Jerusalem Travel Blog

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of synagogues in Jerusalem. From the tiny neighborhood shtiebels to the palatial Belz Synagogue that stands out on the northern Jerusalem skyline.  But the oldest, and most unusual synagogue in the city is the Karaite Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. Karaite...

On the ground, Jerusalem’s Old City is a maze of winding, narrow alleyways, crowded with churches, mosques and synagogues, all held together by the shuk–the exotic market streets tightly packed with stalls filled with trinkets, food, pottery and spices. To make sense of it all, it pays to...

Jerusalem is surrounded on all sides by astoundingly beautiful, and very different terrain, depending on which direction you choose to travel from the holy city. Many visitors choose to head eastward toward the Dead Sea to experience some of the most astonishing scenery and hikes in the Middle East....

A surprising number of Jerusalem hotels have restaurants worth visiting, even if you’re not a guest there. One or two, like the Kohinoor Indian restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, or Scala across town at the David Citadel Hotel are specialty destination restaurants worthy of attention. The Kohinoor...

You don’t have to drive too far out of Jerusalem to get a completely different view of Israel.  Many Israelis view Jerusalem as a separate entity from the rest of the country, so it’s worth descending from the hilltop city to get a different perspective. One of the most dramatic directions...

Everyone knows all about Jerusalem’s multitude of holy sites; historical places and interesting museums, but few people know that less than an hour’s drive away, visitors can enjoy a relaxing day touring boutique wineries and goat cheese farms set in scenery that rivals that of Provence or...

The first thing visitors notice about weekends in Israel is that the weekend starts on Thursday night.  Friday and Saturday are weekend days; Sunday is a regular work day. Weekend rates for getaways are for Friday and Saturday. A favorite weekend getaway for Jerusalemites is the Dead Sea.  The resort...

Jerusalem has a number of restaurants scattered throughout the city that fit the ‘romantic’ category.  That means they’re small; quiet with discreet service; have a to-die-for view or a secluded, exotic location and a menu that includes some luscious foods and heady wine that will...

Dessert in Israel at this time of year means sufganiyot--loosely translated as donuts, but in fact the fried goodies that come packed with all manner of yummy fillings bear little resemblance to American donuts. The delicious balls of calories are prepared in honor of Chanukah, when it’s traditional...

While Jerusalem may not be thought of as the most romantic city in the world, there’s no denying that it’s one of the most historic and meaningful places on the planet, so why not plan on making one of the most meaningful declarations of your life and propose there? There are some astoundingly...