A trip to the Holy Land is an opportunity to visit all those places referred to in the Torah, which have had a great role in shaping the Judaism one experiences today. However, a trip to the Holy Land can and should have two components: on the one hand visiting the religious-related sites and on the other, visiting museums, sites, shops, attend festivals which make the Holy Land a unique experience and can help the visitor form a more knowledgeable opinion on Israel.

This part of the travel guide shall deal with providing one an itinerary of the most important places to visit once in Israel. Whether you go on a pilgrimage, or are simply travelling through the country, these places should not be missed. Whatever your choice is, due to the difficult international situation, you are strongly advised to visit Israel with a tour guide who would know which are the safest areas to visit and which are not.

Firstly, here is a list of all the cities which should be visited in Israel. The City of David is situated just outside the walls of contemporary Jerusalem and has been there ever since prehistoric times. The area is undergoing massive archeological excavations and is currently occupied by Arab population which has built the Silwan neighborhood there.

Another important area is that of the Sea of Galilee, where one should not miss Capernaum, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes. This is the area where Jesus spent his early years of its ministry and where he is said to have performed some of his miracles. Here one can find St. Peter’s house, as well as the places where he performed the Miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes and the Sermon on the Mount. Close to the Sea of Galilee is Korazim – a beautiful small town dating back to the Roman era, with a local synagogue and richly adorned houses.

Masada is a desert surrounded place where King Herod built his palace. According to historians, this hardly accessible plateau was the operation center of the First Jewish Revolt against Rome. Also, in 73 AD, this plateau was the scene of the massive suicide of the last Jews before being conquered by the Roman armies. From the times of Herod dates also Caesarea (situated on the coast in-between Tel Aviv and Haifa). The King built it as the main harbor of the kingdom and was later to become the capital of Roman Judea and of Byzantine Palestine. Caesarea was also the site of the Crusades and its ruins include amphitheaters, a hippodrome and even well-preserved forts which are an incredible view when paired with the nearby waves hitting the shore.

For those interested in visiting religious-related places, one should not miss the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem on the West Bank. This is situated on the site of the old barn where Jesus was born and it is known to be the oldest Church of the Holy Land. The legend tells that during the Persian invasion of 614 AD, the Church was spared from destruction, because the soldiers were utterly impressed with the representation of the three Magi on the walls. Also, another noteworthy destination is Zippori or Sepphoris, close to Nazareth. This little city dates back to the Hellenistic period and used to be the capital of Galilee in Roman times. The place is worth visiting for the synagogue mosaic, the colonnades of the streets and the Roman portrait of a woman called the Mona Lisa of the Galilee.

A trip to Israel, visiting the Holy sites is incomplete in the absence of visiting Petra. Indeed it would require leaving Israel for maximum a couple of days, into Jordan, but seeing the mysterious city carved in the walls of a canyon in the middle of the desert is worth it. The place is considered one of the greatest wonders of the world and dates back to 2000 years ago.

After highlighting the most important places to visit on a trip to the Holy Land it is time to draw an itinerary for a visit to Israel. Therefore, leaving Tel Aviv, which is where most international flights land, one should begin his/her visit in Tiberias, close to the Sea of Galilee. This city is considered one of the four holy cities of Judaism and has been well-known since ancient times for its springs with curative properties. From here on, one can follow the Mediterranean coast up to Haifa to visit the suspended gardens from Bahai, the Stella Marris Church, Carmel Mountain and the case of Prophet Elijah. Haifa is a city worth visiting, alive with tourists and many restaurants, hotels and shops. It is also a good starting point for visiting Northern Israel. From here, one can walk in the footsteps of Saint Peter up to Caesarea, the place from where Saint Paul left for Rome. After Caesarea there is Canaan, where Jesus is supposed to have performed his first miracle, and then Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood and adolescence. In Nazareth one should visit the Annunciation Church and Saint Joseph’s carpentry workshop. Also close by is the Tabor Mountain where the Transfiguration occurred.

Following the visit to Nazareth, the visitor should head towards Capernaum for a visit of the synagogue where Jesus preached and also have a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee. From there it is easy to reach the Jordan River and following its valley go up to Bethlehem. Apart from Jesus’ birth place, worth visiting are also the Saint Jerome’s Cave, the Saint Catherine Chapel and the field where the shepherds taking care of the flocks of sheep saw the angels who notified them on the birth of Jesus. The oldest city in the world – Jericho is situated on the route from Bethlehem to Jerusalem and a visit to this old city should also include a visit to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. For those eager for a swim, the Dead Sea has salty water, rich in minerals.

After visiting all these great places, on should focus on Jerusalem. In this great city, the choice is varied, but due to the latest violence in the area, one is again strongly advised to engage in a guided tour. Once in Jerusalem one should admire the walls of the Old City, go up on Mount Scopus to the Mount of Olives where the Ascension took place. Close by are the Pater Noster Case, the Gethsemane Gardens, the Church of Agony, the Betrayal Case and the tomb of Virgin Mary. In addition to this, a visit should include Mount Scion, the location of the Lord’s Supper, the tomb of king David, Dormition Monastery, the Golden Temple Mountain and the Wailing Wall.

In order to re-create Jesus’ route through Jerusalem, one should visit the Bethesda Fountain, Saint Ana’s Church, the Chapel built on the site where Jesus was flogged, walk on foot on Via Dolorosa with its all 14 stops that Jesus took on the way to Golgotha and the Holy Grave Church.

Other places worth visiting include Ein Karem, the place where John the Baptist lived, Betania, where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived and where Jesus performed the resurrection of Lazarus and Jaffa, an old port transformed into an artists’ residence where Saint Peter’s Church is to be found, commemorating Tabitha’s resurrection. For all those interested of more modern architecture, tours of Tal Aviv and the new city of Jerusalem are constantly being organized.