Israel’s food culture is almost as diverse as its inhabitants. Being a “melting pot” country, it seems like those migrating to Israel in the past 6 decades have been throwing into the pot everything from Eastern European to North African traditional Jewish cooking. Mixed with the Arab kitchen of the region as well as Mediterranean influences and other global trends, Israel’s food is a fusion of East & West, speaking all languages and serving every taste.

Traditional Local Food

Yes, you can get a great pasta dish or fancy sushi in Israel, but when visiting this unique country you should try to get as much of Israel’s traditional local food. The “Top 3″ falling under this category are: Hummus, Falafel and Shawarma. It’s true that all three (or variations of those) can be found in other Mediterranean countries, but Israel has embraced them and made them her own. Whether in a street kiosk in downtown Tel Aviv or in a romantic seafood restaurant on the beach, you can’t go wrong with those dishes.

Kosher Food

Despite being the only county in the world for the Jewish people, a large portion of the people do not keep Kosher, and a large part of its restaurants don’t carry a Kosher food tag. If you are looking for Kosher food while in Israel, a safe bet would be to visit hotel restaurants, which are required to serve Kosher food. Most large supermarkets and food chains also offer Kosher products.

Drinking

Israel’s food culture also includes drinking: a lot of coffee (and tea) drinking, to begin with. Israel’s tap water is safe to drink although many brands of mineral water can be bought anywhere. The most popular alcoholic drinks are wine and beer. Israeli wine is famous worldwide and has been winning prestigious awards in the past several years. There isn’t too much local beer making, but almost every global brand can be found in bars, restaurants and supermarkets.

At an altitude of some 600 meters above sea level, overlooking the Sea of Galilee (the Kinneret), lies the city of Tiberias – one of the largest cities in the north of Israel and one of its most popular resort places. Tiberias has been the cultural and religious center of the Jewish community in the Roman days, and is considered one of the holiest cities in Israel. Alongside its historical monuments Tiberias is a lively place, especially during the hot summer months with many attractions for tourists and families with kids.

Hammat Tverya National Park is a recommended way to pass a relaxing afternoon while visiting the city. Situated next to the “Hamei Tverya” spa (another great option for spa lovers), the Hammat Tverya National Park includes few old synagogues and a public bath house, including few ancient natural warm water spas. Many of Tiberias’ landmarks of ancient history are located there.

The Tiberias beaches are mostly clean and well kept, though admission fee is required. To enjoy the scenic view of the Sea of Galilee from above mixed with a nice walk, visit the Emek Hayarden boardwalk between Zemach beach and the Dganya Aleph Kibbutz. The River Jordan (Yarden River), stretching to the North and South of the Sea of Galilee, has a wide selection of rafting and kayaking spots for water sports lovers. Along the Alon boardwalk, next to the beach, you can fine three centers offering equipment and water activities such as boats hiring, water skiing and more.

When getting tired of these activities, you might want to visit one of the fine seafood and fresh fish restaurants of Tiberias. On top of the promenade’s many sea food restaurants, you can try Shimshon steak house (behind the Tiberias market) or Dex steak house, both offer great meat at sea level with cool atmosphere. The Guy restaurant (next to Panorama hotel) is another off-the-beaten-track restaurant, serving kosher Jewish food from around the globe.

There are many hotels in Tiberias, some of which are luxurious and some are less pricey and more common. The best hotels in Tiberias include Caesar Resort Hotel, the Scots Hotel, the Sheraton and Rimonim Galei Kinnereth, all located next to the shore and offer 5 star facilities. Other good options while searching for hotels in Tiberias are the Holiday Inn, the Golden Tulip and Golan hotel, which is a simpler yet clean option and offers great views of the Sea of Galilee.

Hotels in Tiberias >>

Tiberias is a large city in the north of Israel, situated on the western coast of the Sea of Galilee (the Kinneret). The rich history of Tiberias, alongside its excellent weather and great views, make it one of the most popular resorts in Israel and one of the main tourist attractions.

Tiberias has been one of the most significant places in Israel for the Jewish community for centuries: Together with Jerusalem, Hebron and Safed, it is one of the holiest cities in the country. It was the home of the great Jewish council (the Sanhedrin) and many claim it is where the Jerusalem Talmud (“Talmud Yerushalmi”) was written. Today it is still mostly populated with different religious Jewish communities.

Tiberias has been the heart of the Galilee for many years. In the days of Tiberius Caesar – whom the city is named after – the Jewish community was banned from living in Safed and moved to Tiberias. In the roman days, many Jewish scholars and rabbis lived and studied there, and were later buried in and around the city.

