Israel Travel Guide 2027: Plan Israel, Jordan and Egypt

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AllJerusalem 22Galilee & North 16Petra & Jordan 11Dead Sea & Masada 10Egypt & Sinai 7Eilat 6Tel Aviv 4Bethlehem 3

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AllLandmarks 51Things to Do 15Itineraries 4Food & Drink 4Travel Tips 4Best Time to Visit 2christian-sites 2Border & Visa 2Getting Around 1

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Egypt & SinaiSaqqara 2027: A Local Guide to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Tombs You Can Enter, Memphis and DahshurSaqqara is home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt's oldest pyramid, and some of the finest painted tombs near...Read the guide →Tel AvivRothschild Boulevard Tel Aviv 2027: A Local Guide to the Bauhaus Buildings, Independence Hall, the Best Walking Route and Getting ThereRothschild Boulevard is the tree-lined spine of central Tel Aviv, where the city was founded and where Israel declared independence....Read the guide →Tel AvivSarona Market in Tel Aviv 2027: A Local Guide to What to Eat, When to Go and How to Get ThereSarona Market in Tel Aviv is the city's big indoor food hall, set inside a restored 19th century Templer neighborhood....Read the guide →JerusalemShopping in Jerusalem 2027: A Local Guide to Mahane Yehuda, the Old City Souk, Mamilla and the Best SouvenirsWhere locals actually shop in Jerusalem, from the spice stalls of Mahane Yehuda to the Old City souk and Mamilla....Read the guide →JerusalemBest Jerusalem Tours 2027: Half-Day, Full-Day, Christian, Jewish Heritage and Private Options Compared by Local GuidesNot sure which Jerusalem tour to book? Our local guides compare half-day, full-day, Christian, Jewish heritage and private options so...Read the guide →Petra & JordanThings to Do in Amman 2027: A Local Guide to the Citadel, Roman Theatre, Food and Day Trips to Petra and JerashThe best things to do in Amman, from the Citadel and Roman Theatre to falafel in downtown and day trips...Read the guide →Egypt & SinaiKhan el Khalili 2027: A Local Guide to Cairo’s Great Bazaar, Bargaining, El Fishawy Cafe and Al-Muizz StreetKhan el Khalili is Cairo's oldest working bazaar, a maze of lantern shops, spice stalls and old cafes in the...Read the guide →JerusalemTel Aviv to Jerusalem 2027: Train, Bus, Taxi or Day Tour, and How to Spend Your Day, from Local GuidesThe four ways to get from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, with the train, bus, taxi and guided day tours compared...Read the guide →Egypt & SinaiGreat Sphinx of Giza 2027: A Local Guide to Its History, the Valley Temple Viewpoint, Photo Tips and Visiting from IsraelThe Great Sphinx of Giza is the moment most people remember from Egypt. Here is how to see it well,...Read the guide →Egypt & SinaiSt Catherine Monastery 2027: A Local Guide to the Burning Bush, the Mount Sinai Sunrise Climb and Crossing from Eilat via TabaHow to visit St Catherine Monastery and climb Mount Sinai for sunrise on an overnight trip from Eilat through the...Read the guide →JerusalemHoly Land Tour 2027: How to Plan a Christian Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the Galilee, from Local GuidesHow to plan a holy land tour that covers Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee, with honest advice...Read the guide →Egypt & SinaiGrand Egyptian Museum 2027: A Local Guide to the Tutankhamun Galleries, Grand Staircase, Tickets and Pairing It with the Pyramids from IsraelThe Grand Egyptian Museum sits beside the Giza plateau and holds the full Tutankhamun collection. Here is how long to...Read the guide →Petra & JordanJordan Tour Packages 2027: Comparing 4 to 8 Day Trips to Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, from Local GuidesOur Eilat guides compare the Jordan tour packages we run every week, from a fast 4 day loop to 8...Read the guide →Petra & JordanLittle Petra 2027: A Local Guide to Siq al Barid, the Painted House and How It Differs from PetraLittle Petra, also called Siq al Barid, is a small Nabatean canyon north of Petra with carved facades and a...Read the guide →JerusalemJewish Quarter Jerusalem 2027: A Local Guide to the Hurva Synagogue, the Cardo, the Burnt House and the Western WallWalk the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem with local guides. This guide covers the Hurva Synagogue, the Cardo, the Burnt House,...Read the guide →Petra & JordanTraveling to Jordan in 2027: A Local Guide to Visas, Money, Tipping, Dress, Safety and Getting AroundLocal guides who cross into Jordan every week explain visas, border fees, money, tipping, dress, safety and transport. You will...Read the guide →JerusalemIsrael Tour Packages 2027: How to Compare Trip Length, Hotel Level and the Tours Worth Booking, from Local GuidesHow to compare Israel tour packages by trip length and hotel level, from short Jerusalem breaks to two-week loops. It...Read the guide →Galilee & NorthMagdala 2027: A Local Guide to the First-Century Synagogue, the Magdala Stone and Duc in Altum on the Sea of GalileeMagdala is the hometown of Mary Magdalene and one of the few places where you can stand inside a synagogue...Read the guide →EilatNegev Desert 2027: A Local Guide to Ramon Crater, Mitzpe Ramon, Timna, Desert Wildlife and the Negev in the BibleEverything you need to know about the Negev Desert in Israel, from Ramon Crater and Timna Park to ibex, the...Read the guide →JerusalemDoes It Snow in Jerusalem? A Local Guide to Winter Weather, Snow Days and Visiting in 2027Yes, it does snow in Jerusalem, but only in some winters and usually for a day or two. Here is...Read the guide →JerusalemJerusalem Religions 2027: A Local Guide to the Jewish, Christian and Muslim Holy Sites of the Old CityThree faiths share a walled city you can cross on foot. Local guides explain the main Jerusalem religions, their holy...Read the guide →BethlehemChristmas in Bethlehem 2027: A Local Guide to Midnight Mass, Manger Square and Christmas Eve Tours from JerusalemEverything you need to plan Christmas in Bethlehem, from the Patriarch's arrival in Manger Square to Midnight Mass seating, checkpoints...Read the guide →JerusalemYad Vashem 2027: A Local Guide to Visiting the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Free Entry, Timed Booking and What to SeeYad Vashem is Israel's national Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, and entry is free with advance booking. Our local guides explain...Read the guide →Dead Sea & MasadaMasada Tour from Jerusalem 2027: Sunrise Hikes, Dead Sea Combos and Multi-Day Options Compared by Local GuidesLocal guides compare the main ways to do a Masada tour from Jerusalem, from a one-day Dead Sea combo to...Read the guide →

