Israel 9-Day Itinerary: Must-See Attractions
How to Spend Nine Days in Israel
In July of 2023, I visited the country of Israel, spending nine incredible days visiting the holy sites and major cities. My trip was perfect, and I wanted to share my nine-day Israel itinerary in hopes that it would help others plan the perfect Israel vacation.
The best way to visit Israel is to work from one or two base cities and take day tours. Since Israel is so small in land size, none of the destinations are ever more than a few hours away. I chose to use the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as my base cities.
As a Global Studies teacher, I built my nine-day trip around the places that I teach about. These places include Masada, the Dead Sea, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, and the Jordan River.
To see the sights of Israel, I mostly took guided tours. Taking tours ensured that I would have a local guide who could show me around and keep me safe. I want to add that I felt safe the entire time in Israel, as well as when I visited the Palestinian-controlled portions of the West Bank. At no time in my trip was I ever near the Gaza Strip.
I hope my nine-day Israel itinerary helps you plan the perfect nine-day Israel vacation.
A Nine-Day Israel Itinerary - Table of Contents
- How to Spend Nine Days in Israel
- Day One – Arriving in Israel
- Day Two – A Tour of Masada and the Dead Sea
- Day Three – Exploring Tel Aviv and Jaffa
- Day Four – A Tour of Nazareth, Capernaum, and the Sea of Galilee
- Day Five – Taking the Train to Jerusalem
- Day Six – A Tour of Jerusalem’s Holy Sites
- Day Seven – A Tour of Bethlehem, Jericho, and the Jordan River
- Day Eight – A Day Trip to Petra
- Day Nine – Returning Home
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Day One - Arriving in Israel
Day one of most Israel itineraries will focus on getting to Israel. I flew from Chicago O’Hare to Tel Aviv with a layover in Warsaw, Poland. The layover in Warsaw was 12 hours, which allowed me to leave the airport and visit the city. To learn more about my layover in Warsaw, please click HERE.
I arrived in Tel Aviv at 6:00 am, as my flight from Warsaw was an overnight flight.
Customs and Immigration at Tel Aviv Ben-Guiron Airport
I had heard a variety of horror stories from passengers traveling to and from Tel Aviv Airport Ben-Gurion Airport. These stories include intrusive searches and questioning. I did not experience anything like that during my time going through customs and immigration at Ben-Guiron Airport.
When I arrived, I departed my plane and used the digital passport gates. I scanned my passport and was issued a blue arrival card. Israel does not stamp passports, and the blue card allows entrance to the country. When departing Israel, a red exit card is issued.
After going through the digital passport gates, I waited in line for the immigration counter. The immigration agent took my card and only asked me where I was staying and why I had come to Israel.
Customs at Ben-Gurion Airport was even easier. I collected my luggage and walked right through the green lane, which is for passengers with nothing to declare.
Getting to Tel Aviv from Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion Airport
Had I known how easy it was to take the train from Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv, I would have taken the train. Instead, I prebooked a shuttle to my hotel near the beaches of Tel Aviv. My driver was at the airport but stuck outside the security area. Apparently, it is common for the checkpoints outside Ben-Gurion Airport to have serious delays. It took about an hour for my driver to get to the terminal. The delay allowed me to get something to eat.
Once I was on the shuttle, it only took about 30 minutes to get to my hotel. Knowing I would be arriving in the early morning, I booked a room for the night before. This way, I had my room for the entire day. My hotel, the Seven Seas, was located right in the beach area of Tel Aviv.
The Rest of Day One
I was exhausted when I arrived at my hotel. After taking a shower, I took a nap for a few hours. When I had slept enough that I could function, I spent the rest of the day walking around the beaches of Tel Aviv.
Day Two - A Tour of Masada and the Dead Sea
Day two of my nine-day Israel trip began with an early wakeup. I left my hotel at 6:20 am to meet my guide for a trip to Masada and the Dead Sea. My tour was booked with the company Bien Harim, which is one of the major tour companies in Israel. The cost of the tour of Masada and the Dead Sea was $120.
After getting picked up by a shuttle, we drove to a central location with various buses. Each bus was clearly marked, and I found the one that was headed to Masada and the Dead Sea.
The Sea Level Marker
The shoreline of the Dead Sea is the lowest land-based point on Earth. On the way to Masada and the Dead Sea, we stopped at the official Sea Level Marker. This marker informs visitors when they are officially below sea level. Just after the marker, we stopped at the Ahava Factory. Ahava is a cosmetic company that uses Dead Sea minerals to create beauty products.
Masada
One of the highlights of my nine-day Israel trip was my tour of the Jewish Fortress of Masada. Originally home to King Herod the Great, the Masada Fortress was under siege by the Roman army in 73 AD. Rather than being conquered by the Roman Army and likely enslaved, the inhabitants of Masada committed mass suicide.
We spent a few hours touring Masada, which included a cable car ride to the top of the mountain. To learn more about my tour of Masada, please click HERE.
