The Holy Land of Israel remains one of the places in the world that everyone should endeavor to see at some point in their life. Israel is the crossroads of three of the world’s major religions and welcomes millions of religious pilgrims each year, but with the violence in the region, people believe that travel to the Holy Land is not safe. However, nothing could be further from the truth as long as you follow the recommendations located on the U.S. State Department website, and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism website.
It is expensive to travel to Israel, and making sure you have enough money and/or credit card coverage is a good idea in case of unforeseen situations, such as the need to spend an extra night in a hotel, which might put a serious crimp in the shopping budget.
Perhaps the easiest and most economical way to visit Israel is on a pre-arranged tour. A simple Google search will turn up hundreds of providers of tours for those looking to explore the archeology and history of Israel, as well as religious pilgrimages. There are pros and cons to using these services, and the most obvious advantage is that it takes a lot of the work of planning the trip out of your hands. Tour groups let someone with the necessary experience in obtaining the paperwork, and understanding the rules at the various sites, handle those arrangements so that you do not run into any snags while on your trip. The downside is that you have less freedom to explore at your own pace. Tour groups operate on a set schedule and leave little room for deviation, so if you want more time visiting a certain location, and the group is ready to leave, you are just out of luck.
If you would like to plan the trip yourself, there are plenty of resources that allow you to do that as well. Perhaps the best resource for planning the trip is utilizing the information found on the Frommer’s website and Frommer’s Israel, a book you can find at your local library that offers mountains of invaluable information about planning your trip.
Due to hostilities in the region between the Israelis and Palestinians, there are certain areas where it is not recommended that visitors travel. Some do venture into these areas with no incident but it is risky. Unfortunately, the biblical towns of Bethlehem, Jericho, and Hebron are located in this area. It is still possible to visit the Church of the Nativity (the birthplace of Jesus), however these trips are mostly accomplished through organized Christian tour groups who have worked out the details of the visit with the West Bank authorities.
There are a number of sites in Israel that will appeal to the Christian pilgrim. Most well known are The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, The Via Dolorosa, The Church of Saint Anne, and the Pools of Bethesda to name a few. The crusader Church of Saint Mary is an interesting place to visit as well. Though the church is now in ruins, you can still explore the cloister and basilica.
Muslim Pilgrims find the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque to be important sites on their pilgrimage. Non-Muslim visitors are permitted to visit the mosque, but they will be required to buy an admission ticket for a small fee. Visitors should know that photography is permitted outside the buildings only, and if prayer services are going on you will have to wait until they conclude to go exploring. The Islamic Museum is located on the Temple Mount as well.
Something else that is not to be missed in Israel is the bazaars or suqs as they are also called. The Suq El Attarin was once the covered spice market during the time of the Crusades, although now it is mostly a collection of clothing shops. If you continue down the street past where the covered portion ends and keep going, you will come to Suq Khan es-Zeit or the Market of the Inn of the Olive Oil. This is a food market where visitors can find a variety of pastries, meats, and other snacks.
Despite the conflicts in the region, Israel remains a wonderful place to visit and absorb thousands of years of ancient culture. For the religious pilgrims, those looking to celebrate their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, the Muslim looking to make salaah at the third holiest site in Islam, or the Christian wanting to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, a life changing experience awaits you in Israel.
Sources:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/israel/