Top 7 Highlights From 2 Weeks Exploring Israel

We recently returned from an ambitious two-week vacation to Israel, which was one of our best trips to date. I thought a lot about how to recap our recent travels. At first, I considered a day-by-day account of our experience, but that got too long too fast, and only our mothers would be interested! So I settled instead on recapping the top 7 highlights from our trip to Israel.

The entire trip felt like one big highlight reel, but these are what stick out in my memory as the best experiences from our time in Israel (which by the way, is in Asia, not Europe!).

Please note this post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my Privacy Policy for more information.

1. Floating in the Dead Sea

Floating in the Dead Sea is the quintessential Israel experience, and for good reason.

The lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea contains 7 times as much salt as the ocean! The salt concentration is so high that you literally float on the water. You can sit up, lay back, or even read a newspaper! The experience is incredibly relaxing, and also makes for some great photo ops.

Another must when visiting the Dead Sea is covering yourself head-to-toe in Dead Sea mud prior to entering the water. The mud is rich with exfoliating minerals, and supposedly draws out toxins from the body. Whether the latter is true or not, after covering your body in mud and rinsing off in the salty water, your skin will be as smooth as a baby!

2. Walking the Ruins of Caesarea

The city of Caesarea once boasted the most impressive harbor in the world. Constructed in 9 BCE by King Herod, the harbor of Caesarea was the only non-natural harbor of its time, built on stilts in the ocean.

When visiting Caesarea, you walk the remains of the ancient city which boasted an impressive Roman theater and hippodrome. The national park recently opened a new visitor center which shows an excellent video on the building of the ancient city and provides historical context on its importance within the Roman Empire.

In addition to the archaeological significance, Caesarea’s proximity to the Mediterranean makes it some of the most scenic Roman ruins. After touring the ancient city, visit the nearby promenade for lunch or dinner in one of the nearby restaurants overlooking the sea.

3. Eating in Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda

Jerusalem’s famous outdoor market, Mahane Yehuda, is both cultural immersion and a culinary destination in one. The market is packed with locals shopping for produce, dried fruits and nuts, meat, and freshly baked bread for their meals.

If you’re looking for a standout meal in Jerusalem, this is where you’ll find it. The market has everything from casual hummus eateries to sit down Lebanese and reservation required restaurants. It’s also a great place to walk around and nosh (Yiddish for “snack”) on samples.

My favorite thing to do in Mahane Yehuda is visit the halva and tahini sellers. If you’re not familiar with halva, it is a sweet and creamy sesame dessert made from tahini (ground sesame seeds). Halva is a delicious treat, and I highly recommend trying it while you’re in Israel!

Walking through the stalls of Mahane Yehuda you’ll pass by vendors with huge mounds of halva on display. Flavors vary from traditional pistaccio to experimental lemon, and you can sample as many as you’d like. If you’ve never eaten halva before, this is the place to try it. Fair warning, one bite, and you’ll be hooked on the stuff!

4. Visiting the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

The Temple Mount marks the former location of the ancient Jewish Temple and is home today to Islam’s Dome of the Rock and al-Aqa mosque. The Kotel, or Western Wall, is the remaining portion of one of the four original walls supporting the Temple Mount, and is the holiest site in Judaism.

Owing to the complex history of the area, access to the Temple Mount is controlled by a Jordanian religious authority. As a result, the site is only open to non-Muslims on certain days and for limited hours. Despite the inconvenient schedule, fitting a visit into your itinerary is well worth the effort!

On the Temple Mount you can get up close to the al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock (though cannot go inside). There are also great views of the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem’s Old City.

The Dome of the Rock is a highlight within a highlight. I would even say it’s the main reason to visit the Temple Mount. While non-Muslims can’t enter the building, seeing it up close is phenomenal. The gold dome which dominates the Jerusalem skyline is highlighted by the beautiful blue mosaics that cover the entire exterior of the mosque. It’s almost impossible to look away from the grandeur, and a shame when you finally have to leave it.

5. Snorkeling in Eilat’s Coral Reef

Eilat, a popular beach destination, is located on Israel’s southern tip. Its waters are home to the northernmost tropical coral reef in the world, and at Eilat’s Coral Beach you can get up close and personal with the reef by snorkeling alongside it. For the more adventurous traveler, there are also coral reef scuba excursions that you can sign up for.

While snorkeling we saw many colorful fish, sea cucumbers,bright red starfish, and even a lionfish! Swimming alongside the fish was like entering a peaceful underwater world entirely removed from life above the surface. Prior to snorkeling, I suggest visiting Eilat’s aquarium to learn about the reef and its inhabitants. The aquarium will provide context for the reef and species living there, which will add to the experience of seeing them in the wild.

6. Hiking Israel’s Ein Gedi National Park

The Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is an oasis overlooking the Dead Sea and one of the premier hiking destinations in Israel. The nature reserve offers hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult, and diverse topography such as waterfalls, ancient ruins, and desert views. 

During our visit we hiked through the valley along a spring-fed stream to reach David’s waterfall, a tall and skinny waterfall cascading over moss covered stones. From there, we made our way up the steep hills to the ancient Chalcolithic temple. The temple itself was a bit disappointing (all that remained was a partial stone foundation and no interpretive signs), but the view was worth every minute of uphill climb! From there we stared out on the rich blue of the Dead Sea, beyond which were the mountains of Jordan. The contrast of red-brown mountains to blue sea took our breath away (or was it the uphill climb?).

7. Wandering the Streets of Ancient Petra

Okay, I know Petra is in Jordan and not Israel, but many people visit Petra as a day trip from Israel, so I’m including it.

We spent two nights in Jordan and a full day exploring the Petra Archaeological Park. This site has it all: archaeology, history, culture, and scenic beauty.

Petra is known for its incredible facades carved into ochre-colored mountains. These large facades date back almost 2,000 years and have preserved the legacy of the Nabatean people that built them. 

The highlight within Petra was the Monastery, which is the largest and most impressive façade. Getting there requires a 40-minute uphill hike which can only be done on a full day visit. If you plan to go, I suggest spending two nights in Wadi Musa (the nearest town) and devoting an entire day to exploring Petra.

Final Thoughts

Israel is a country full of highlights, with a depth of history and culture found nowhere else in the world. It’s hard to choose only a few top moments from our trip, but I would say these 7 highlights really stuck out from our time in Israel. 

Have you been to Israel? Let me know what the highlights from your trip were!