169 Best Hotels in Israel

The northernmost hotel on the strip overlooking the water is a good budget accommodation option, if a little far from the neighborhood's shopping and dining. Rooms here are cozy and decorated in earth tones, and several face the garden near the outdoor seawater pool. The hotel caters to a wide variety of guests, including tour groups. An activities club for kids runs during the summer months.

A riot of greenery, including an inviting bustan (a local-style garden redolent with fragrant herbs), surrounds this inn, which has whirlpools and wooden balconies. Israel and Sarah Shavit make congenial hosts, with the added bonus that he's a licensed tour guide and chef. Four apartments have living rooms, kitchenettes, and bedrooms (one is wheelchair accessible); the fifth has two bedrooms. There's also a dorm-type room for up to 14 people. The rustic environment, 10 minutes from Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee, is pleasant, and the dining room, which serves breakfast, transforms into a good-value à la carte restaurant in the evening.

In a Thai-style complex that's a world apart from anything else in this region, these recently renovated suites have hot tubs that use thermal mineral water from the nearby springs. A few even have their own saunas. Treatment rooms and exercise machines are for hotel guests only. The warm mineral-pool area, a serene oasis by day, becomes almost mystical when torches light the waters. The rest of the park at Hammat Gader is free for hotel guests. On Thursday and Friday nights, there is a minimum two-night stay. Package deals with spa treatments are available.

High on the ridge that overlooks Nazareth, this hotel began life as a convent—hence the charming neo-Gothic church still in use on the property today. Renovations transformed the former nuns' cells into comfortably sized guest rooms, and many enjoy some of the city's greatest views. The reception area is furnished with inlaid tables, chairs, and mirrors in the old Damascene style, and the dining room prides itself on its local dishes. The garden and view are perfect for unwinding at sundown.

Down an unpaved road, this out-of-the-ordinary cluster of stone-and-wood huts sits on a rocky hillside; for the rugged traveler seeking the starkness and purity of the desert, it's an appealing example of ecotourism. Each hut has a carpet on its earthen floor and a mattress piled with cozy blankets; household essentials include a tea corner, a clay water jar, and copper bowls for ablutions. The units are solar-powered, and there's an eco-friendly toilet cabin. Guests eat in the communal dining room. You can ask a staff member to pick you up from outside the Isrotel Ramon Inn. Plan to arrive before dark.

This guesthouse in Beit Jala sits on pretty grounds with 5 kilometers (3 miles) of paved walkways. It began as a girls' boarding school and today remains part of the German Evangelical Lutheran School. Rooms are modest but clean and air conditioned. Breakfast is made with local produce and spices like za'atar and olive oil. It's a short taxi ride away from the hubbub of Manger Square, and worth it if you want a retreat where kids can stretch their legs. The guesthouse can also arrange transfers from the airport and excursions.

In the Western Galilee, Tamar and Yaron Cohen created three lovely suites off their home, where they focus on their love of wine. The couple bottles wine in an underground cellar they built for themselves, combining Yaron's carpentry skills with Tamar's tasteful designs. Guests checking in receive a welcome tour of the cellar and a tasting. Naturally, the rooms are all stocked with a bottle, too. The kitchenette includes cold drinks, as well as Tamar’s homemade chocolate truffles, cheese crackers, and nut cookies. Complimentary bikes and a list of where to ride are included in the rates.

This converted office building from the 1930s pays homage to the Bauhaus architecture for which Tel Aviv is famous. The location makes this a great choice for those interested in exploring the hub of Tel Aviv.

The Ottoman Empire's early-20th-century expansion plans envisaged Beersheva as a regional capital, and the Turks built handsome stone structures in what is now the Old City; this special boutique lodging occupies one of them and is notable for its central courtyard, gorgeous stone walls, and spacious interiors. Guest rooms have small kitchenettes, and all are at ground level, although uneven stone walkways and a vintage entrance gate do not mean easy accessibility.

Yehuda Avni and his Jerusalem-born wife Yonah have created something special in Israel: a ranch where guests can ride horses during the day and retire to cozy rooms at night. The one-room cabins and more luxurious cottages combine wood and basalt rock, and some have wood-burning stoves and hot tubs overlooking the lake. Spa treatments are also available. The restaurant has a fine regional reputation for its hearty soups, salads, and steaks. The views of the Sea of Galilee are unbelievable. Nonguests can ride here as well.

