Looking to spend 10 days in Israel and Jordan? While there is a lot to cover in 10 days, this Israel and Jordan Itinerary hits many of the highlights, including The Dead Sea, Jerusalem, and Petra. I will cover a lot of ground in this post, including:
- A 10 Day Israel and Jordan Itinerary: 7 Days in Israel and 3 Days in Jordan
- Accommodation and Tour Recommendations
- Style Inspiration
Important Information
Visas
Please note that there are visa requirements for several passport holders coming into Israel and Jordan, and you should verify that you do not need one before traveling. As a U.S. citizen, I did not need to apply for a visa in advance at the time I visited (February 2020). These things often change, so be sure to confirm entry & visa requirement details for your home country before booking your trip.
currency
I ordered both Israeli Shekels and Jordanian Diner from my bank before my trip, and would recommend you do the same. I did see a few ATMs during my time in Israel and the majority of places accepted credit cards, however, I found having cash upon arrival put me at ease. In Jordan, you will be mostly dependent on cash, so I recommend planning ahead.
language
I had no trouble getting by with English on this trip, however, it is not spoken by everyone. I highly recommend learning the basics (e.g. “hello”and “thank you”) of Hebrew before your trip – I used the Duolingo app (free in the Apple app store). If you book a tour to Jordan (recommended and discussed in detail later), you will have no trouble, as your guide will speak fluent English.
Israel and Jordan Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Tel Aviv
Arrive and transfer to the city center
I recommend booking your round-trip flights into Tel Aviv (Airport Code TLV) for your trip. Upon arrival to the Tel Aviv airport, you will go through security and grab your luggage. Getting into the Tel Aviv city center from the airport takes around 20 minutes, and there are two popular options. Either take a bus which will cost a few dollars, or grab a cab from the taxi stand at the airport (which will likely be around $50 USD). If you want more details on how to get to the Tel Aviv city center from the airport, I would recommend visiting this site.
Check into your Tel Aviv ACCOMMODATIONS
Upon arriving to the city center, you will likely want to check into your accommodations. I have included a list of recommendations below.
SPLURGE
- The Rothschild Tel Aviv
- Margosa Hotel (Old Jaffa)
MID-RANGE
SAVE
- Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv (Where I Stayed – Private Rooms Available)
- Little Tel Aviv Hostel
Grab an early Dinner in Tel Aviv
Depending where you flew in from, there is a chance you will be quite tired and jet-lagged (coming from the U.S., I know I was exhausted). As this 10 day Israel and Jordan Itinerary is very fast-paced, I would recommend grabbing dinner and heading to bed early. I have included a few highly recommended restaurants below in case you want to make your first dinner in Tel Aviv a memorable one!
- Yaffo Tel Aviv: Contemporary Israeli
- Popina (Neve Tzedek Neighborhood): French
- Onza (Old Jaffa): Mediterranean/Turkish
Day 2: Explore Old Jaffa & Tel Aviv Beaches, Markets, and Neighborhoods
Explore old jaffa
Start your first full day in Israel by exploring Old Jaffa, a lovely neighborhood on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. Old Jaffa, otherwise known as the Old City, is home to many beautiful landmarks, art galleries, and the famous Jaffa Flea Market. It is located near the water, offering stunning views and plentiful al fresco dining opportunities. I recommend getting a lay of the land and learning about the history of Old Jaffa by joining a walking tour. There are many tours available online, however, I opted for this free (tip-based) walking tour. I would highly recommend it, as the guide was very knowledgeable!
Lunch in Old Jaffa
After your tour, head to a fresh seafood lunch. While your tour guide will likely give you some fabulous local recommendations, I dined at this restaurant for reference. It had delicious local wines, salads, and seafood – 10/10 recommend. It was also located close to the Old Jaffa Flea Market, which was convenient for a quick after lunch stroll.
Explore Tel Aviv
After finishing up in Old Jaffa, I recommend spending your afternoon exploring one (or both) of the below options in Tel Aviv:
- Explore Carmel Market, an open-air market with local treats, fresh-squeezed juices, and local produce
- Enjoy one of Tel Aviv’s beaches (weather permitting). Banana Beach is a close walk from Carmel Market should you want to squeeze both options in
Dinner in Neve Tzedek
Wrap up your perfect first day in Israel with a dinner in the trendy Neve Tzedek neighborhood. There are many hip spots and wine bars to try out, so feel free to wander until you find something that suits you! More of a planner? I would check out this article by Time Out on the best places to eat and drink in Neve Tzedek!
