🇮🇱 Israel Travel Journal: Adventures Across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beyond
It feels like yesterday that we were walking down the lively streets of Dizengoff — one of the busiest, most vibrant streets in the heart of Tel Aviv. The sounds of mopeds racing by, the aroma of freshly baked bread blending with rich coffee, and the laughter of children riding their bikes to school — all of it filled the air with life.
📸 See more photos from the Streets of Tel Aviv ➔
If you love to travel and have never been to Israel, I highly recommend adding it to your list.
Having traveled out of the country only once before, I was incredibly excited to do it again. When I first told my family and friends I was going to Israel, the immediate reaction was almost always the same: "Why?!" followed by, "Isn’t that dangerous?"
I’ve always loved to travel — whether it’s a simple car ride to Chicago or a flight across the sea. The world is such a beautiful place. Unfortunately, I think the news media sometimes creates a false sense of reality about what’s really out there. Now, I’m not saying the world is full of peace and happiness everywhere — but seeing places with your own eyes gives you a better understanding of what’s truly beyond the bubble many people live in.
Leza and I spent a little over a week exploring this beautiful country, and below are the stories and photos of our unforgettable journey.
Streets along Frishman Beach
The Journey there
We started off flying from Minneapolis to Boston, then to Istanbul, and finally arrived in Israel — all within about 18 hours. Surprisingly, it was a relatively painless process. However, when we first checked in at Minneapolis, they were unable to print the boarding passes for our connecting flights. They assured us it wasn’t a big deal and that we could get the passes at our next stop in Boston.
Funny thing is, when we got to Boston, the airline’s system showed that we had never even flown from Minneapolis! After a few phone calls from someone behind the counter, they were able to sort it out, print our remaining boarding passes, and we were finally off to catch our next flight.
Landing in Tel Aviv just after sunset was surreal — the lights of the city twinkling in the distance, welcoming us to the start of our adventure.
While we waited for our boarding passes to get figured out.
All in all, the flights were great.
We arrived in Israel just after sundown, around 8 PM, and took a private taxi to our apartment.
Our first mission was to find the guy holding a sign with our name on it.
It felt just like a scene out of a movie — except his sign was clipped to his zipper so he didn’t have to hold it up. Instead, he was staring deep into his phone. Honestly, pretty genius. It’s not like he had any idea what we looked like anyway!
I should have taken a picture, but at that point, all we could think about was getting to our apartment — our home for the next nine days.
📸 See more photos from our first moments exploring Tel Aviv ➔
Many trees like this along the streets of Tel Aviv
With a quick ride into Tel Aviv, we unpacked our bags in our little, quaint apartment and headed out to the streets in search of something to eat.
I don’t think either of us had any expectations for what our first impressions would be, but the moment we stepped foot onto the streets of Tel Aviv, you could just feel the energy. The city was alive.
Locals were laughing and chatting outside cafes, pets were welcome everywhere, massive trees wrapped their roots tightly around their trunks, and stray cats roamed the sidewalks like they owned the place.
Everything was beautiful — the vibe, the people, the colors, the life.
We were in awe.
And we were also very hungry (and sleepy), so after a quick stop for some ice cream, we called it a night.
📸 See our first night exploring the Streets of Tel Aviv ➔
🇮🇱 Day 1: Exploring the Streets of Tel Aviv and Carmel Market
The next morning, we woke up excited to explore Tel Aviv.
We had a game plan for most of the trip, determined to see as much as possible.
One of the first stops on our list was the Nahalat Binyamin Craft Market — a vibrant market that’s only open twice a week.
The streets were packed with energy, lined with stalls selling everything from handcrafted jewelry and art to live performers filling the air with music and movement.
Another spot high on our list was the famous Carmel Market.
Here, you could find everything from clothing to fresh-squeezed pomegranates.
The place was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and if it weren't for the buildings, it would have felt like walking through the opening scene of Aladdin — bustling, colorful, and alive.
The spices were so bold you could smell them before you could even see them, the fruit was unbelievably fresh and sweet, and the atmosphere was pure, beautiful chaos — a blend of cultures, languages, and life.
