Only have five days? This itinerary captures the essence of Israel — its sacred heart, its desert drama and its Mediterranean cool — without feeling rushed. It assumes you fly into and out of Ben Gurion Airport and travel by train and a guided day trip. Got longer? See the 7-day and 10-day versions.
Day 1 — Arrive & Jerusalem’s Old City
Take the train from the airport to Jerusalem (about 30 minutes) and check in near Mamilla or the centre. Spend the afternoon walking into the Old City: the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, with a first wander through the four quarters. Dinner at the Mahane Yehuda market.
Day 2 — Jerusalem in depth
Start early at the Temple Mount & Dome of the Rock (limited morning hours), then trace the Via Dolorosa. In the afternoon visit Yad Vashem or the Israel Museum for the Dead Sea Scrolls. A guided Old City tour pays off today.
Day 3 — Masada & the Dead Sea
A classic day trip: a pre-dawn drive to Masada for sunrise, a short walk in the Ein Gedi oasis, then a float in the Dead Sea. Easiest as an organised tour from Jerusalem; back by late afternoon.
Day 4 — Tel Aviv & Old Jaffa
Train to Tel Aviv (about 45 minutes). Drop your bags and head to ancient Old Jaffa and the beach promenade, then dinner in Neve Tzedek or buzzing Florentin.
Day 5 — Tel Aviv & departure
A morning of Bauhaus White City architecture and the Carmel Market, or simply the beach, before the short train ride back to Ben Gurion. Allow plenty of time for airport security.
Make it your own
Swap the Day 3 desert trip for a day in Bethlehem or Caesarea, or add days to reach the Galilee and the north. Price your trip with the cost guide and read the first-time-in-Israel guide before you go.
