10 of the Most Fascinating Spots in Israel

Akko has an incredible story to tell. Visit the halls of the citadel and learn about the Crusades that seized the city 4,000 years ago. Tour the original underground city and tunnels and explore the museum displays and films projected on the walls that tell this city’s history. Artisans, such as blacksmiths, glass blowers, potters, weavers, embroiderers, leather craftsmen, basket weavers, and more, sell their goods throughout the old city, giving guests the opportunity to explore the culture and heritage that lives in Akko.

The Be’er Sheva River Park is a recent addition to the booming city and Capital of the Negev. For decades, the river was used as a dumping ground for old cars and garbage, but recently, the Jewish National Fund decided to clean up the area. Thus far, half of the 8-kilometer plan has been completed. The new River Park includes gardens showcasing desert flora and fauna, bicycle paths, recreation areas, a 12,000 seat outdoor amphitheater and 750 acres of new parks with over 40,000 new trees. This transformation has made the River Park and Be’er Sheva a tourist destination and a must see place in Israel.

This secret, underground bullet factory is a hidden gem located in Rehovot. Used from 1946-1948, the Ayalon Institute made ammunition used in the fight for Israel’s independence. This hidden bullet factory would develop into what is today called IMI (Israeli Military Industries). The Ayalon Institute was the largest IMI factory to operate underground and produced over 2.5 million bullets. Visitors can tour the underground factory and learn about its history and impact on Israel’s independence.

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is a leading environmental research program in the Middle East. The institute has a student body comprised of Jordanians, Palestinians, and Israelis who are researching important topics that affect the entire world. Research projects include renewable energy and energy conservation, trans-boundary water management, sustainable agriculture, hyper-arid socio-ecology, and sustainable development. Located in Ketura in the south of Israel, this research center is making big impact in environmental studies around the world.

Lotem is making nature more accessible to people with special needs, serving around 35,000 participants a year. They offer field trips, accessible hikes, and creative workshops such as wine making and pita making for people of all ages with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities, as well as at-risk youth and mothers and children living in shelters. Equipped with a sensory garden, unique hiking trails for those in wheelchairs, and an ecological farm, Lotem is one of the first inclusive parks in Israel.

This state-of-the-art rehabilitative village in the Negev is an inspiring place of care for people with severe disabilities and special needs. With full-time and volunteer staff, this center is dedicated to empowering residents and outpatients. The village includes innovative treatments such as hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, music therapy, animal therapy, sensory gardens, and crafts workshops. Special education is provided to residents, as well as programs that benefit their families. Experts around the world are studying how Aleh-Negev-Nahalat Eran is making an impact in Israel and in the lives of those with special needs.

Located in Jerusalem, Ammunition Hill is the historic side of the battle for the reunification of the city in the 1967 War. This tourist destination serves as an educational center for the Six-Day War. After viewing a stirring video on the history of the battle site, visitors can explore the area and learn about the importance of the area.

The Baha’i Gardens in Haifa are some of the most beautiful gardens in the Middle East. Over half a million people visit the gardens each year, admiring the unique designs and geometrical shapes that makeup the landscape. Nestled into the slope of Mount Carmel, the Baha’i Gardens extend nineteen terraces up the mountain and make for a gorgeous view of the Haifa port and the city of Akko across the bay.

Bordering Egypt and Gaza, Halutza is a small desert village founded in 2005 by a small group of families evacuated from the Gush Katif communities of Atsmona and Netzarim during Israel’s disengagement from Gaza. Located in a seemingly dead area of the desert, the Halutza community managed to build a thriving agricultural economy for themselves through innovative farming and water restoration techniques. Through their success, the community has managed to stabilize themselves and continues to attract new residents from throughout Israel.

The Hula Valley offers some of the best natural scenery in Israel. Comprised of a Hula Lake and a nature reserve, Hula Valley is filled with fauna and flora, as well as animal indigenous to the region. It is also one of the primary locations for bird watching, as it is a hotspot for bird migration throughout the world. At the visitor’s center, films and audio-visual presentation tell the 50-year story of the area and its natural beauty.