Since those days, many visitors come to pay their respect and pray in some of these Tzadikim Graves (graves of the pious). Most famous of which are the tomb of Rambam (in the city center) which was one of the greatest minds in Jewish history; the tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, where a special festival is held every second Passover (next to the southern part of Tiberias’ sea of Galilee coast); and the tomb of Rabbi Akiva (at the western entrance to Tiberias) which is visited traditionally by believers at the evening of Yom Kippur.

The Tiberias ancient synagogue is another site to visit if you wish to explore the Jewish community’s daily routine in the old days. The ancient synagogue (on the southern exit of the city) served the Jewish population during the third and fourth centuries, and has a beautiful mosaic floor with the images of the 12 signs. Another nice stop is the Tiberias Archeological site (at the heart of the city), which shows the remnants of an ancient synagogue that used to be active during the sixth century, as well as a Jewish living quarter.

While visiting Israel, you don’t want to miss its mountainous northern region – the Golan Heights (Ramat Hagolan), which has plenty of lovely nature reserves to offer, alongside historic and archaeological sites. The Golan Heights is an ideal destination for families with children and adventurous travelers alike, thanks to the diverse activities and beautiful landscapes.

The Golan Heights reach some 1,200 meters above sea level in its northern part, which makes it a great observatory on the entire region. The eastern part of this area is dotted with a chain of volcanic hills, while the southern and western parts border on basalt cliffs that descend to the Jordan Valley rift. These areas, too, offer some phenomenal views.

Families with children, tourists and travelers will find plenty of activities to choose from while traveling the Golan Heights. The most popular activity during winter is skiing down the hill of the Hermon Mountain, which has great conditions during the season. Other seasons offer their own attractions in this wonderful part of Israel: summer months offer travelers the chance to swim in the many streams, in spring flowers in every color cover the plains, and the superb autumn weather brings many hikers to the wooded trails. If you plan on hiking or camping though remember that the Golan Heights is the only region in Israel where nights are chilly all year long.

Another fun experience for families with children is the authentic Golan ranch, where you’ll feel like a cowboy surrounded by horses and cattle. When visiting the ranch, you can also go out to the orchards and pick all kinds of seasonal fruits.

The Golan Heights is a great location for growing wine grapes, thanks to weather and geographical character. If you are a wine fan, you will be pleased to know that some of the best wineries in Israel are located there, including “Golan Heights Winery”, which is a worldwide award winning winery that uses high-end technology along with traditional wine making secrets and methods “Chateau Golan”, a very special winery, with extremely good wines ; “Pelter Winery”, which serves the best restaurants in Israel, and produces wines from different blends, ready for drinking  and many other small wineries.

There are hundreds of rural guest houses spread all over the Golan Heights, so you won’t have problems finding a place to stay. If you are looking for a unique experience, try the Druze villages in the northern Golan, and enjoy the well known Druze hospitality.

While visiting Israel, tourists must not miss the opportunity to see Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus and one of the most important Christian sites in Israel. In fact, visiting Nazareth is quite an old habit of Christian pilgrims, who have been coming there since the 4th century.

Just 88 miles north of Jerusalem, Nazareth is located between the Jezreel valley and the Galilee mountainous regions. Over 2000 years ago, it was quite an insignificant little town.  Though it was inhabited continually, it gained significance only in the 5th century, when the first church of the Annunciate was built.

Nazareth offers a mix of races and religions. It is the largest Arab city in Israel, with 60,000 Christian and Muslim inhabitants living side by side in harmony. Most of the archaeological findings in the city consist of cisterns, caves and grain storage bins. The heart of Nazareth is the Old City, comprised of two parts: the historical and religious core and the markets, mansions, and houses of the city itself. The touristy area of the city was expanded, so while visiting there you will reach its ridge and from there continue to the city and its churches.

The holy sites are all located inside or underneath the various churches, the most famous of which are the Church of St. Joseph and the Church of St. Gabriel. Grotto of the Virgin, where according to Christian belief Virgin Mary was informed by an angel she will become a mother, is a pilgrims’ must-see and a tourists’ long time favorite. According to the apocryphal Gospel, the actual place of this announcement was St. Mary’s well at the Church of St. Gabriel. The Church of St. Joseph is another main attraction. Known as the supposed location of Joseph’s carpentry shop, the Church of St. Joseph enjoys many visitors as well.

Most tourists spend some time in the Mosque quarter as well. Located in the center of the market, the Mosque quarter was built in 1812 during the ruling days of the Ottoman Empire. Another beautiful square in the old city is the “Author’s House Square”, where the Bishop’s residence is located.

Old Nazareth is a popular tourist attraction for everyone who visits the holy land: its history, views and the unique atmosphere make it a great site for some one million tourists and pilgrims who visit the city annually – and for a good reason.

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