The Dead Sea
After leaving Masada, we stopped for a quick lunch and then headed to the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach. The Dead Sea has been on my bucket list for years. I was surprised by what it was actually like floating in the Dead Sea as the air temperature was over 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and the water temperature was like that of a hot jacuzzi. Still, floating in the Dead Sea is an activity that anyone visiting Israel must enjoy, and I’m glad I put it on day two of my nine-day Israel itinerary. To learn more about my visit to the Dead Sea, please click HERE.
We returned to Tel Aviv around 6:00 PM. One thing that I learned was that it may have been easier to the Dead Sea and Masada tour from Jerusalem. To get to Masada and the Dead Sea, we drove right through the outskirts of Jerusalem. Taking this tour from Jerusalem instead of Tel Aviv would have cut down on at least an hour of driving.
Day Three - Exploring Tel Aviv and Jaffa
Day three of my nine days visiting Israel was one of the only days where I did not take a tour. I spent the morning at the Tel Aviv Beaches swimming in the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
The Beaches of Tel Aviv
Walking from the Tel Aviv Beaches to Jaffa
In the afternoon, I walked from the Tel Aviv Beaches to the Port of Jaffa. To get to Jaffa, I followed along the Tel Aviv Promenade. The Tel Aviv Promenade is a pedestrian path that goes from the Port of Tel Aviv to the Port of Jaffa.
It was about a 3.5-kilometer walk from my hotel near the Tel Aviv Beaches to Jaffa. Along the way, I cut through Sir Charles Clore Park, which follows the Mediterranean shoreline.
To learn more about my walk from Sir Charles Clore Park to Jaffa, please click HERE.
Exploring Jaffa
It took about one hour to walk from the Tel Aviv Beaches to Jaffa. Once in Jaffa, I spent a few hours getting lost in the narrow streets. Be sure to visit the markets and the small boutiques that line the narrow, pedestrian-only streets.
Day Four - A Tour of Nazareth, Capernaum, and the Sea of Galilee
Day Four of my nine-day Israel trip put me back on a tour bus. This time, I was traveling from Tel Aviv to the city of Nazareth. I booked my tour with the same company that I used for Masada and the Dead Sea, Bein Harim, at a cost of $94. The pick-up was at 6:40 am, within a few minutes walk from my hotel. Once again, a shuttle drove me to a central location, where I boarded a bus for my tour.
Nazareth
The first stop on the tour was the town of Nazareth, which was the childhood home of Jesus Christ. The main stops in Nazareth were the Basilica of the Annunciation, which was built atop the Grotto of the Annunciation. According to Christians, this is the location where Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to Jesus.
Next to the Basilica of the Annunciation is the Church of St. Joseph. This church is built atop the childhood home of Jesus Christ. To learn more about my visit to Nazareth, please click HERE.
Capernaum
The next stop on our tour was Capernaum, the Town of Jesus. At Capernaum, Jesus established his ministry and performed the miracles mentioned in the Bible. In the photo below, to the right, the darker stones below the wall of the Synagogue at Capernaum date back to the time of Jesus. We spent about 90 minutes touring Capernaum before heading to the Sea of Galilee. To learn more about my visit to Capernaum, please click HERE.
The Sea of Galilee
From Capernaum, we then walked to the Sea of Galilee. This stop on the tour was rather underwhelming, as all we did was spend a few minutes looking at the Sea.
Yardenit - Baptism Site on the Jordan River
The final stop on our tour was at the Yardenit Baptism Site on the Jordan River. This location is not the site where Jesus was baptized, but rather a location where tourists can be baptized in the Jordan River. On day seven, I visited the actual Baptism Site of Jesus Christ. To learn more about my visit to Yardenit, please click HERE.
Day Five - Taking the Train from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
Day five of my nine days visiting Israel was a bit of a rest day. I decided to sleep in before taking the train from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Train travel in Israel is extremely safe and easy to manage. Be careful of scams, as my taxi driver told me that the trains were not running today and that he would take me to Jerusalem, although it would be quite expensive. Of course, I made him to me to the train station and the trains were running. The trains do not run on Shabbat, which is sundown or Friday to sundown on Saturday.
Day Six - A Tour of Jerusalem's Holy Sites and Yad Vashem
Day six of my nine-day Israel itinerary focused on the Holy Sites of Jerusalem. I booked a tour with the same company, Bein Hirim, to visit the main Holy Sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. My tour got off to a rough start when my GPS took me to the wrong pickup point. Be careful when using Apple Maps in Jerusalem, as they are not always accurate. Although I missed my tour pickup, Bein Hirim was able to put me on a different tour of the Holy Sites with an added stop at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. The cost of this tour was $70.
To learn more about my trip to the Holy Sites of Jerusalem, please click HERE.
