The best hotels in Israel

Some of us need to travel to Israel, we need to see the holy city of Jerusalem for ourselves, to visit Nazareth and the Western Wall, and the incredible vast but freshwater Sea of Galilee. But even if you don’t feel a particular compulsion to visit this part of the world Israel is a destination with a lot to surprise you, challenge your perceptions and stir up your passions. If the Dead Sea isn’t on your bucket list then why not? and the incredible, multi-coloured canyons of Makhtesh Ramon are unlike anything you’ll encounter anywhere else, as are the hills and valleys of the dry desert lands of Ein Avdat and the Carmel Range. And then there’s the fantastic beaches of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean Sea, and the resorts of Eilat on the Red Sea and Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. And the best places to stay in Israel are as varied as the reasons you have for travelling here.

Modern Israel, which was founded in 1948 after the Second World War, is very urbanised, so the majority of our recommendations for the best places to stay in Israel are in the towns or cities.

Where to Stay

• Jerusalem is a sacred city for Christians, Jews and Muslims, and it’s a pretty special place for everyone else as well. Historically this city has been fought over hundreds of times and its modern inhabitants are so rich a mix of people that any city wanting to call itself a ‘melting pot’ would be envious. It’s still very much in flux too, and you’ll hear people talking politics and the future in the cafes, the art galleries and the bookshops and boutiques. But at the same time you can join candle-lit tours underground, into crypts and shrines, where you’ll see the old cities being gradually uncovered in live dig sites.
• Tel Aviv has got to be one of the best places in the world for a beach break. It’s got 14 stunning kilometres of the Mediterranean The magnificent White City was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003, but all around it are bustling markets and Bauhaus architecture.
• On the north coast, Haifa is a beautifully planned city built with the intention of being the main transport and port of the Levant. The British, who were responsible for its design, added some really beautiful formal gardens, but Haifa is also home to the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery and the Hecht Museum. Modern visitors will also find it useful to know that Haifa is an excellent base if you want to explore Galilee, it’s close to Nazareth, Caesarea, and the grottoes at Rosh HaNikra.
• Nazareth is best known for being where Mary and Joseph, parents of the baby Jesus, were from, and so many of this city’s main sights are related to Jesus’ childhood and the Annunciation. Modern Nazareth is also a cultural centre, with an old city rife with extraordinarily beautiful architecture.
• Akko or Acre is an ancient port with an incredible UNESCO World Heritage Listed walled old city and an ancient gardens. Underground, Acre also has an incredible series of underground halls built by the Knights Hospitallers. If the bustle and jostle of Jerusalem sound tiring to you then Acre will provide you with many similar pleasures but in a more compact size and right by the coast.
• Eilat is a Red Sea resort with incredible views of the Gulf of Aqaba, sandwiched between Egypt and Jordan. The beaches are excellent and there are some beautiful coral reefs off shore, but a lot of people know this and it’s a popular holiday destination with Israelis as well as international visitors.
• Safed in Galilee is a spiritual centre and a holy city, it’s where Kabbalah was founded, so a pilgrimage site for many who follow this movement. It’s also small and quaint, with a pedestrianised old city and some ancient and very beautiful synagogues. It is surrounded by pine forests and is very popular with artists and anyone looking for a mild place to pass the summer.
• Tiberias is a large resort town on the shore of the Sea of Galilee with spectacular views of the lake and the mountains beyond. Now considered one of Israel’s four holy cities, it started life as a spa resort about 2000 years ago, to serve the hot springs of the now Hamath Tiberias National Park. If you’re inserted in this element of the city’s history there’s a great museum which was originally part of a Turkish bathhouse. It’s also worth looking up St. Peter’s Church, a Franciscan church built by 12th century Crusaders.

Use our guide to the best places to stay in Israel and start to plan your visit to this fascinating ancient land.

The Best Places to Stay in Israel

For a boutique hotel

• The Diaghilev in Tel Aviv is a 54 room hotel cum art gallery promoting contemporary Israeli art in a setting of glass and clean modern lines and surfaces. As well as vibrant art there’s some vibrant furniture. The art exhibits change every six months.
• The Drisco is a beautifully restored heritage property now home to a modern boutique hotel with just 42 sophisticated rooms. This is a stylish spot in Tel Aviv, close to Jaffa’s flea market and many of the city’s main sights.
• Jerusalem’s Alegra Boutique Hotel is a 13 room hotel in Ein Krem village, which is just a short distance from the heart of historic Jerusalem. The building dates from the 18th century, and many of the original details have been kept in this sensitive renovation. Expect Persian rugs and contemporary bathrooms, plus eight course meals in the restaurant.

