. The rooftop pool was perfect to spend an afternoon, and the morning breakfast buffet was TO DIE FOR. Think all the pastries & bread, cheese plate galore, and vegetables prepared in dozens of different ways, plus an espresso bar. Truthfully Israelis eat much healthier than Canadians (no really you would have to search high & low to find one of the very few McDonald’s in Israel) but I ate so much because I was on holidays am I right??? While we’re on the topic of food, two of my fav lunch spots were had here in Be’er Sheva. The first: Pasta Basta, a cute little resto where you build your own pasta to order (p.s. the beet cream sauce was incredible), and Food Corner, literally a little hole in the wall sandwich shop in which you choose your base (meat or portobello for all the Vegetarians), and they add their specialty ingredients of the week which include things like artichoke spread, beet spread, avocado, pineapple, cheese and literally a hundred other random toppings. If you’re picky, you can choose what you want but if you want the true experience then let them work their magic with whatever they choose.
2. BEDOUIN CAMP & CAMELS: From Be’er Sheva, we visited Kfar Hanokdim Bedouin Experience which is a MUST for any trip to Israel. Bedouins are known as people of the Judean desert, and put simply, they are like gypsies who live off the land. Kfar is an incredible tribute to the lives of these people, in which you can hike trails among the stunning sands, ride a camel, or just relax in the boho-vibe camp while drinking traditional Bedouin coffee. Although we didn’t, Kfar offers overnights where you can spend a night under the stars in a traditional tent – something I will absolutely be doing on my next trip to Israel!
One of the coolest moments in Be’er Sheva was looking over the skyline at Negev Brigade Monument. Everyone brings a blanket and a glass of wine, and finds a spot on the monuments to perch up on and watch the sunset.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is seriously something else. Every single building must be built out of “Jerusalem Stone” by law, which is amazing. The city is big, and SO full of spirituality, but not overly like you might expect… Not everyone is dressed in religious garb, there’s a mix of both extremely religious, religious, and non-religions people living here.
1. HOTEL: First things first, we stayed at Prima Park Hotel, a spot in perfect walking distance from much of the attractions you’ll be visiting, as well as a rooftop pool (this one we did not get the chance to use!) andddd most importantly, complimentary lobby wine everyday (HELLO!).
2. HOLY SITES: But on to the reason why you’re visiting Jerusalem: the Holy Sites. I would recommend a guided tour of the Holy Sites, especially for someone (like myself) who is not overly familiar with all the religious sites in Jerusalem (because there are manyyyy), so a guide will make your visits a lot more meaningful by providing context behind each spot. We started at a viewpoint of the Old City of Jerusalem, then ventured into the Walls of Jerusalem to get up close to spots like Temple Mount, The Western Wall, and Al-Asqa Mosque. We also visited the Tomb of Virgin Mary at the food of Mount of Olives, and the Church of All Nations, where Jesus was said to have prayed before his arrest, and the Garden of Gethsemane. Literally every site had so much meaning behind it, it was sort of surreal to be right there in the middle of places in which are such a large part of history.
3. MACHNE YEHUDA MARKET: The markets in Jerusalem are unreal, specifically Machne Yehuda Market, the most well known of them all. During the day this place is seriously bustling and as I quickly learned, Israelis don’t wait in line for nothing! You have to get right up there and make yourself known if you want any sort of service. After getting used to it, I realized this was right up my alley hahaha. Here you can find everything from fresh fruit, veggies, meat, baking, souvenirs, jewelry, coffee, and a TON of restaurants, making it the perfect spot to spend a morning or afternoon. At night, the shops close and turn into bars and hookah bars, making it an ideal hangout spot. My Winnipeggers, think The Forks Common, x100. We had lunch here at Azura, an Iraqi restaurant and the vegan kubbeh (plus hummus as usual) was amaaaaazing. But you cannot miss the Rogalah (pastry with chocolate all over and inside) at Marzipan Bakery! This place is a Jerusalem must, and I literally dreamt about it for the rest of my trip and to this day.
Masada
1. MASADA FORTRESS HIKE: A sunrise hike to the top of Masada Desert Fortress is a must. Overlooking the Dead Sea, the ancient kingdom of Herod is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a sight to be seen! The Masada Snake Path is an iconic hike in Israel, which took us about 50-70 minutes to hike just in time to watch the sunrise. Be warned, it’s a hot one out here in the middle of the desert, so if waking up early to hike it in time for the sunrise doesn’t entice you, perhaps the thought that leaving any later will be even more deathly hot will. There’s also a cable car if you’re not looking to venture up by foot, but come on, it’s half the fun!
2. HOSTEL: While you can take a tour bus to Masada in time for a sunrise hike from Jerusalem, we stayed at HI Masada Hostel, which is a family friendly hostel (very hotel like) right at the base of Masada making it the perfect landing spot for the day before your hike. It also has a fabulous pool, and is located in what feels like the middle of the desert making it ideal for a relaxing getaway in the middle of your travels. I would have loved to have spent an extra night here just to relax, despite there being nothing around it other than Masada.
3. THE DEAD SEA: While in the area, stopping for a swim in the Dead Sea is a must! The high salt concentrated lake is over 8x saltier than the ocean, allowing you to float without even trying! The natural spa waters are full of mineral rich black mud, known to be extremely exfoliating when applied on your skin. With multiple beaches on the Dead Sea, we stopped at Kalia Beach, a calm beachfront complete with a restaurant/bar, gift shops, juice shops, and change rooms with bathrooms and showers for all your pre and post Dead Sea needs!
Tel Aviv
Before I leave, let me show you Tel Avivvvvvv! – Nadav Guedj ← yeah, this was the theme song of our entire trip LOL. But really, Tel Aviv is a LOT TO SEE!
1. HOTEL: We stayed at the Metropolitan Hotel, which was literally a 3 minute walk from the beach! Can you say amazing??? Not to mention there’s an Aroma Cafe just around the street corner (Aroma is all over Israel and a MUST for all your caffeine & lunch or breaky needs).
2. NIGHTLIFE: I’ll admit, I’m not a Tel Aviv expert as much of our time here was spent visiting businesses and presenting our final course project, but we did get a chance to explore the nightlife and let’s just say it is wild! From beach parties at Calypso, to chill bars or nightclubs like Lima Lima (we went on gay night and it was such a party!), there’s something for everyone. But be warned, drinks aren’t cheap so you may need to have a heavy pre-game, or take advantage of the legal street drinking and bring a road brew for the walk.
3. ROTHSCHILD BLVD: During the day, there’s a ton of restaurants, markets, and shops to explore! Walk along the famous Rothschild Boulevard and find endless outdoor spots to stop & sit, Habima Theatre, the famous Rothschild Hotel, espresso at Coffee Kiosk or one of many cafes, or grab some sweet sweet gelato style ice cream at Vaniglia! We loved Benedict, a 24/7 breakfast spot with the most amazing Eggs Benedict (obvi). All meals come with a bread basket & the best cinnamon butter, and most with a mimosa (try the peach or pineapple!) – so yum!
4. MARKETS & SHOPPING: Carmel Market is also a must! It’s Tel Aviv’s finest, with everything from spices to fresh fruit, drinks and whatever else! It’s located near streets of more shopping and restaurants as well, including Dizengoff Center Mall. I also LOVED Cofix, a chain of coffee shops that sells all drinks for 6 shekels (less than $2.50 CAD), including coffee, blended coffees, beer, AND vodka shots. A coffee shop after my own heart.