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EilatIsrael Jordan Border Crossing: The Complete 2027 GuideA clear 2026 guide to the Israel Jordan border crossing: the three terminals, the $140 fee explained, opening hours, what...Read the guide →EilatHow to Visit Petra from Eilat: The Complete 2027 GuideEverything you need to plan Petra from Eilat: exact border steps, the $140 fee explained, day tour vs 2 day...Read the guide →JerusalemThings to Do in Jerusalem: The Complete 2027 GuideThe complete 2026 guide to the best things to do in Jerusalem: the Old City and its four quarters, the...Read the guide →Dead Sea & MasadaDead Sea and Masada Day Trip: The 2027 Hour-by-Hour PlanA complete 2026 guide to visiting the Dead Sea and Masada in one day: floating at the lowest point on...Read the guide →JerusalemChristian Jerusalem: A Complete Guide to the Holy SitesA complete guide to Christian Jerusalem: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Via Dolorosa, the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane,...Read the guide →EilatThings to Do in Eilat: 25 Best Activities and Attractions25 of the best things to do in Eilat: the coral reef, Dolphin Reef, Timna Park, the Red Canyon, family...Read the guide →

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Israel itinerary ideas: 3, 5, 7 and 10 days

Sample plans we build most often. Each links to a tour that covers the route with a licensed guide and hotel pickup.

