Visit Israel (Part two)

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After Jerusalem, the second most talked about attraction in Israel is, without a doubt, the Dead Sea. And, despite being a cliché ride, it's worth it, because the experience is unique and, in my opinion, everyone should experience it once in their lifetime!

You just take your feet off the ground to feel the water pushing you up, and you're floating very easily. To rock the photo, take a newspaper and stay there catching up with the news. It sounds like a lie, but it's very easy to stay in that position for hours!

This happens because the salt concentration is very high, reaching 10 times more than the oceans. By the way, for those who don't know, the Dead Sea is not a sea, but a large lake supplied by the Jordan River. It is the lowest point on earth, 424 meters below sea level.

How to get to the Dead Sea

The best way to reach the Dead Sea is by car. You can rent your car in Tel Aviv, at the airport or in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. There is also the possibility of going by bus, lines 486 and 421 leave from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv respectively. There is also the option of transfers that take excursions from the capital to the Dead Sea region.

Where to stay in the Dead Sea region

There are several options for hotels on the shores of the Dead Sea. In the region called Ein Bokek, we stayed at the incredible Isroel Spa Hotel Dead Sea, a super complete hotel with a private beach on the Dead Sea. Another great option in this region is the Milos Hotel Dead Sea.

The Fortress of Masada is located in the region of Ein Bokek, near the Dead Sea, 130km from Tel Aviv. The entrance costs 76 Shekels to go up by cable car (it was our choice! It's very fast and with a beautiful view!) or you can also face the “snake trail” for 25 shekels. It lasts approximately 40 minutes, but you have to walk under the sun, with the dry desert climate.

How to get to Masada

The best way to reach the ruins of Masada is by car, as the roads in Israel are excellent. By bus, line 486 departs from Jerusalem; line 421 departs from Tel Aviv. Or you can hire a private transfer or an agency with a guided tour.

Where to stay in the Masada region

In the region of Masada Fortress, there are few hotels. One of the closest options is the Masada Hostel, which sits at the base of the Masada plateau, at the eastern edge of the Judean Desert. If you want more comfort, you will have to stay a little further away from the fortress. The best options are Kfar Hanokdim, 8km away from Masada, and Desert Call, which is 13km away.

The Judean Desert is known as the smallest desert in the world! For comparison, the Sahara Desert – the largest desert in the world – is 1,500 times bigger!

Comparisons aside, the desert has its beauty, with unique landscapes! The mountains are made of salt and covered with a light layer of sand. Those stones that look like they were designed also call our attention – they are like that because of the wind and rain, which sculpt them over time!

The tour normally lasts around 2h to 3h, and the driver makes several stops with explanations.

Where to stay in the Judean Desert region

If you choose to stay close to the Judean Desert to get to know it better, I recommend staying close to the Dead Sea. There you will find options for tours through the desert by jeep or car.

Your experience won't be complete if you don't reserve a few hours to explore Mahane Yehuda, the market in Jerusalem. Many colors, flavors, scents and shapes will catch your eye.

A great tip is to buy a card called Bite Card. You buy it for 99 NIS, and you receive 6 mini cards to highlight and exchange for “tastes” of food, sweets and drinks in very typical and not very touristy places!

On the card comes a map for you to follow and find the participating places.

How to get to Mahane Yehuda

The Mahane Yehuda market is located in the center of Jerusalem, located between the pedestrian street Ben-Yehuda and the city's central bus station. You can walk to the market or take the cable car and get off at the “Mahane Yehuda” stop.

Where to stay in the Mahane Yehuda region

For those who want to stay in the Mahane Yehuda region, there are hotels ranging from the most luxurious to the most economical. For comfort and convenience, I recommend the Herbert Samuel Hotel Jerusalem. An option that will weigh less on your pocket is the City Center Jerusalem.

Another point quite visited by travelers and tourists in Jerusalem is Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, which is also known as the Holocaust Memorial. It is an inexplicable place that holds memories of the tragic era of World War II. It contains countless stories of thousands of Israeli Jews.