Looking to experience Tel Aviv nightlife?
Here are a few bar options that I enjoyed during my stay there:
- Kuli Alma (Hip Bar With a Mix of Music Options)
- Lima Lima (Nightclub)
- Sputnik (Trendy Bar with Good Vibes)
Israel and Jordan Itinerary Day 3: Explore More of Tel Aviv or Optional Day Trip
option one: explore more of tel aviv
Tel aviv is a vibrant city with so much to do! You could easily spend many days here without running out of neighborhoods to explore. If you decide to spend your day in Tel Aviv, here are a couple of recommendations:
- Visit the Tel Aviv Museum of Art
- Explore and taste your way around Sarona Market, a trendy food hall
Tel Aviv is a foodie paradise, so you might want to check out this article for more Tel Aviv dining recommendations.
Option Two: Day Trip
If you want to see the most you can during your 10 days in Israel and Jordan, then you might want to consider a day trip. I wrote an article all about day trips from Tel Aviv that you might want to check out! Options range from Caesarea (an ancient port city) to visiting the stunning Sea of Galilee.
Day 4: Day Trip to Masada, Ein Gedi & the Dead Sea
Spend your fourth day in Israel on a day trip to Masada, Ein Gedi, and the Dead Sea. I recommend checking out of your accommodations in the morning and taking the Masada Sunrise, Ein Gedi, & Dead Sea Tour from Abraham Hostel. This tour departs from Tel Aviv, but does pick-ups and drop offs from Jerusalem as well (spoiler alert: days 5-6 will be spent in Jerusalem, so this is a great way to secure transportation to Jerusalem after the tour concludes).
Masada Sunrise Hike
If you take the tour I recommend, you will start your day (very) early with a Masada hike just before dawn. Masada is an ancient fortress located on the edge of the Judean desert. It has a desert climate, and features a beautiful rocky landscape. The Masada sunrise is very famous (and gorgeous), making it well worth the early wake up call!
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve
From Masada, you will be transported to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. We had approximately one hour to explore, and I chose to take the Wadi David Hike. This is a scenic walk from the ticket office to David’s Waterfall, which was very beautiful!
Float in the Dead Sea
No trip to Israel would be complete without a visit to the famed Dead Sea! The dead sea is a salt lake between Israel and Jordan, which has the lowest elevation of any body of water on earth. Due to extreme levels of saline in the water, it makes it very easy to float (in fact, I found it more challenging to stay upright than I did to float)! If you take the tour I recommended, you will have around 1.5-2 hours to enjoy the beach and the Dead Sea.
Transport to Jerusalem
As noted above, the Masada Sunrise, Ein Gedi, & Dead Sea Tour from Abraham Hostel does pickups and dropoffs from both the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem locations. Let Abraham Hostel know that you plan to be picked up from Tel Aviv and dropped off in Jerusalem, and they should be able to accommodate you. If you choose to visit Masada and the Dead Sea on your own, then you can drive your rental car straight to Jerusalem from the Dead Sea.
ACCOMMODATIONS in Jerusalem
I did not stay overnight during my time in Jerusalem, however, I deeply regretted it as I felt I needed more than a day there. Due this, I built 2 days in Jerusalem into this itinerary. Although I can’t recommend accommodations from personal experience, I have included a few accommodation options below that have great reviews:
- Mid-Range: Ambassador Boutique Hotel or Damson Boutique Hotel
- Save: Abraham Hostel Jerusalem (Private Rooms Available)
Israel and Jordan Itinerary Days 5-6: Jerusalem
Jerusalem Things to Do
Jerusalem is a city which requires little introduction. It is one of the oldest cities in the entire world, and is considered a holy city by three major religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Countless numbers of pilgrims of these religions visit Israel to pay their respects. As readers are likely from a variety of backgrounds and religions, I am including a variety of recommendations on things to do during your stay in Jerusalem. Feel free to do some (or all ) of these if time permits!
Explore the Four Religious Quarters
This free (tip-based) walking tour will take you to all four of the Old City’s quarters – Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian.
Visit Major Religious Sites
You can plan on your own, or join this Holy City tour which will take you to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Dome of the Rock, and the Western Wall. If you are interested in visiting the famed Mount of Olives, you can explore on your own or book a guided tour like this one.
City of David
I did not get the chance to tour the City of David (ancient Jerusalem), however, I have heard it is highly recommended! There are many tour operators out there, but I will link the Abraham City of David Tour here since I know and trust Abraham Tours.
