Israel tourism

The Dome of the Rock is accessible to disabled travelers via ramp. (Shmuel Bar-Am)

Israel travels

Holy rolling: Old City sites, lanes now accessible for travelers in wheelchairs

After a 9-year renovation project, disabled tourists can access most of Jerusalem’s famous attractions, and might find some surprises on the way

September 21, 2019, 8:05 am

Holy rolling: Old City sites, lanes now accessible for travelers in wheelchairs

After a 9-year renovation project, disabled tourists can access most of Jerusalem’s famous attractions, and might find some surprises on the way

By Aviva and Shmuel Bar-Am

Ben Maimon boulevard in Jerusalem was inspired by European thoroughfare and many of its early residents were immigrants from Europe. (Shmuel Bar-Am)

September 14, 2019, 10:01 am

Grandeur restored on Jerusalem’s Ben Maimon boulevard, home to our first PMs

Visitors to the capital can tour the revamped Levi Eshkol visitor center, the country’s oldest art gallery and view 1930s architecture on the European-inspired thoroughfare

By Aviva and Shmuel Bar-Am

Tourists walk down the street in the northern Israeli city of Safed.

July 22, 2019, 12:45 pm

As ultra-Orthodox move in, the face of tourism changes in Safed

Only four hotels remain open in the northern Israeli holy city, down from more than 20 in the 1980s

By TOI staff

The homey, spacious lounge area of Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv, the chain's third location (Courtesy Abraham Hostel)

July 1, 2019, 1:59 pm

Named for biblical host Abraham, an Israeli hostel group seeks a bigger tent

Budget, socially conscious chain that offers tours and experiences along with beds is making use of a $7 million investment to add to its 3 locations

By Jessica Steinberg

Passengers boarding what appears to be one of the final Arkia Airlines flights to Eilat at the Sde Dov Airport in Tel Aviv on June 30, 2019. (Flash90)

June 30, 2019, 9:39 pm

Amid vocal protests, Netanyahu says Tel Aviv’s Sde Dov Airport to close Monday

State to compensate Eilat with NIS 400 million development plan; court nixes planned Tuesday strike at Ben Gurion Airport

By TOI staff

The planned cable car to Jerusalem's Old City, as seen in a screenshot from a video by the NGO Emek Shaveh.

June 3, 2019, 7:07 pm

Contentious Jerusalem cable car plan clears hurdle, requires government approval

$55 million project opposed by environmentalists, urban planners, architects, Palestinian residents, religious minority groups

By AP and TOI staff

Sarah Jessica Parker attends a screening of HBO's "Divorce" season 2 at The Whitby Hotel on June 1, 2018, in New York. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

June 2, 2019, 9:50 pm

Sarah Jessica Parker in Tel Aviv for private family visit

Star of TV series ‘Divorce’ and ‘Sex and the City’ spotted in Israel

By JTA

2018 Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai performs at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square on May 14, 2018. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

May 7, 2019, 6:44 am

Countdown to a ‘douze’-y of a Eurovision celebration

Now that the Gaza flareup is over, Tel Aviv is pulling out all the stops for the international song contest, aiming to hit just the right note for its many visitors

By Jessica Steinberg

Tourists visit the archaeological site of Tel Shiloh in the West Bank, March 12, 2019. (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)

March 27, 2019, 4:32 pm

Ancient West Bank site draws Christians, and controversy

Tel Shiloh archaeological digs popular with Evangelical tourists, but ignore Muslim history of site

By Ilan Ben Zion

An IDF helicopter assists in recovering the body of US tourist who apparently slipped and fell to his death in a ravine in the Eilat mountains area, March 10, 2019. (Israel Police)

March 10, 2019, 4:19 pm

American hiker falls to death in Eilat Mountains

Body of 20-year-old recovered by IDF; family notified

By TOI staff

A Ryanair Boeing 737 airliner seen at Ramon Airport near Eilat, March 4, 2019. (Rafi Peled/ Israel Airport Authority)

March 4, 2019, 9:58 pm

Eilat’s Ramon airport welcomes first international flights

Ryanair flight from Poland first from abroad to land at new airport; old airport in center of Eilat set to close later this month

By Ori Lewis

An aerial view of the Israeli resort city of Eilat on October 21, 2015. (Moshe Shai/Flash90)

January 9, 2019, 11:43 pm

Eilat high on NY Times’ list of top destinations for 2019

In Israel’s first-ever appearance on annual travel list, paper hails diving opportunities and luxury resorts in ‘newly accessible’ resort city

By TOI staff

Members and leadership of Park Avenue Synagogue celebrate their congregation's donation of a Torah to the Israeli Masorti Movement for use at the Ezrat Yisrael section of the Kotel, Jerusalem, December 26, 2018. (BGAP2008)

December 31, 2018, 5:37 pm

Doubling down on Israel, Park Avenue Synagogue brings huge group to Holy Land

450 members of prominent New York egalitarian Conservative congregation strengthen commitment to Jewish state — but don’t shy away from looming tough questions

By Renee Ghert-Zand

An empty arrivals terminal at Ben-Gurion International Airport on July 23, 2014. (illustrative photo: AP/Dan Balilty)

December 27, 2018, 8:03 pm

Israel turned away a record 19,000 visitors in 2018

Most travelers refused entry were sent away due to fear they would work illegally; a handful were blocked for supporting BDS

By Marcy Oster

The interior courtyard of the Migdal Tzedek fortress, near Rosh Haayin, on December 11, 2018. (Melanie Lidman/Times of Israel)

December 12, 2018, 4:24 pm

After 30 years, once-crumbling Crusader fortress set to open again

Huge hilltop site near Rosh Haayin, first mentioned by Josephus, was largely built before 12th century; remains from First Temple Period were found under Crusader floor

By Melanie Lidman