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21 Dec

Experience the Holy Land (Part 1)

Explore Tel Aviv, the coast north of Tel Aviv, Nazareth & the Sea of Galilee

Experience the Holy Land (Part 1)

Israel is a Middle Eastern country on the Mediterranean Sea and is regarded by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the biblical Holy Land. Israel's financial hub, Tel Aviv, is known for its Bauhaus architecture and beaches. In this blog we travel north from Tel Aviv to the coastal cities of Netanya, Haifa & Acre/Akko and continue to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee.

 

Israel road trip map

 

1. TEL AVIV-YAFO

Tel Aviv, Israel, road trip

 

Tel Aviv-Yafo, often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. It is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and is the economic and technological center of the country. The city was founded in 1909 by the Yishuv (Jewish residents) as a modern housing estate on the outskirts of the ancient port city of Jaffa, then part of the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem within the Ottoman Empire.

 

Tel Aviv, Israel, road trip

 

SLEEP AT CROWNE PLAZA TEL AVIV BEACH

Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv Beach

A beachfront high-rise hotel in the centre of Tel Aviv with free WiFi and excellent meeting facilities. Crowne Plaza® Tel Aviv Beach hotel sits on the seafront in central Tel Aviv, three km from Savidor Central Railway Station and the inter-city Ayalon Highway. Fashionable Gordon Beach is at the hotel's doorstep, Tel Aviv Marina is next door and the seafront promenade attracts joggers and cyclists. The city's vibrant museums and arts venues are a short taxi ride away. It's a short amble to the shops and cafés of Dizengoff and Ben Yehuda Streets, and a free hotel shuttle links to the upmarket Azrieli mall.

 

SLEEP AT CROWNE PLAZA TEL AVIV CITY CENTER

Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center

An upmarket high-rise hotel in the centre of Tel Aviv with spacious bedrooms and excellent business facilities. Ideally located, Crowne Plaza® Tel Aviv City Center hotel is 12 minutes by train from Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) and offers easy access to the inter-city Ayalon Highway. A free shuttle bus runs from the hotel to the beach, a couple of kilometres away. The popular Azrieli shopping mall is next door.

 

SLEEP AT INTERCONTINENTAL DAVID TEL AVIV

InterContinental David Tel Aviv

Beach life, history and modern culture meet at the InterContinental® David Tel Aviv hotel. With elegant rooms and state of the art conference facilities, it's ideal for business or pleasure. You can wake up to a lavish al fresco breakfast with superb sea views, savour Aubergine restaurant's Health & Harmony superfood menu and treat yourself to a massage at the luxury spa. Tel Aviv's best shops and bars are on the doorstep of this refined, high rise hotel and Old Jaffa Port is just minutes away.

 

EAT AT nomi

nomi, Tel Aviv, Israel

Located steps away from Tel Aviv’s renowned Carmel Market, nomi focuses on the fundamental qualities of local ingredients, extracting their hidden flavors to surprise and delight diners with their delicate tastes. Seasonal menus present imaginative cross-cultural dishes, showcasing a diversity of culinary skills from Chef Yoram.

 

PLAY AT KEDEM

Kedem, Tel Aviv, Israel

KEDEM is a unique travel service bootstrapped by a seasoned entrepreneur who loves blending technology with authentic travel, the outdoors and sustainable experiences. By providing adventure-craving travelers with an alternative to commercialized motorcoach tours, Kedem is changing the way people experience Israel. Click on their website to discover all the experiences that they offer & to book directly at the best price.

 

2. NETANYA (30KM FROM TEL AVIV)

Netanaya, Israel, road trip

 

Netanya is a Mediterranean resort city in central Israel. It’s known for its sandy beaches, including Amphi Beach, which is near an amphitheater. The remains of Um Khaled Khan village date to the Mamluk period and the Museum of Yemenite Jews Heritage depicts the culture of Yemenite Jewry. 