It was just amazing to be there.
📸 See more photos from our adventure at Carmel Market ➔
There was no shortage of giant fresh pomegranates!
After spending most of the day admiring the work of so many talented artists and filling our bellies with fresh falafels, we headed toward the beachside of the Mediterranean to enjoy some amazing food and beautiful views.
While we were there, we couldn’t help but notice how active and pet-friendly everyone was.
One beautiful husky caught my eye, happily playing with his owner as they walked along the water.
From the outdoor workout gyms to the bikes, scooters, and runners, I rarely saw anyone on a phone.
Everyone was engaged with someone else — living in the moment.
Enjoying life.
I fell in love instantly.
That’s how life should be.
📸 See more photos from Frishman Beach ➔
And you know what else was really cool along the beach?
We stumbled across the famous Ben Gurion Headstand Statue — a whimsical sculpture of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, balancing on his head right in the sand.
It’s a playful tribute to the spirit of Tel Aviv — joyful, unexpected, and full of life.
Beautiful Husky. Notice the two colors of the eyes?!
🇮🇱 Day 2: Biking to Old Jaffa
For the eight full days we had scheduled in Israel, the first two days, Leza and I would be exploring on our own.
On Day 3, we would meet up with Leza’s father, Mike, and his wife, Tatiana.
(Thankfully, they rented a car — thank you, Mike! — which would help us explore areas outside of Tel Aviv later in the trip.)
As for Day 2, we decided to do a little more city exploring on our own.
This time, we headed south toward the Old City of Jaffa — an ancient port city with deep Biblical roots and absolutely stunning scenery.
Instead of walking, we decided to try out the bike rental options we had seen around the city.
📸 See more photos from our adventure through Old Jaffa ➔
Here’s a little info on how transportation rentals work in Tel Aviv if you’re planning a visit:
Tel-O-Fun is a popular bike rental system with stations set up all throughout the city.
You simply use a kiosk to pay and unlock a bike, and the first 30 minutes are free! After that, it’s only about 6 shekels per hour — roughly $3 USD.
Another option is Mobike, which works through a smartphone app.
Unlike Tel-O-Fun, Mobike lets you pick up and drop off bikes anywhere without having to find a station.
If biking isn’t your thing, Tel Aviv also offers scooter rentals — and they are everywhere!
Two major companies, Lime and Bird, allow you to unlock a scooter using your phone, scan the QR code, and off you go.
They're inexpensive, super convenient, and yes — two people can ride on one scooter. 🙂
🗺️ Explore all the places we visited on my Israel Travel Map ➔
🇮🇱 Exploring the Old City of Jaffa
The Old City of Jaffa was only about a 15–20 minute bike ride from our apartment — if that.
There are beautiful walking and biking paths that stretch along the Mediterranean coast, making it a delightful ride.
When you get to Jaffa, it feels like there are two different parts.
There’s the Old City entrance — not heavily advertised, and honestly, I’m not even sure how we stumbled upon it — and then there’s the Jaffa Port, filled with boats, restaurants, and seaside charm.
Wandering through Old Jaffa felt like traveling back in time.
There’s no rhyme or reason to the layout of the streets — they just go.
The stone walls and winding walkways seemed to glow in the sunlight, and it was simply a joy to wander through.
We made our way up to the very top of the Old City, where we stumbled upon Abrasha Park — a beautiful open space offering panoramic views of Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean.
Here, we also discovered the famous Statue of Faith — a large, symbolic stone sculpture representing scenes from the Bible.
It’s a powerful piece that feels perfectly placed among the ancient streets of Jaffa.
📸 See more photos from the Statue of Faith at Abrasha Park ➔
After taking in the incredible views and grabbing an ice-cold lemonade, we soaked in the sights looking back toward the skyline of Tel Aviv along the coastline.
📸 See our favorite photos from the magical streets of Old Jaffa ➔
Eventually, we made our way down to explore the port, admiring the boats and grabbing a bite at a cozy seaside cafe.