Although this gleaming white tower with sweeping city views is a classic business hotel, the former Crowne Plaza Jerusalem is also a comfortable option for vacation. The bathrooms are on the small side, but the pleasingly decorated rooms are spacious and get plenty of light from pocket-size balconies. The lobby-level bar has a sophisticated vibe, and you can enjoy a lovely meal at the Hamsa restaurant. The pool and its adjacent lawns and playground provide a welcome refuge at the end of a hot day.

The facade may look ordinary, but this chic boutique hotel's interior is unlike anything else in Haifa. The guest rooms are sleek and stylish, in a variety of styles: some have dove gray curtains, charcoal wallpaper, chrome lamps, and black leather hassocks. Many have whirlpool tubs, and some have balconies. A tufted-leather sofa adds a homey touch to the small lobby, while white leather chairs distinguish the glass-enclosed dining room. There's a hot tub and sauna on the rooftop terrace, as well as a tranquil garden outside, where lunch and dinner is served à la carte. The location is ideal, putting you within easy walking distance of shops and restaurants.

A restored schoolhouse, this charming boutique hotel in Mary’s Well Square is a perfect place to base your Nazareth visit. It's around the corner from St. Gabriel's Church and a five-minute walk from the old market and popular tourist sites. Sparkling, simply decorated rooms and great service make this a destination many return to time and again.

Amichai and Tehila Yisraeli bought this 19th-century farm and converted the former stables, storehouse, and dairy into a charming guesthouse. Three decades later, Villa Tehila retains its old-world character. The simply appointed rooms, which overlook a central courtyard, have the original stone walls and are decorated with antiques. Children will enjoy feeding the ponies, turtles, parrots, chinchillas, and llama. There's a pub on the premises, open only on weekends.

Designed by award-winning Turkish architect Sinan Kafadar, this former treasury building has been transformed into a luxurious lodging wrapped around a four-story courtyard flooded with natural light and sparkling with greenery. Greco-Roman, Gothic, and Ottoman flourishes distinguish the fabulous facade. The location, steps from the Old City and Downtown, is impossible to beat. Rooms are glitteringly well-appointed, pampering you with Nespresso machines, iPads on the writing desk, and bathrooms with heated floors. There are several seating areas, including the cushy King's Court where afternoon tea is served followed by cocktails, and the Palace Restaurant, where chef Itzik Mizrahi Barak features Jerusalem-inspired dishes, in tribute to his own roots. The Spa Guerlain opened in 2021, with an indoor pool, men's and women's Turkish hamams and saunas, in addition to the gym. 

If you'd enjoy a dip in a pool ringed by olive trees while you gaze at the blue Mediterranean, consider this delightful lodging. Host Yakir rents three suites, each with a hot tub and stunning view of Atlit Bay, plus a kitchenette and a sitting area for reading or watching satellite television. A bountiful brunchlike breakfast costs NIS 60 per guest.

While not directly on the sea, the Yam—meaning "beach" in Hebrew—goes to lengths to remind visitors of their location close to the water. Each room is fitted with paddleboards and a beach ball, and the front desk will send you to the beach with a prepared beach bag including towels, water, and fruit. The bright blue and white lobby is full of beach paraphernalia, surfboard pictures, and colorful beach hats, all facing a chalkboard wall with information about the day's surf conditions. Rooms are tight but those with balconies overlooking the city and sea feel more spacious and are great for enjoying the sunset. The complimentary happy hour could double for a light dinner, though the Tel Aviv Port is a minute's walk away, and you'll want to venture there for food and nightlife.

Spread over beautifully landscaped gardens, this hotel is ideal for nature lovers and families. It has a health club, including an heated indoor lap pool, gym, sauna, and whirlpool bath. Some rooms lead to a garden patio. For a secluded getaway, ask about suites in the Gordonia section. In August, guests have access to a nearby large outdoor community swimming pool.

Built in 1933, this limestone building with its famous domed bell tower has long been a Jerusalem landmark, and its basic guest rooms have fabulous Old City views. Stone arches, exotic murals, and Armenian tile give the place charm and character. Guest rooms are comfortably spacious, if a bit dated, and include prints by landscape artist Anna Ticho. The gym, pool, location, and live Arabic music performances on weekends make the Y an attractive deal.