Learn how to travel to Israel and the Palestinian Territories - tour the most famous sites in fourteen days.Travel to Israel and the Palestinian means stepping into the history of civilization, religion, fallen empires and ancient ruins. The country side is so small and compact that these are all crammed together and even on top of each other times. Tour Israel and you find that your vacation conveniently divides into Jerusalem and then everything else. When you travel to Israel, your starting point will most likely be Jerusalem. The order of your visit in and around Jerusalem will in part be determined by the holy days for Judaism (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday), Islam (Friday) and Christianity (Sunday). Some sites will invariably be closed on particular holy days. The fourteen days of travel to Israel outlined below is from the Christian point-of-view as I an not qualified to do this from the Jewish or Muslim perspectives.
Next, visit the Western Wall below by again passing through security near the Dung Gate. After, proceed to the Jewish Quarter above you for a visit to the Burnt House and the Wohl Museum, both of which showcase ruins that go back almost 2000 years. Purchase the combination ticket to the Burnt House and the Wohl Museum. Near the exit of the Wohl Museum you find the "Golden Menorah" on display which serves as your introduction to the Treasures of the Temple Museum. The contents of this museum and the Golden Menorah are ready to be utilized in the new temple. Now exit the Zion Gate and walk down to the City of David. Here you find both the Coenaculum (the site of the Last Supper) and the Tomb of King David. A short walk away is the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, the traditional site where Peter denied Christ three times. Re-enter the Old City through the Zion Gate and pass through the Armenian Quarter to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter. Because to the various holy days, you can only complete the complete Day 1 tour from Monday to Thursday.
Mary’s Tomb is first, followed by the Church of All Nations at the nearby Garden of Gethsemane. Here Jesus prayed before his arrest. Continue on to the Church of the Dominus Flevit where, according to the shortest verse in the Bible, “Jesus wept”. Further uphill is the Church of the Pater Noster where Jesus taught his disciples to pray. The Lord’s Prayer is posted on almost every vertical surface within the compound in 164 different languages. The Chapel of the Ascension, at the top of the hill, is the site where Christians believe that Jesus ascended into heaven. Inside an octagonal domed structure, a former Crusader church, you find a stone with a barely visible footprint said to be that of Jesus. On the other hand, the Russian Church of the Ascension is another possible site for Jesus’s ascension. The skull of John the Baptist is said to be buried within this church as well. After completing your tour of the Mount of Olives, return to the Old City for a visit to the Citadel/Tour of David near the Jaffa Gate. When you complete your tour, enjoy a leisurely dinner at the Armenian Tavern just down the street (Armenian Quarter - Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate Rd #79). Because of the various holy days you can only do the complete Day 2 tour from Monday to Saturday. On Day 3 in the morning, take the bus to the Israel Museum featuring the Shrine of the Book and the model of Jerusalem during the second temple period. In the afternoon, visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial. Do not visit these sites on Friday or Saturday because all buses, urban and intercity only operate until 3 or 4 PM. Service does not resume until sunset on Saturday.
The itinerary for Day 5, a visit to the Palestinian City of Jericho, should not be on a Friday as this is the Muslim holy day. You should go the Arab bus station near the Damascus Gate and ride bus #36 to Abu Dis. At Abu Dis, take a taxi to Jericho. In Jericho, visit ancient Jericho and the Monastery of Temptation, where Jesus was tempted by the devil.
For Day 6, take the Egged Bus to Masada, which is located on the West Bank. This daytrip should not be attempted on either a Friday or Saturday because bus service may be limited on the Jewish Sabbath. To continue with your travel to Israel, you require a rental car. You should also check out of your lodging in Jerusalem. Day 7 starts off with a visit to Qumran on the West Bank. Qumran is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were transcribed. Warning: Do not drive to nearby Jericho, or any other Palestinian city in the West bank for that matter, with your rental car. You and your car might be targeted for attack because of the Israeli license plates. Furthermore, your car insurance will be null and void if you enter theses cities.