Just a side note:
I think it was nearly impossible to find bad food in Israel.
Throughout our entire stay, everything was so fresh, real, and full of passion.
The flavors — and the love they put into their food — were incredible.
America… you should seriously take note.
After a full day of exploring this historic gem, we made our way back to our apartment to rest up for the next adventure.
Beautiful greeter to the entrance of Old Jaffa
🇮🇱 Day 3: Exploring Caesarea National Park
Today, we met up with Mike and Tatiana and traveled north along the Mediterranean coast toward Caesarea National Park.
This ancient city, built by Herod the Great, was one of the most sought-after locations of its time due to its strategic access to the sea.
We covered only a fraction of the park, but what we did see was absolutely spectacular.
The Caesarea Amphitheater, the ancient tunnels, the harbor — all of it was incredible to explore and imagine what life must have been like here over 2,000 years ago.
📸 See more photos from our adventure at Caesarea National Park ➔
After soaking in the history, we grabbed some amazing food nearby and eventually made our way back to Tel Aviv.
Leza and I parted ways with her father and did our nightly walk through the vibrant streets of Tel Aviv before catching some much-needed shut-eye.
🇮🇱 Day 4: Discovering the Old City of Jerusalem
The Western Wall, sometimes referred to as the Wailing Wall, is considered the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray.
You can see handwritten prayers on small pieces of paper tucked carefully into the cracks of the ancient stones.
📸 See more photos from the Western Wall ➔
This day was going to be long, but very exciting.
We had a private guide scheduled to walk us through many parts of Jerusalem — and wow, just wow.
I didn’t really know what to expect.
To be honest, I know very little about religion, but simply being in this city was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We entered through the historic Jaffa Gate ➔, one of the main entrances into the Old City. The thick stone walls and grand archway set the tone for the day — you could immediately feel the incredible layers of history beneath your feet.
📸 See more photos from the Jaffa Gate ➔
From there, we explored a maze of ancient alleyways and bustling markets.
Some of the highlights included the majestic Tower of David ➔, a historic citadel offering sweeping views across Jerusalem.
📸 See more photos from the Tower of David ➔
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was another awe-inspiring stop.
Believed to be the site of both the crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus, its heavy air of reverence was impossible to miss.
📸 See more photos from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre ➔
As we wandered through the Jewish Quarter, one sight that stood out was the impressive Golden Menorah ➔, carefully encased in glass for protection. Its brilliance against the ancient stones symbolized resilience and hope through centuries of history.
📸 See more photos of the Golden Menorah ➔
The Western Wall or sometimes referred to as the Wailing Wall. It’s considered holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray. You can see prays on paper stuck within the cracks.
We even climbed to rooftop viewpoints that offered a panoramic look over the city — stretching from the ancient walls all the way to the distant Mount of Olives. It was simply breathtaking to see Jerusalem’s layers of faith and culture spread out before us.
A few moments really stuck with me.
One was our time standing at the Western Wall itself, witnessing people from all walks of life placing their handwritten prayers between the ancient stones.
The prayer space is divided between men and women, and we even witnessed several Bar and Bat Mitzvahs being celebrated — a deeply moving and unforgettable experience.
Another heart-rending moment was simply walking through the different Quarters of the Old City.
As we wandered the narrow streets, life went on around us — kids at school, shopkeepers running their stores, people grabbing lunch.
At the same time, it wasn’t uncommon to see soldiers casually carrying large assault rifles.
📸 Explore the Streets of Jerusalem ➔
Despite that, during our entire time there, we never once felt unsafe or threatened.
It’s truly remarkable how different cultures and religions, each with deep-rooted histories and sometimes conflicting views, coexist side-by-side in this ancient city.
As we made our way through the Old City gates — including passing the historic Jaffa Gate — it really felt like stepping through time.
📸 See more from Jaffa Gate ➔
After our guide filled our minds to the brim with history and wonder, we grabbed a bite to eat, hopped back in the car, and returned to Tel Aviv for the evening.
