Israel Is An Instagram Paradise! Here Are 5 Places To Visit

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

In 2018, one of my new years resolutions was to travel more. So when I was invited to join a Hispanic Media Trip organized by the Israel Ministry of Tourism, I jumped at the opportunity even though I knew very little about it. I'm not particularly religious or interested in Middle East history, and I wasn't sure what to expect from my trip besides seeing a bunch of old-timey ruins. Still I was determined to get some great #content for the all-important IG feed and be the amateur travel blogger we all become on an exotic journey. "If you didn't post about it, did it even happen?" seems to be the message of my generation, and I'm buying it, for now. The weather in Israel is beautiful in October when I was there, a high of 76 and a low of 65. The mix of sunny skies, white-blue waters,glistening desert hills and unique architecture of the country is enchanting. I was well, blessed you could say, to visit the five cities during my visit. Here are my five favorite IG moments.

Old Jaffa, Israel

The Jaffa Visitors' Center you might first think it's a glorified kiosk with brochures and tourist maps. It's actually an archaeological site found in the small city of Jaffa at the southern end of the Tel Aviv shoreline, which is actually a really beautiful place that just happens to be one of the oldest continual ports in the world. The overall architecture of the center definitely caught my attention as did the art, including some weird-looking sculptures (is that Jar Jar Binks?), And the floral green accents.

Caesarea, Israel

The moment I touched down in Caesarea, I was trying to figure out what was so great about this long old wall everyone was trying to take a picture in front of. Turns out, Caesarea is a national park where amazing ancient harbor ruins, alluring beaches, and impressive modern residences sit side by side. Funny thing about this pick: My colleague Cessie Cerrato asked to take a photo of me. As I walked towards the beach to pose in front of it, she snapped some off-guards pics, which are totally on brand to my Instagram page. This was the winner.

Masada National Park, Israel

On the third day of my trip, I traveled to the Masada National Park, which was once home to Herod the Great. The natural desert fortress of Masada is where Jews held out in their war against the besieging Romans. Lots of tourists come, they say, to learn about what actually went on here, but everyone probably really comes to just grab an awesome white-sky picture overlooking a rugged sun-drenched landscape and the Dead Sea. Yes, it's all historically relevant, but it's also an excuse to make use of the portrait mode on your iPhone. This isn't anything you can see in Jersey.

Yardenit, Israel

This was, for me, the most spiritual place I visited on my trip. Mainly because, according to the Bible, Jesus Christ traveled from Galilee to Jordan to get baptized by John the Baptist. The baptism, allegedly, was performed in the Jordan River. I wasn't able to get an image of myself (good enough to post on Instagram anyway), but I was able to take one of Cessie that really shows how deep the experience was for everyone that does get into the water. Check out the baptism that is happening behind her!

The dead sea

One the last day of my trip, we visited the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth (430 meters below sea level). The Dead Sea was by far my most memorable visit in Israel, mainly because I didn't know what to expect. Naturally, I Googled everything there was to know about the Dead Sea, and even checked out locations on Instagram, just to get a feel of what it would look like. Pictures don't do it justice. It is truly a remarkable experience to just float on water without having to worry about drowning (especially for those that can't swim). Bonus! The super-salty water and the mineral-rich mud found in and around the sea are known for their beauty benefits and used in many a skin product.

Even if you're not a big fan of religious history, Israel is a visceral, highly Instagram-worthy trip.