{"id":34746,"date":"2020-01-05T12:17:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-05T10:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.masaisrael.org\/?post_type=in-media&#038;p=34746"},"modified":"2020-05-03T12:20:23","modified_gmt":"2020-05-03T09:20:23","slug":"8-great-reasons-to-visit-israel-now","status":"publish","type":"in-media","link":"https:\/\/www.masaisrael.org\/in-media\/8-great-reasons-to-visit-israel-now\/","title":{"rendered":"8 great reasons to visit Israel now"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"block block-content\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"block-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"block-col\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"field field-type-text field-field-news-abstract\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item odd\">\n<p class=\"rtecenter\" dir=\"RTL\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span dir=\"LTR\">From history to nightlife, food to scenery, Israel can\u2019t be beat for experiencing so much in such a small country.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"underline\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/shutterstock_552025117-1000x657.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Feeling like you\u2019ve caught the travel bug this winter? If you\u2019re looking for somewhere to travel and haven\u2019t considered Israel yet, it\u2019s time to start.\u00a0Here are eight reasons for you to join a record-breaking number of incoming tourists looking to experience Israel and all it has to offer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1.\u00a0Israel is small but mighty<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At just 8,630 square miles, Israel is a considerably small country. Driving from the northern tip to the southern tip takes just six hours! And in that time, you can experience diverse climates, cities, cultures and more. Even on a quick trip, Israel offers a lot in just a short amount of time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field-type-text field-field-news-main-text\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item odd\">\n<p><strong>2. Year-round travel weather<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For the most part, in major cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel\u2019s climate is temperate year-round. You can visit anytime of year and not be bogged down by extreme highs or lows. Of course, desert cities like Eilat do get extremely hot in the summer, but you can always head to the coast and take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea. So, if you\u2019re looking for a travel destination with little rain and lots of sun, add Israel to your list.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. See diverse landscapes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"rtecenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/shutterstock_1391844500.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Israel has just about every type of terrain for you to experience.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>You can explore miles of sandy beaches along the warm, blue waters of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/best-mediterranean-beach-hotels-in-israel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mediterranean Sea<\/a>&#8211; or dip your toes in the Red Sea, brimming with colorful fish and coral, in Israel\u2019s southernmost city of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/10-of-the-best-hotels-in-eilat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eilat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Inland, the famous<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/dead-sea-revival-project-sets-sail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0Dead Sea<\/a>, the lowest elevation point on the planet, offers beaches and skin-nourishing mud frequented by tourists and locals alike.<\/p>\n<p>If you feel like venturing higher into the atmosphere, Israel has plenty of mountains with beautiful views and trails. Heading north, you can access the Golan Heights, home to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/mount-hermon-offers-cool-summer-fun\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mount Hermon<\/a>\u00a0or the Upper Galilee, where you can find Mount Meron. There\u2019s plenty to do at either of these locations, including mountain biking, hiking, and even snowboarding and skiing at Mount Hermon and wine tasting at Mount Meron.<\/p>\n<p>It wouldn\u2019t be a trip to Israel without\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/11-places-to-grab-great-israeli-food-in-the-desert\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a visit to the desert<\/a>. Although home to several, the most well-known desert in Israel is the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/traveling-the-ancient-incense-route-in-the-negev\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Negev<\/a>. Located in the southern region of Israel, the Negev offers many recreational ways to see the land including biking, jeep tours, bus tours, and perhaps most excitingly, camel rides.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Experience historic sites<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"rtecenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/shutterstock_324632843.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>With such a staggering and rich history, it\u2019s no surprise Israel is home to countless historically significant sites. If you\u2019re interested in religious history, you can go across the border to see the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, or in Israel there\u2019s the City of David, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall in Jerusalem. For Nabatean, Roman and Crusader history buffs in Israel, there\u2019s the Belvoir Fortress, the Templars\u2019 Tunnel,Shivta,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/travel-leisure-picks-caesarea-as-best-2020-tourist-spot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the Roman ruins of Caesarea<\/a>, and Masada, among numerous other options.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Live the Tel Aviv nightlife<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Known as \u201cthe non-stop city\u201d and named \u201cthe Mediterranean Capital of Cool\u201d by\u00a0The\u00a0New York Times,\u00a0Tel Aviv is the center of Israel\u2019s nightlife. But be prepared to stay up late: most nightclubs in Tel Aviv don\u2019t start to fill up until after midnight-more like 2 or 3 in the morning. You can find\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/10-of-the-best-clubs-on-the-tel-aviv-scene\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fun bars and clubs<\/a>\u00a0just about anywhere in the city, but some of the most legendary include\u00a0The Block,\u00a0The Breakfast Club, and\u00a0Haoman 17.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. Immerse yourself in the arts and culture<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Israel is home to a thriving arts and culture scene. You can almost always find some sort of festival or event going on that suits your fancy. If you\u2019re into classical music, head to the Charles Bronfman Auditorium in Tel Aviv to attend an Israel Philharmonic Orchestra concert; if you want to watch films, there are international film festivals in Haifa and Jerusalem; or if you\u2019re in the mood for world-class museums, check out the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/tel-aviv-museum-explores-creative-answers-to-climate-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tel Aviv Museum of Art<\/a>, Design Museum Holon,\u00a0MadaTech, and\u00a0The Israel Museum.<\/p>\n<p><strong>7. Enjoy the food scene<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"rtecenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/shutterstock_532738894.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After exploring all the landscapes, landmarks, arts, and nightlife Israel has to offer, you\u2019ll probably have worked up quite an appetite. Lucky for you, Israel\u2019s food scene is first-rate.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re in the mood for traditional Israeli food or modern hipster fare, you can always find what you\u2019re looking for in Israel. And you can eat out without worrying about your bank account. Israel has some of the world\u2019s greatest street food, along with its\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/international-food-guides-place-israeli-restaurants-on-top\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">higher-end fine dining experiences<\/a>\u00a0like\u00a0<u>Messa<\/u>\u00a0in Tel Aviv or\u00a0Herbert Samuel in Herzliya. Not only that, Israel also features wonderful cafes and bakeries to satisfy even the smallest of appetites. In Tel Aviv alone, you can find micro-roastery and caf\u00e9\u00a0Nahat, American caf\u00e9\u00a0NOLA,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/our-next-vegan-restaurant-adventure-cafe-xoho-tel-aviv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Caf\u00e9 XoHo<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and many more.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8. Get acquainted with the people<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Part of the beauty of Israel is its diversity. Not just in its landscapes or art or cuisine, but in its residents. You can find all kinds of different\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/cross-cultural-jam-session-leads-to-a-musical-wakeup-call\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">people coexisting<\/a>\u00a0in this one small country \u2013Jews, Muslims, Christians and Druze \u2013 many of them immigrants from nations across the globe.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind: native Israelis are called \u201cSabras\u201d (Hebrew for cactus) because while they may be prickly and tough on the outside, inside they are soft and sweet. Take some time getting to know the locals, and you will not be disappointed by their charm, humor, and thoughtfulness.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Shelley Zuckerman is a Masa alum and the Masa Social Media and Content Manager.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":34701,"parent":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-34746","in-media","type-in-media","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>8 great reasons to visit Israel now | Masa Israel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.masaisrael.org\/in-media\/8-great-reasons-to-visit-israel-now\/\" \/>\n<meta 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