What to do in Israel on a Ten Day Trip

Planning a trip to Israel and looking for ideas of what to do? I have you covered!

Israel is a small country with many places to see and activities to do! Luckily it’s easy to get around – even in a short period of time.

I just returned from a trip to there for a dear friend’s wedding – such a magical event – and I left my trip feeling euphoric and sad to leave. (I easily could have stayed another couple weeks – darn work and dog mommy duties!) So even though, I couldn’t stay longer: I made the most of my ten day trip!

There is something about Israel that always makes me feel truly content and happy.

The first time I visited Israel was in 2010 – when I did Birthright (a program all young Jews should certainly look into!). I had a similar feeling while on that trip. Perhaps, it’s because I am Jewish that I feel so connected to the country, the people and the land but I think it goes beyond my religious connections.

Israel is special and I know people of all cultures and religions have a connection to the country and visit for a variety of reasons.

Aside from the history of the country and the religious offerings: it’s a wonderful place to tour and enjoy on vacation. In case you were wondering: Tel Aviv and other cities there are fairly secular. I know first hand how many people think Israel isn’t a safe place to visit or a place with personal freedoms but this could not be further from the truth. It’s discouraging that many people are unaware just how wonderful Israel really is – I hope in reading this post you’ll be able to feel open to taking a trip there.

Here is what to do in Israel on a 10 day trip:

Visit Tel Aviv

You will likely spend a lot of time in Tel Aviv – it’s a robust city with so much to do!

Excellent restaurants, gorgeous beaches that line the Mediterranean Sea and it is bursting with culture. It’s also fairly secular and even though Israel is a Jewish state you’ll meet people of many cultures and religions especially in Tel Aviv.

Where to stay in Tel Aviv?

On my recent visit there, I stayed at the Mendeli Street Hotel and it was one of my favorite hotel experiences ever.

The rooms themselves are on the small side (you can pay for varying size rooms – see pic of room below). The best part of staying here is the breakfast (which is included in your stay) and it’s phenomenal – I am not exaggerating! Just excellent tasting food and if you don’t stay there you can still pay to have brunch or dinner!

It’s also about a block from the beach and centrally located in Tel Aviv. I highly recommend this hotel! Plus there is a really fun Irish pub across the street: Molly Blooms – which I went to and met some fun people!

(Pro tip: when traveling: find the local Irish pub – you will undoubtedly meet other travelers and English speakers!)

Visit Jaffa (or stay there)

Jaffa is a neighborhood in Tel Aviv that is known for its ancient city style and a mixture of many cultures. It’s a really cool and artsy area to stay and visit and you’ll get a taste of everything. Restaurants, shops and beaches are perfect there.

Where to stay in Jaffa?

I stayed at the Numa Hotel – a newer hotel with a very trendy vibe and great location.

Tel Aviv is chalk full of things to do from museums, tours of the city, and more! Notable areas to visit are also: Neve Tzedik – which has some French influence.

Cute cafes and boutiques line the streets. Frishman Beach – one of the main beaches in Tel Aviv, Rothschild Boulevard – a main drag in Tel Aviv where the center of the street is a park for pedestrian walking.

Carmel Market – a fun market where you can buy spices, hats, shoes, juice, falafel and more!

Take a Day Tour to the Dead Sea and Masada

If you want to stay based in Tel Aviv day tours are great options – there are many places to see and can be easily traveled to in one day. The Dead Sea and Masada are close to one another so many times the tours will group these two visits together – they are both close trips to Tel Aviv but will be a whole day excursion.

The Dead Sea – this is a must on a first visit – it’s a world treasure and there is truly nothing like it.

Masada – take a tour of Masada where ancient Jews and Romans battled for power in 66 C.E.

Tips for touring Masada:

This is typically a few hours long so come prepared with a hat, comfy shoes, sunblock and snacks! There is a store there with snacks and drinks! Here is a pic of me below – where I removed all my touristy junk: hat, cover up for the sun and more…

Golan Heights, Jericho are also great day tours.

Visit or Stay in Jerusalem

If you’re going to Israel then you will surely want to spend some time in Jerusalem – either for a few nights or just a day.

The Wailing Wall (i.e. Kotel or Western Wall) is a must visit. It’s a very holy and spiritual place.

Near the Wailing Wall there is the Jewish quarter, the Muslim quarter, the Christian quarter, and the Armenian quarter – where you can walk around each’s respective markets and stop at a cafes for a bite to eat. It’s a great cultural experience which I highly recommend.

This is just a fraction of what there is to do in Israel – when I went in 2010 – I went everywhere: my most recent trip was a little more relaxed and I stayed mostly in Tel Aviv.

How much does it cost to go to Israel?

Well this all depends – if you’re coming from the US it can be quite expensive.

If you’re flying from San Francisco (SFO) there is a direct flight to Tel Aviv on United – which is an amazing flight. NYC and LA have lots of flights as well – NYC has direct and LA might stop in NYC.

Cost from California is anywhere from 1,000-1,500 (assuming you’re buying economy class).

The cost once you’re there varies – hotels are reasonable (not like LA or NYC) but can add up. Food is expensive – in general Tel Aviv is a pricey city. Like all big cities there are ways to budget but overall – it’s not going to be super inexpensive.

Tips for traveling to Israel:

Israel is very warm – even in the winter it’s in the 70s – so I would not bother with a coat or jacket especially in the summer. Perhaps a light cardigan in the winter.

There are many outdoor activities so bring sunblock, a hat, comfortable shoes, a bathing suit, sandals. These are always essentials in a country like Israel with so much outdoor activity and warm weather.