Arriving in Beit She’an, tour the Roman city in Beit She’an National Park. End your day in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. Tiberias is centrally located for much of your Galilee tour. Day 8 of your travel to Israel begins with a visit to the Church on the Mount of the Beatitudes. This is the traditional site where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Enjoy a leisurely walk around the well-manicured grounds. Continue north to Tel Hazor which was occupied as early as the 3rd millennium BCE. Hazor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was one of the cities burned by Joshua and the Israelites (Joshua 11: 10-13). Your final destination of the day is Nimrod Castle in the Golan Heights. This fortress was originally constructed by the Muslim rulers of Damascus but changed hands several times with the Christians during the Crusades. Your first destination on Day 9 is Mount Tabor to visit the Basilica of the Transfiguration. Here Jesus transfigured himself and appeared with Moses and Elijah. Depart Mount Tabor and travel to Megiddo to visit the ancient city that you may know better as Armageddon. Your first destination on Day 10 is the town of Kafr Kanna just outside of Nazareth. Kafr Kanna is the site of Cana where Jesus, attending a wedding, turned water into wine. The Cana Catholic Wedding Church houses an ancient wind storage jar in the crypt. The nearby Greek Orthodox Church is another possible site where the miracle was performed. While the church grounds are likely to be open for your visit, the church may not be. Approximately 6 kilometers outside of Kafr Kana you find the Roman town of Sepphoris (Zippori). This site likely has more Roman mosaics that you will find anywhere else Israel. There was a sizable Jewish community in this town and it appeared to have been very comfortably “Romanized” at that time. Day 11 brings you to the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Start at the ancient town of Bethsaida and work your way back toward Tiberias. Bethsaida, home to five of the Apostles, is the only site in Israel where you can truly walk in the footsteps of Jesus. These ruins are from the 1st century CE while other sites in the country have changed in some way over time, often with the addition of a church. En route to Bethsaida, you will have passed the Church of the Primacy of Peter, where Simon was named Peter by Jesus, and the Church of the Loaves and Fishes, where Jesus multiplied the bread and fish to feed 5,000 people. The latter church is also known as the Church of the Heptapegon. Your final destination of the day is Capernaum, known as the town of Jesus. On site you find Peter’s House and a 4th-5th century CE synagogue built on the site of an earlier one from the time of Jesus. On Day 12, check out of your lodging in Tiberias and visit Nazareth, the home town of Jesus. Mary’s Well and the neigboring St. Gabriel’s Church (the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation), where Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, are good starting points for your tour. The Basilica of the Annunciation, where Catholics believe that Mary was visited by Gabriel, and the Church of St. Joseph next door are a short walk away. Tradition, dating to the 7th century CE, has it that Joseph’s carpentry shop was situated at the site occupied by the Church of St. Joseph. The Church of the Mensa Christi has a large stone as its altar. Tradition holds that Jesus and his disciples shared a meal here. To visit this church you must ask for the key from the caretaker. Climb the stairs opposite the front door and stop at the second door on the right. You should tip this person. The Synagogue Church is the traditional site where Jesus preached (Luke 4:16). After preaching, Luke 4:29 indicates that Jesus was led to the brow of a hill to be thrown off. Drive to the Mount of the Precipice where you can enjoy a fine view of the surrounding area. At Nazareth Village, you can step back into the time of Jesus. Here staff in period custumes work at traditional crafts and occupations. Meet a weaver and a carpenter in their period shops. Remember to watch where you step when you meet the shepherd and his flock. Visit the reproduction of a synagogue from the time of Jesus. At the end of your tour of Nazareth, drive to Akko and spend the night. On Day 13, your tour of Akko (Acre) begins with the Subterranean Crusader City. Follow this up with a tour of the Turkish Bath House. You can purchase a combination ticket to the Subterranean Crusader City and the Turkish Bath House. Spend the remainder of your day just wandering around historic Akko before traveling down the coast to Caesarea for the night.
A number Roman structures including 2 aqueducts are located outside the park. Finally, conclude your travel to Israel by returning your rental car to the rental car company in Tel Aviv. Take the city bus to the Central Bus Station and then find a bus to Ben Gurion Airport. After 9 PM there is a bus directly to the airport (not an Egged Bus).
2) Try to select your Jerusalem lodging near the Old City because you will be largely unaffected by the Jewish Sabbath when transportation is limited. Most of the Jerusalem destinations outlined above are near the Old City. 3) When you arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, you can take Egged Bus 423, 948 or 947 to the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem. Then take City Bus #20 which stops at the Jaffa Gate at the Old City. 4) Some Jewish holidays can last for several days so transportation may be a problem as well. 5) Arab buses remain in operation on the Jewish Sabbath. 6) If possible, do not pick up or drop off your rental car at the airport as it is more expensive to do so than at any other rental car outlet in the country. 7) Remember to carry your passport with you at all times. You will need it as you pass through the Israeli/Palestinian checkpoints in the West Bank. 8) When you travel to Israel and find yourself riding on an Egged bus, don’t be alarmed if one or more Israeli soldiers, carrying weapons, is riding with you. Soldiers routinely travel around the country on the bus. You will also find them at bus stops. 9) Most religious sites are closed to people who are immodestly dressed. Legs, shoulders and necklines must be covered. Men should cover their heads when entering Jewish and Muslim holy sites. Men should remove their hats when entering Christian holy sites. 10) Most Jewish businesses close between noon and 2 PM on Friday for the sabbath. 11) For travel to Israel, bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water when you travel around the country.
13) Security is taken very seriously in Israel, don’t be surprised when you and your daypacks are searched at bus stations, malls, grocery stores etc. 14) Travel to Israel requires that you be alert for suspicious people walking around you. Furthermore, avoid congested places and keep away from developing hotspots. Move quickly out of harm’s way if you accidentally come across a demonstration. 15) When returning home, arrive at Ben Gurion Airport at least 3 hours early because the security screening is more stringent than any other airport that you have been to in the past. 16)
Dehydration, Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
can be problems in a desert environment.
Return from Travel to Israel and the Palestinian Territories |