The climate of the environment is one of great respect and silence in memory of the victims. In addition to receiving visitation, the museum is also the main center for research and documentation of the Holocaust. Impossible not to be moved by so many names and so many faces. One of the museum's pavilions is shocking: it is dedicated solely to children. There are approximately 1.7 million images of children who died in Nazi concentration camps.

The visitation has guides provided by the museum, which from hall to hall tell all these stories. There are many images, documents, videos and portraits that visitors can see. The Yad Vashem museum is open from Sunday to Wednesday, from 9 am to 5 pm; on Thursdays, from 9 am to 8 pm; and Fridays and holidays, from 9 am to 2 pm. See admission costs on the museum's website: www.yadvashem.org

Address: Har Hazikaron, P.O.B. 3477, Jerusalem 

How to get to the Holocaust Museum

The Holocaust Museum is located on Mount Remembrance. To get there, there are buses that leave from the airport and also from the city center. Access Israel's public transport service for prices and lines. If you go by train, you should get off at Mount Herzl station and walk to the museum. The walk from the station to the entrance takes less than half an hour. You can also get there by car, which you can rent to drive around the city, but parking at the museum is paid. It costs around NIS 28 per day. Inside the museum there is free transportation that connects Mount Herzl and Yad Vashem.

Where to Stay in the Holocaust Museum Area

For those who want to stay close to Yad Vashem, the best option is to choose a hotel in the neighboring district: Ein Karem. The Alegra Boutique Hotel offers great value for money and is just 10 minutes from the museum. In addition, it is very close to the Old City of Jerusalem, that is, very well located. Another cool option is Above The Spring, which is 15 minutes from the museum and has an incredible view of the city.

“The old city of Akko”, as it is also known, was once the capital of Israel and is one of the oldest cities in the world. To enter more and more on the tourist route, Acre has been receiving a lot of investment, such as new hotels, restaurants and restoration is also being carried out throughout the city.

Even with a “works” atmosphere, the city has its charm and conquest due to its history – it was one of the most important cities of ancient times, the scene of many battles and home to diverse cultures, including the Crusaders, the Ottomans and even Napoleon. Bonaparte was interested in conquering it.

In addition to this archaeological treasure, it is interesting to get lost in the alleys, see the Al-Bahr Mosque (one of the most important mosques in Israel) up close, where, according to legend, there is a box with threads from Mohammed's beard, walk to the port and see a beautiful landscape of the Mediterranean Sea.

How to get to Acre, Israel

Like Haifa, Acre is located on the coast of Israel. The best way to get there is by car, which you can rent at the airport. It is also possible to arrive by bus and train, which leave from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem stations.

Where to stay in Acre, Israel

The Efendi Hotel Akko is one of the most luxurious options to stay in Akko, being super comfortable and well located. Another option in the comfort line is the Akotika boutique, which has great value for money. For those who want to save money, I recommend the Acco Beach Hotel, which is also very close to the beach.

One of the most visited and frequented areas by tourists in the city of Haifa is the historic center. In it is located Ben-Gurion Street, also known as “German Colony”. In 1868, the street was founded by members of the Time Society, which existed until World War II. After the end of the war, Ben-Gurion became popular with tourists visiting Israel.

The street is just below the Bahá'í Gardens, so you can do both tours in one day. During the day, the movement takes place through the architecture of the houses and shops that have a very Germanic look. And at night, the street tends to be very busy, mainly due to the renowned bars and restaurants that the street offers.

If you go to Haifa, I highly recommend staying on Ben-Gurion Street! In addition to being beautiful and very well preserved, this is where the city's buzz takes place. The coolest thing is to see that the Israelis have kept the charm of the original buildings, making the historic center of Haifa a sight for sore eyes.

How to get to Ben-Gurion Street

The best ways to get to Haifa are: by bus, taking the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station; by train, taking the Savidor Train Station; by sherut, which are shared transport from the center of Tel Aviv; and renting a car at the airport.

Where to stay around Ben-Gurion Street

In Haifa, Ben-Gurion Street is the best place to stay because the location gives you access to the most visited places in the city. The street offers pricier hotels like the Templers Boutique Hotel and The Colony Hotel; and more affordable, like the Al Yakhour Hostel.

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