Ten days is the sweet spot for a complete first trip to Israel — enough to travel the country from the northern hills to the Red Sea without rushing. This route loops from Tel Aviv up through the north, down to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, and finishes in the south at Eilat with a Petra day trip. Shorter on time? See the 5-day and 7-day versions.
Days 1–2 — Tel Aviv & Jaffa
Arrive at Ben Gurion and train into Tel Aviv (about 20 minutes). Ease in with the beach promenade and ancient Old Jaffa; on day two, the Bauhaus White City, the Carmel Market and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, with nightlife in Florentin.
Day 3 — The northern coast: Caesarea, Haifa & Akko
Pick up a rental car and head north. Roman Caesarea, then the terraced Bahá’í Gardens and German Colony in Haifa, and the Crusader old city of Akko. Overnight in Haifa or the Galilee.
Day 4 — The Galilee
Around the Sea of Galilee: Capernaum, the Mount of Beatitudes, the baptismal site at Yardenit and lakeside Tiberias. Consider the mystical hill town of Tzfat (Safed).
Day 5 — Golan Heights & Nazareth
Drive the Golan Heights: the Banias waterfall, Nimrod Fortress and the Mount Bental viewpoint, with a winery stop. Loop back via Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation. Return the car and transfer toward Jerusalem.
Days 6–7 — Jerusalem
Two days in Jerusalem: the Old City, Western Wall, Holy Sepulchre, the Temple Mount and Via Dolorosa on day one; Yad Vashem, the Israel Museum and the markets on day two.
Day 8 — Masada & the Dead Sea
Sunrise at Masada, the Ein Gedi oasis and a float in the Dead Sea — either as a day trip from Jerusalem or en route south.
Day 9 — Eilat & the Red Sea
Fly or drive south to Eilat. Snorkel or dive the Coral Beach, visit the Underwater Observatory, or explore Timna Park in the desert.
Day 10 — Petra day trip
Cross into Jordan for the unmissable day trip to Petra (an overnight is even better if you can spare it), then fly home from Eilat or back via Tel Aviv. Check the border crossings guide first.
Make it your own
Prefer to go deeper rather than wider? Drop Eilat and spend longer in the Negev desert and the Makhtesh Ramon crater, or add nights in the Galilee. Plan costs with the budget guide and start with the first-time-in-Israel guide.