🇮🇱 Day 5: Exploring Masada National Park
After spending the first few days covering a good chunk of the midsection of the country, today was all about heading south — toward the desert and the Dead Sea.
Our first stop was Masada National Park, a mountaintop fortress and palace built by Herod the Great, perched high on top of a massive rock plateau.
It was an incredible defensive location, offering wide views to spot enemies approaching from miles away.
Visitors can either hike up the Snake Path — a winding trail that takes about 30–45 minutes — or take the cable car, which gets you to the top in less than three minutes.
(We chose the cable car!)
Exploring Masada felt like stepping into a giant, real-life fort.
Wandering through the ancient stone structures was fascinating, and even though the tragic history that unfolded here is heartbreaking, it’s a place I would absolutely recommend adding to your list.
📸 See more photos from our adventure at Masada National Park ➔
Side view to the entrance of Masada
🏞️ Second Stop: Ein Gedi Nature Reserve
After exploring Masada, our next stop was Ein Gedi, only about a 15-minute drive away.
Ein Gedi is a lush National Reserve tucked into the desert — full of wildlife, small waterfalls, and vibrant greenery surrounded by dramatic desert mountains.
It was such a contrast to the dry, rugged landscapes we had just driven through.
There’s a well-maintained path that loops through the reserve, leading you past natural springs, hidden waterfalls, and stunning views.
When you reach the higher points along the trail, you can catch breathtaking glimpses of the Dead Sea stretching out in the distance.
📸 See more photos from our adventure at Ein Gedi ➔
🏖️ Third Stop: Floating in the Dead Sea
Just a short drive down the road brought us to the Dead Sea.
If you think the ocean is salty — think again.
The Dead Sea is almost ten times saltier than the ocean!
The water was warm, but the ground was hard and almost rocky from the heavy buildup of salt crystals.
As you wade in deeper, the texture changes a bit — there’s a little sand — but the magic really happens when you try to stand: you can’t.
Your feet just lift off the bottom like you’re wearing an invisible floatie, and suddenly you’re floating effortlessly on the surface.
It’s one of the coolest, most surreal feelings — like nature itself is holding you up.
📸 See more photos from our unforgettable experience at the Dead Sea ➔
The day was coming to an end, and we were tired, salty, and ready for the two-hour drive back to Tel Aviv.
These three locations — Masada, Ein Gedi, and the Dead Sea — made for a perfect day trip to the southern part of the country.
All three are very close to each other, and you can easily explore them all in one day!
I highly recommend it.
Plus, you’ll get to say that you floated in the Dead Sea —
how cool is that?!
🇮🇱 Day 6: Northern Adventure — Mount Bental and the Golan Heights
This was our last day with big plans to travel outside of Tel Aviv.
We had booked a tour heading all the way north through the Golan Heights — a region completely opposite from where we had been the day before.
Gone were the deserts and rocky landscapes; instead, we found ourselves surrounded by fields of wildflowers and rolling mountains.
We booked the tour through Ben Harim Tours, and it turned out to be a great choice.
We might have lucked out with an awesome guide, but for the price — getting a comfortable ride three hours north — it was definitely worth it.
The bus ride was long, but we made multiple stops along the way, including a viewpoint overlooking the Sea of Galilee— the lowest freshwater lake on Earth, and famously the place where Jesus is said to have walked on water.
The views in the Golan Heights were spectacular.
The weather cooperated beautifully, and we even caught a clear glimpse of Mount Hermon in the distance, its snowy peaks shining against the sky.
📸 See more photos from our adventure at Mount Bental ➔
Throughout the journey, we explored several old abandoned bunkers — a stark reminder of the region’s complex history — and then made a special stop for lunch at Olea Essence, a family-owned olive oil factory.
Honestly, I had never tasted anything like it.
The olive oil was pure, smooth, and absolutely delicious.
We learned all about their process of making olive oil, and they even produce a full line of skincare products made from their oils — everything was top-quality and so good!
Mountain view standing in Israel overlooking Syria towards the top left and Jordan on the top right
Beware of Land Mines…No seriously!