 

Netanaya, Israel, road trip

 

3. HAIFA (64 KM FROM NETANYA)

Haifa, Israel, road trip

 

Haifa is a northern Israeli port city built in tiers extending from the Mediterranean up the north slope of Mount Carmel. The city’s most iconic sites are the immaculately landscaped terraces of the Bahá'í Gardens and, at their heart, the gold-domed Shrine of the Báb. At the foot of the gardens lies the German Colony, with shops, galleries and restaurants in 19th-century buildings. 

 

Haifa, Israel, road trip

 

SLEEP AT CROWNE PLAZA HAIFA

Crowne Plaza Haifa, Israel

An upscale hotel in central Haifa with bay views. Crowne Plaza® Haifa hotel offers refined rooms with views of nearby Haifa Bay. Located in central Haifa on Mount Carmel, this peaceful property is a seven-minute walk to Carmel Centre’s cafes and shops. Carmelit subway is a five-minute walk and other public transport is nearby. 

 

4. ACRE/AKKO (26 KM FROM HAIFA)

Acre, Israel, road trip

 

Acre (Akko) is a port city in northwest Israel, on the Mediterranean coast. It’s known for its well-preserved old city walls. In a tunnel in the walls is the Treasures in the Walls Ethnographic Museum, depicting daily life from the Ottoman times to the 20th century. The mosaic-covered Or Torah (Tunisian) Synagogue has 7 torah arks and the18th-century Al-Jazzar Mosque features marble pillars and underground pools. 

 

Acre / Akko, Israel, road trip

 

5. NAZARETH (44 KM FROM HAIFA)

Nazareth, Israel, road trip

 

Nazareth is a city in Israel with biblical history. In the old city, the domed Basilica of the Annunciation is, some believe, where the angel Gabriel told Mary she would bear a child. St. Joseph’s Church is said to be the site of Joseph’s carpentry workshop. The underground Synagogue Church is reputedly where Jesus studied and prayed. Nazareth Village, an open-air museum, reconstructs daily life in Jesus’ era.

 

Nazareth, Israel, road trip

 

6. TIBERIAS - SEA OF GALILEE (31 KM FROM NAZARETH)

Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Israel, road trip

 

The Sea of Galilee, Lake Tiberias, Kinneret or Kinnereth, is a freshwater lake in Israel. It is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake in the world, at levels between 215 metres and 209 metres below sea level. It is approximately 53 km in circumference, about 21 km long, and 13 km wide. Tiberias is an Israeli city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Its Old City holds important Jewish and Christian pilgrimage sites including the Tomb of Maimonides and Abulafia (Etz Chaim) Synagogue. The waterfront features the restaurant-lined Yigal Allon Promenade, a marina and a fish market. South of the city, Hamat Tiberias National Park is home to famed mineral hot springs dating to antiquity.

 

Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Israel, road trip

 

 

WHEN TO GO: Israel is a year-round destination, which experiences a pleasant Mediterranean climate with mostly warm and cloudless days. The country generally sees long, hot summers and mild, wet winters. This makes Spring and Autumn the best seasons to visit, when temperatures are high but not stifling and there isn't too much rain

VISA: Visitors to Israel must obtain a visa from one of the Israeli diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. All visitors must hold a passport that is valid for 6 months after the date of departure from Israel.

CURRENCY: The Israeli national currency is the new Israeli Shekel (NIS or ILS), more commonly known as the shekel. The shekel is divided into 100 agurot (agura in singular). Israeli bank notes come in four denominations: 20, 50, 100 and 200 NIS and coins come in five denominations: 10, 5 and 1 NIS; 50 agurot and 10 agurot.

LANGUAGE: English is widely spoken and understood, and Arabic is the daily language and language of instruction for Israel's Arabic citizens. But for Jewish Israelis, who comprise 83% of the country's population, the day-to-day language is Hebrew.

HOW TO GET AROUND: Rent a car or Intercity buses between the major cities of Israel. Buses between Jerusalem, Haifa, and Tel Aviv depart very frequently. For less frequent buses, such as Tel Aviv or Jerusalem to Eilat, or Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, you must book your ticket in advance.

 

 

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