For a room with a view

• The Lighthouse is certainly a name to inspire great views, and it’s a fairly well chosen moniker. This Tel Aviv hotel is just minutes from Jerusalem Beach, and has 160 spacious rooms with either city views or beach views. The best suites have jacuzzis and balconies, and on the roof there’s a spa as well as a terrace.
• The Orient Jerusalem is a 243 room hotel with plenty of height, so that its views of the holy city from the top floors and terrace are hardly rivalled. The Orient also has a reputation for doing one of the best breakfasts in town.
• The iconic King David Hotel is one of its rivals, also offering incredible views from some of its rooms over the Old City. There are 233 elegant rooms and suites at the King David, and four restaurants! There’s a nice garden surrounding the pool too.

For a city break

• Tel Aviv’s Fabric has an industrial flavour and an unbeatable location, plus 43 minimalist rooms with fantastic city views from huge windows. There’s also a landscaped roof terrace.
• Tel Aviv’s The Levee has just eight apartments available to rent, but they’re stylishly modern minimalist and super-luxurious. Expect contemporary art, polished concrete and floor to ceiling windows. The penthouse has incredible views.
• The Norman is a 50 room boutique hotel in central Tel Aviv with an outstanding restaurant and a very fashionable bar. It’s also got a beautiful rooftop terrace with an infinity pool

Some of the Best Hotels in Jerusalem

• The American Colony Hotel is one of the best known hotels in the entire Middle East; charming, comfortable and tranquil, yet just outside is the hubbub of the historic Old City of Jerusalem. There are 92 rooms.
• The Villa Brown Jerusalem was once home to a prominent local doctor, and he was a lucky man, living so close to the Great Synagogue, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Damascus Gate. He also had an incredible view from his rooftop, though possibly not the elegant cocktail bar and 24 beautifully designed rooms the villa has today.

Some of the Best Hotels in Tel Aviv

• The Setai Hotel is one of the newest five star hotels in Tel Aviv, but it occupies a beautiful old building in a good spot close to the coast. Expect modern luxuries but some charming, traditional details, and some incredible sea views.
• The Hotel Montefiore is a cool, boutique hotel where Bauhaus architecture meets contemporary style. Upstairs there are just 12 rooms, and downstairs there’s a fashionable French-Vietnamese restaurant.

For great value

• Tel Aviv’s Hotel Saul is a small, boutique-style hotel in a great central spot. Expect chic, contemporary style in the 34 rooms and a gourmet sandwich shop in lieu of a restaurant.
• The Cucu Hotel is another affordable option in Tel Aviv; 32 boutique-style rooms decorated with lots of wood and vibrant splashes of colour on the walls. There’s a great traditional breakfast and you’re just around the corner from Dizengoff Square.

Prefer an Apartment or Villa?

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• If you’re starting your visit to Israel in Tel Aviv you’ll fly into the Ben Gurion International Airport, which is 20 minutes by surprisingly infrequent train from the centre of town. If you’re starting your trip in Jerusalem you’ll still need to fly into the Ben Gurion International Airport, which is only about 30 minutes from the Jerusalem Yitzhhak Navon station.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• Spring is beautiful in Israel. The rains sweep though in winter and come spring everything starts to flourish. It’s a great time to go hiking and explore the more remote terrain, however it can be humid in some parts of the country, notably in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv gets very hot and humid in summer too, and if you want to go hiking around Masada at this time of year you’ll need to plan your activity for the cool, morning hours. But if you want to spend time on the beach then the hot weather isn’t too much of a hinderance. Autumn is more comfortable again as the country cools, but it is dry. The rains and snow usually come in the wintertime. The weather varies quite a bit throughout the country so it’s a good idea to check the weather conditions in the parts of Israel you’re intending to travel to.

Still not sure which is the best place to stay in Israel for you?

• Refine your search to just the best places to stay in Jerusalem?
• or the best places to stay in Tel Aviv?
• or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.