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What to See in Israel in 7 Days
Sitting at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa, the tiny country of Israel punches well above its weight in awe-inspiring tourist attractions. History comes alive here, where you can see places from the Bible firsthand, as well as magnificently well-preserved Roman ruins, Christian Crusader fortresses, and the one-of-a-kind briny waters of the Dead Sea.
Keep reading for an Israel travel itinerary that lays out what to see in Israel in 7 days.
Israel Itinerary
Day 1: Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
If you’re visiting from another country, it’s likely that your flight will touch down at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, the main international airport in the country. Pick up your luggage and swap out your smartphone’s SIM card for an Israeli SIM card at one of the airport stores, which will save you a lot of money on roaming charges.
The airport is also a good place to get some local currency, called shekels, from an ATM. Credit cards are widely accepted, but it’s generally a good idea to have cash on hand as well.
Proceed to a rental car agency, where you’ve hopefully made reservations in advance. I strongly recommend getting a small car like a 2-door Opel Adam and specifying that you want an automatic if you can’t drive a stick shift. Not every car in this part of the world is an automatic. The small vehicle will make it much easier for you later on to squeeze into one of the tiny parking spaces in Jerusalem if you’ll be staying there.
I’d recommend selecting either Tel Aviv or Jerusalem as the “hub” of your sightseeing adventures for the next week, with other cities serving as the day trip “spokes.” It’s easiest to pick one location to rest your head at night so you’re not constantly moving your luggage from place to place and worrying about checking in and checking out.
Tel Aviv is more modern but Jerusalem offers more in terms of historic sights. For the purposes of this itinerary, let’s use Jerusalem as the base.
Drive out to Jerusalem and find a parking spot in a lot near your hotel. One centrally located free parking lot is Hamaalot, but it’s often full, especially if you arrive in the evening.
Day 2: Jerusalem
Explore the tremendous history of Jerusalem today. Early in the morning, head out to the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. Then spend a little time at the Western Wall. It’s nice to enjoy these places when they’re gloriously uncrowded, and will give you a nice preview for the day’s walking tour.
Later in the morning, take a walking tour of the city with a SANDEMANs New Europe Holy City tour. This is a great orientation to the history of and sightseeing opportunities in Jerusalem, and will provide important context for the rest of the week’s adventures.
On the walking tour, you’ll revisit the Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock, and Western Wall, while listening to your guide’s remarks about the history of and current political and religious situation in Israel.
You’ll have a delicious lunch and enjoy classic Israeli foods like hummus, pita bread, falafel, and vegetables. Wash it down with a lemonade with mint leaves. After lunch, you’ll walk along the Via Dolorosa in the steps of Jesus.
After your tour ends, visit the Israel Museum. Check out the Byzantine mosaics, model of Jerusalem, Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient ossuaries, and an Assyrian wall relief, among other highlights.
Day 3: Masada and the Dead Sea
The following day, another fine choice for a day trip includes visiting the fortress of Herod at Masada, followed by a short dip in the Dead Sea, which is in the same vicinity. Masada is a place to work into the first part of your itinerary because the area’s low elevation means the roads are sometimes blocked from flooding. If this happens, you can make a second attempt later in the week, and spend the day exploring Jerusalem on this day instead.
Visit the sprawling mountaintop palace of Herod and enjoy stupendous views of the surrounding desert, mountains, and remains of Roman military siege camps. Before you leave, take a look the museum, which houses assorted artifacts from Roman times.
Day 4: Caesarea
For an excellent day trip to see dramatic Roman ruins by the sea, visit the port city of Caesarea on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
There you can get oriented to the site by watching a film and studying the exhibits at the Visitor Center. King Herod launched major public works projects here, and many buildings from his time remain to this day. See theaters, a vast hippodrome, aqueducts, palace remains, and walls built by the Crusaders during the Middle Ages.
You can wrap up your afternoon with a visit to a museum with artifacts from ancient Caesarea in a Jewish kibbutz nearby before returning to your hotel.
Day 5: Beit She’an
Another great day trip with a focus on ancient history is northern Israel’s Beit Shean (Bet She’an), which features an array of Roman and Byzantine ruins. You probably don’t need the entire day for Beit Shean, so consider combining this visit with the nearby Crusader Fortress at Belvoir. This is also called Jordan Star National Park and may show up as such if you’re using Google Maps to locate the site.
Day 6: Jerusalem
Take a break from all the driving and spend some more time in Jerusalem today, starting with a few hours in the morning exploring the Tower of David and Museum. From the top of the tower, you can enjoy amazing views of the various quarters, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and more.
The museum describes the history of Jerusalem in great detail, going back to Alexander the Great. Be sure to check out the vast model of the city in the basement.
In the afternoon, visit the sobering Yad Vashem Museum, the largest Holocaust museum in the world. Walk the giant 2.5-acre memorial complex outside.
Day 7: Jerusalem
If your flight isn’t scheduled to depart until the evening or following morning, spend a few last hours wandering around Jerusalem. Wake up early before dawn to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at 4:30 a.m. at around the time it opens. See the Hill of Calgary where a stone slab marks the place where the body of Jesus was lain.
Later that morning, revisit the Israel Museum to gain a deeper understanding of the many civilizations that have risen and fallen in the region during the past few millennia. Don’t miss the outdoor model of Jerusalem as it looked in 66 AD, with scale models of Herod’s palace, the Temple of Augustus, markets, and other buildings. The museum also has rooms showing synagogues from around the world.
Walk around the Old City to spend your last shekels on souvenirs and treats in the colorful and atmospheric market stalls that line the alleys’ stone corridors.
Then return to Tel Aviv and fly home!
What to Eat in Israel
Of course, you’ll need to eat on a trip like this one. Fortunately, Israel is also known for its tasty and healthy cuisine, so be sure to sample some of the food and drink during your stay in the country. Read about the filling Israeli breakfast, falafel, halva, hummus, and much more in our article about 11 Israeli foods to try.
Onward from Israel
A week isn’t enough to see everything from Israel’s rich array of sightseeing opportunities, but this itinerary should be enough to familiarize you with the highlights.
If you’d like to explore more of the region, consider this itinerary outlining some of the best things to see in Algeria, the second biggest country in Africa.