Sea of Galilee, which is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth in addition to the place Jesus walked on water
After lunch, we had one final stop before the long trek back to Tel Aviv: the Jordan River Baptismal Site Yardenit
This was a really special experience, as we had the chance to witness people being baptized in this famous Biblical river.
Watching people step into the water — some with tears of joy — was powerful and moving, even for someone like me who isn’t deeply religious.
It was one of those moments you simply feel grateful to witness.
📸 See more photos from the Jordan River Baptismal Site ➔
🇮🇱 Day 7: Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum
On this day, Mike and Tatiana departed for Germany, leaving Leza and me with two more solid days of sightseeing.
Our original plan was to head back to Jerusalem and explore more at a relaxed pace compared to our previous whirlwind tour.
However, since we no longer had access to a car, we decided to take the train into the city instead.
Once we boarded the train and realized just how far the Jerusalem train station was from the heart of the city, we quickly figured out that we would waste more time stuck in traffic than actually sightseeing.
So instead, we made a change of plans — and it turned out to be one of the most meaningful decisions of our trip.
We stayed on the outskirts of Jerusalem and visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.
And we are so glad we did.
Every corner you turned in the museum tugged at your heart.
We spent nearly five hours there — and yet barely scratched the surface of everything the museum holds.
The exhibits left us speechless.
The resilience of the Jewish people — their determination to survive despite unimaginable and inhumane circumstances — was overwhelming to witness.
It was a powerful, sobering experience that neither of us will ever forget.
I pray that nothing like it ever happens again.
May history never repeat itself.
🇮🇱 Day 8: Tel Aviv Art, Ferraris, and Beach Time
After a long, emotional day of history and train rides, it was hard to believe that our time in Israel was coming to an end.
This was our last full day, as we needed to leave for the airport around 1 AM for a 5 AM flight.
For our final day, we decided to take it easy.
We only had two goals:
✅ Lay on the beach
✅ Visit the Ferrari Store
(Yes, I do like Ferraris — and since one of my brothers is also a fan, I make it a point to seek out Ferrari dealerships or stores whenever I travel and grab some photos for him.)
After waking up, we had breakfast at a delightful place called Benedict’s, which was absolutely marvelous — another example of how consistently amazing the food in Israel was.
After breakfast, we leisurely walked over to the Ferrari dealership, which surprisingly turned out to be more of a Ferrari Museum — and even better, it was free to visit!
📸 See more from our visit to the Ferrari Museum ➔
Interestingly, the Yad Vashem Museum the day before had also been free — something that really stood out about Israel’s approach to sharing history and culture.
Art by Pablo Picasso
On the walk back from the Ferrari Museum, we passed by the Tel Aviv Museum of Art ➔ — and we simply couldn't pass it up.
So we delayed our beach time a bit longer and spent a few hours exploring incredible art.
The museum was amazing — filled with masterpieces from artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Vincent van Gogh.
We were in absolute awe walking through those galleries.
After soaking in some beautiful art, we finally made it to the beach for one last sunset, relaxing on the sand and reflecting on an unforgettable journey, before packing our bags to head back to reality.
✈️ Our Journey Home
Our 1 AM taxi came quickly.
We made it to the airport with plenty of time to check in and get everything squared away for our trip back home.
Unlike the journey to Israel, which took only 18 hours, the trip back would take nearly twice as long.
With a seven-hour layover in Istanbul and a twelve-hour layover in Boston, we became quite familiar with where all the comfiest couches were located for sleeping.
Looking back, I would say this trip was an absolute success — and even more special because the day we traveled back marked the one-year anniversary of Leza and me.
I’m not quite sure what I did in life to deserve dating the most amazing woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, but I surely do feel lucky.
Leza, thank you for the opportunity to be by your side on this adventure halfway around the world.
I loved every minute of it with you.
I am so looking forward to many more journeys around the world in our future together.
I love you.
📸 Want to explore even more?
Click here to view my full Israel Photo Travel Guide ➔
You'll find photo journals from every place we visited — from ancient Jerusalem streets to Tel Aviv sunsets!