These are starting points, not fixed packages. Many travelers book a multi-day tour for the core of the trip and add a day tour, such as the Petra tour from Eilat or a Masada and Dead Sea tour, on a free day. If you want a different pace or a private guide, send us your dates and we will shape the route around them.

When to visit Israel, Jordan and Egypt

The whole region is a year-round destination, but the experience changes a lot with the season. The desert sites, including the Dead Sea, Masada, Eilat, Petra and Wadi Rum, are far more pleasant outside midsummer. Jerusalem and the Galilee are at their best in spring and autumn.

Two more things to plan around. First, Shabbat runs from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, and most public transport and many shops in Israel stop, while guided tours still run. Second, major holidays such as Passover, the autumn Jewish holidays, Easter, Christmas in Bethlehem and Ramadan in Jordan and Egypt change opening hours and crowd levels. Book these dates early. For a month-by-month view of the Dead Sea, see our Dead Sea guide.

How long to stay

Getting around

Israel is small. Jerusalem to Tel Aviv is under an hour by train, and Tel Aviv to the Sea of Galilee is about two hours by road. Trains and intercity buses are reliable on weekdays but stop for Shabbat. Renting a car works well in the north and the Negev, though driving and parking in Jerusalem’s Old City area is hard work.

Crossing into Jordan or Egypt is where most travelers want help. Border crossings have their own opening hours, fees and paperwork, and you change vehicles and guides on each side. Our cross-border tours include the transfers, a meet and assist at the border and a licensed local guide, so you are not working it out on the day. Read the Israel Jordan border crossing guide before you choose a route.

Entry rules, visas and border crossings

1. Israel: travelers from visa-exempt countries need an approved ETA-IL, Israel’s electronic travel authorization, before boarding. Apply on the official Israeli government ETA-IL website a few days before you fly. Keep your passport valid for at least six months.
2. Jordan: most nationalities get a tourist visa at the Yitzhak Rabin (Wadi Araba) crossing near Eilat. The Jordan Pass can cover the visa fee and Petra entry if you meet its conditions. Fees change, so we confirm the current amounts before your tour.
3. Egypt: the Taba crossing from Eilat gives access to the Sinai coast and Saint Catherine. A trip to Cairo or Luxor needs a full Egyptian visa. We tell you which applies when you book.
4. Exit and border fees: Israel and Jordan both charge land border fees. Some of our tours let you pre-pay them at booking so you can use the faster lane.

Rules differ by passport, so always check the official requirements for your nationality. Our guide on how to visit Petra from Eilat walks through a real crossing step by step.

Money, costs and tipping

Israel uses the shekel (ILS) and is a higher-cost destination, especially for hotels and restaurants in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Jordan uses the dinar (JOD) and Egypt the Egyptian pound (EGP). Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Israel. Carry some cash in Jordan and Egypt for tips, small shops and border fees, and keep a few US dollars as a backup.

Tipping is customary for guides and drivers across the region. We share simple tipping guidance with your booking confirmation so you know what is normal for each tour.

Safety and travel advisories

Conditions in the region can change quickly. Check your own government’s travel advisory before you book and again a few days before you travel, and buy travel insurance that covers your whole route, including Jordan or Egypt. Our team monitors the border crossings and the sites we visit every day. If anything affects your tour, we contact you directly with an alternative date, a different route or a credit, in line with our booking terms.

What to wear and bring

Dress modestly for holy sites: cover shoulders and knees in churches, at the Western Wall and in mosques. Bring good walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle for the desert sites, and water shoes for the Dead Sea. Pack a warm layer for Jerusalem evenings and the Wadi Rum desert at night, even in summer. And always carry your passport on any tour that crosses a border.

Our most popular tours

The trips travelers book most, available right now.

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Petra Tour from Eilat: Full Day in the Rose City

From $290View Tour and Prices

Jerusalem Full Day Tour

From $75View Tour and Prices

Masada Dead Sea Tour

From $115View Tour and Prices

Golan Heights Tour

From $128View Tour and Prices

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