Israel Itineraries
Day-by-day routes for first-time visitors and return trips.
Photo: Godot13 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Not sure how to string Israel together? These itineraries do the routing for you — each balances the must-see sights with realistic travel times, and links straight to the tours, hotels and transport you'll need.
7 or 10 days: how to choose
The two routes cover the same core — Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Tel Aviv — and differ in how far they reach beyond it. The 7-day itinerary is the classic first trip: three nights in Jerusalem, three in Tel Aviv, a Masada and Dead Sea day and one day in the north, all by train and guided day trips with no rental car. The 10-day itinerary loops the whole country, from the northern coast, the Galilee and the Golan down to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Eilat, and ends with a Petra day trip across the Jordanian border. Pick 7 days if you want two bases and no driving; pick 10 if you want the north and the Red Sea as well.
The rhythm of each route
Seven days moves at a city pace: long walking days in the Old City and Tel Aviv, broken by one early start for sunrise at Masada. Ten days changes gear halfway — the northern loop is a road trip where a car makes sense for days 3 to 5, and the south is best reached by a domestic flight to Eilat rather than a long drive. Both plans are built around Shabbat: from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening trains pause and most shops close, so a beach, desert or driving day is slotted there.
Where to start
Every route starts and ends at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). The train reaches Jerusalem in about 30 minutes and Tel Aviv in about 20, so your first night can be in either city; the 7-day plan opens in Jerusalem, the 10-day plan in Tel Aviv. You don't need to book a transfer in advance except on Shabbat, when a shared taxi (sherut) replaces the train.
When to go
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) give mild weather everywhere from the Galilee to the Negev. Summer is very hot in Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Eilat, and winter brings rain to the north. Check the Jewish holiday calendar before fixing dates: Passover and the autumn High Holidays bring closures and higher hotel prices, while the weeks just after them are quiet. The best time to visit guide has the month-by-month detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do either itinerary without a rental car? +
The 7-day route, yes: trains link the airport, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and the Dead Sea and northern days work as guided day trips. The 10-day route is easier with a car for the Galilee and Golan days, where sights are spread out and buses are sparse; the rest runs on trains, taxis and tours.
Should I start in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv? +
Either works from Ben Gurion. Starting in Jerusalem puts the most intense sightseeing first, while you are fresh, and leaves the beach for the end; starting in Tel Aviv gives a gentler landing and sets up the northern loop. Our 7-day plan opens in Jerusalem, the 10-day plan in Tel Aviv.
Which itinerary is better for a first visit? +
Seven days if you have one week or want to avoid driving: it covers everything most first-time visitors come for. Ten days if you can spare the extra time, because it adds the north, Eilat and Petra without rushing the core. Both can be trimmed or extended — each page suggests variations.
More routes are being added regularly. In the meantime, browse the 7 regions or start with our first-time guide.