Mahane Yehuda Market
There are a variety of markets in Jerusalem, but the Mehane Yehuda Market seems to be the most well known. It has many vendors, ranging from traditional meat, fruit, and spice vendors to coffee and juice shops. You can read more about the Mehane Yehuda Market on their official website.
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
If you are a big museum buff, then you might want to take time to explore the Israel Museum. It is known for being one of the world’s leading museums, and housing the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Jerusalem Dining
As I mentioned previously, I did not get to spend as much time in Jerusalem as I would have liked. Due to this, I do not have a great deal to share with regard to food recommendations. If you are looking for dining spots in Jerusalem, you might want to check out this article.
Days 7-9: 3 Day Jordan Itinerary (Tour Recommended)
I recommend booking a guided tour from Israel to explore Jordan – I personally took this 3 day Jordan Tour by Abraham Tours, which visited Jerash, Petra, and Wadi Rum. Similar to the Masada + Dead Sea Tour, this tour departs from and returns to both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. This means that you can depart for Jordan from your accommodations in Jerusalem, and easily return from Jordan to Tel Aviv for a night before your return flight home.
Jordan Day One: transport & jerash
Transport to Jordan
Your tour will depart early from Jerusalem and will take you to the Jordanian border. You will be dropped off by the Abraham Tour driver, and will be directed to go through security before meeting your guide on the Jordanian side. Our guide was a Jordanian local, and was very professional, funny, and knowledgeable. Your first day will be mostly driving to your accommodations near Petra, but you will make a 2 hour stop in Jerash to explore the ruins and to enjoy lunch. The Jerash ruins are of the Greco-Roman era, and are extraordinarily well preserved for their age.
Arrive to Accommodations
After departing from Jerash, you will have another long drive to your accommodations near Petra. Upon arrival, you will be assigned your tent and have dinner at your new home for two nights – a Bedouin campsite (pictured above). If you are looking for hotel accommodations, Abraham’s tour does offer upgrades when booking for an extra fee. I personally found the campsite to be a very awesome and unique experience, and am happy that I did not upgrade.
Jordan Day Two: Petra
My favorite part about this tour is that it budgets a full day to explore Petra, one of the seven modern wonders of the world! Petra is a rose city carved into rock and surrounded by mountains. It is one of the most famous (and beautiful) archaeological sites in the world. A few tips for your visit:
- Wear comfortable shoes! Petra is much bigger than you might imagine – it is truly vast.
- There are plenty of sites to see on the ground level, but I highly recommend doing a hike during your free time there! I loved the hike to the monastery (~1 hour uphill) – it was challenging, but certainly well worth the climb.
- While drinking alcoholic beverages in Jordan is not commonplace, there is a bar near the visitor center that is built into an ancient tomb. It is definitely a bucket-list worthy spot to enjoy a drink after a long day of exploring Petra if you have some time!
You will be provided with a meeting time to return to the tour bus – be sure you arrive on time. From here, you will return to the same Bedouin campsite for dinner and to sleep off your long day exploring Petra!
Jordan Day Three: Wadi Rum
Similar to the first day, day three of your tour will involve a great deal of driving. You will make a 2-3 hour stop in the Wadi Rum desert for a tour and lunch with a view. After this, you will be back on the road to Israel. Similar to the border crossing coming into Jordan, you will say goodbye to your guide before going through security to meet your Abraham Tour driver. From the border, the driver will take you back to Tel Aviv (arrange this with Abraham in advance).
Accommodations in Tel Aviv
This will sadly be your last night in Tel Aviv if you plan to depart on day 10. Since you are only staying one night, I would recommend booking a private room in Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv for convenience since the Jordan tour drops off there. If you would like higher end accommodations, these two hotels are close by:
SPLURGE
MID-RANGE
Israel and Jordan Itinerary Day 10: Depart Tel Aviv
Assuming day 10 is your last day, it is time to bid farewell to Tel Aviv and head to the airport. I would recommend arriving to the airport 3 hours in advance, as the security at Tel Aviv airport is tight. If you are not departing until the evening (or the following day) I would recommend a beach day or exploring one of the markets you might have missed, and enjoying more of the world-renowned restaurants in Tel Aviv.
Packing Inspiration
Gear & Accessories
Colder Weather (November – April)
Warmer Weather (May – October)
Travel Must Haves
I hope you found my 10 days in Israel and Jordan itinerary helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or reach out via my contact form. Happy travels! xx
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