Mt. Scopus Viewpoint
After being picked up by the shuttle, we drove to a central location to find our tour bus. This location was the Mt. Scopus Viewpoint, which offers stunning views of Jerusalem. According to my guide, this is the best viewpoint in all of Jerusalem.
Western Wall
After arriving at the Jaffa Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem, we spent about four hours walking around and visiting the Holy Sites. One of the highlights was the Western Wall, where we were able to put prayers in the cracks of the wall.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
One of the other highlights was visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Christians believe that this church was built on the exact location where Jesus Christ was crucified, entombed, and resurrected.
The photo below to the left shows the Stone of Anointing, where Christians believe Jesus’ body was prepared for burial.
Yad Vashem
A bonus stop on this tour was the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. Photos are not allowed inside of Yad Vashem. We spent about two hours at the museum, which solemnly displays the horrors that the Jews suffered during the Holocaust. I highly recommend a visit to Yad Vashem.
Day Seven - A Tour of Bethlehem, Jericho, and the Jordan River
Day seven of my nine days in Israel was a unique experience as I left the Israeli-controlled portion of the West Bank to visit Bethlehem. Bethlehem is located in the Palestinian-controlled portion of the West Bank, where Israeli citizens are banned from entering. I felt safe during the entire tour and found the Palestinian people to be helpful and polite.
For this trip, I went with a different company, Elijah Tours and Travel. The cost of this tour was $89.
Bethlehem
The first stop on my tour was the city of Bethlehem. According to Christianity, Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Our first stop was at the Shepherds’ Fields, where the angels told the shepherds that the savior would be born. After the Shepherds’ Fields, we continued to the Church of the Nativity. This church is built atop the location where Jesus Christ was born. Finally, we visited the Milk Grotto Church. The Milk Grotto Church was built on top of the Grotto, where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were hiding from King Herod on their way to Egypt. As Mary fed Jesus, a drop of milk hit the floor, turning it white.
To learn more about my trip to Bethlehem, please click HERE.
Jericho
After a quick stop for lunch, we left Bethlehem and headed to Jericho. At Jericho, we took the Jericho Cable Car to the top of the Mount of Temptation. Then we visited the Old City of Jericho, which is one of the oldest cities in the world.
To learn more about my trip to Jericho, please click HERE.
Baptism Site of Jesus Christ on the Jordan River
The final stop on this tour was the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ. At the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ, visitors have the option of being baptized in the waters of the Jordan River. To learn more about my visit to the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ, please click HERE.
Day Eight - A Day Trip to Petra
My final full day in Israel had me leaving the country to take a marathon tour of Petra. Petra is located in Jordan and takes about six hours to reach from Jerusalem. I booked the tour with the company Petra from Israel at a cost of $300. Included in this $300 were all entrance fees and transportation to the Israel/Jordan border.
To learn more about my trip to Petra, please click HERE.
Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Arava Border Crossing
Pick-up for this tour was at 3:00 am. After walking to the pick-up location, I boarded a shuttle to the Israel/Jordan border crossing. At the border crossing, I first had to exit Israel through the Yitzhak Rabin Border Crossing. Exiting Israel was easy, as I utilized the digital passport readers. I scanned my passport and was issued a red exit card.
After walking through the duty-free shop, I continued to the Wadi Arava Border Crossing on the Jordanian Side. This time, I had to wait in line and present my passport to a border agent. He stamped my passport, and I was officially in Jordan. A few minutes later, after walking through another duty-free shop, I found the bus marked “Petra from Jordan.” Two hours later, we arrived at Petra. In all, it took about eight hours to get to Petra from Jerusalem.
Petra
By the time the bus arrived at Petra, it was almost 1 pm. Many of us had been up since 3 am but were excited to visit one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World.” It was not possible to see all of Petra in one day, but we were able to see the main sights, including walking through the Siq and visiting the famous Treasury Building. Our group left Petra around 5:00 pm and crossed the border back into Israel. It was just after 12:00 am when I arrived back at my hotel in Jerusalem.
Day Nine - Returning Home
Taking the Train from Jerusalem to Tle Aviv Ben-Gurion Airport
My final day in Israel was a travel day. I woke up early and took the train from Jerusalem to the Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion airport station. As stated earlier, the trains are easy to manage and very safe.
The Check-In Process at Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion Airport
Upon arriving, I began the time-consuming check-in process for exiting Israel. Before passengers are even allowed to check in for their flight, they must wait in line and go through an exit interview.
The line was long, and I waited close to an hour before reaching the front. The agent interviewing me asked me some specific questions about my passport and family. I assume they are good at seeing who is stumbling through these questions and likely making the information up on the fly.
After leaving the interview area, I was able to check in for my flight to Warsaw. I would connect in Warsaw and then fly to Chicago O’Hare.
Following check-in, it was time to visit passport control and officially exit Israel. I was issued a red exit card and then went through security. The entire check-in process took over two hours. I was glad that I arrived at Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion Airport four hours early.
The flights home were routine, and I arrived safely in Chicago the next day.
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