Jerusalem is divided into three sections: the Old City, New City (West Jerusalem), and East Jerusalem. The walled Old City, in the center, contains Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Armenian quarters. Most of the narrow streets of the Old City are lined with shops where merchants sell foodstuffs and traditional handicrafts; homes are clustered around courtyards surrounded by high walls. Many of Jerusalem's religious landmarks are located in the Old City. The Western Wall is a remnant of the supporting wall of the Second Temple. After the Jews were banished from the Temple Mount, the Western Wall became the most sacred place of Judaism.

Atop the Temple Mount are the gold-domed Dome of the Rock and the silver-domed al-Aqsa mosques. The street called the Via Dolorosa is believed to be the site of the original Stations of the Cross. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was begun in the 4th century AD and was rebuilt by the Crusaders beginning in 1099. The largest of Jerusalem's many parks encircles the walls of the Old City. Tourism is the major industry of the city, along with the government-related functions. Industries include diamond cutting and polishing, home appliances, furniture, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, shoes, plastics, textiles and clothing, printing and publishing, and jewelry. The city is connected by rail and bus to Tel Aviv and is served by Mediterranean ports.

Stretched along the beautiful beach strip of the Mediterranean, Tel-Aviv is Israel's largest city and biggest commercial center. It's a busy metropolis, which inspires its visitors with an energetic atmosphere of excitement and fun.

Visible from a distance with its seafront skyscrapers and exclusive hotels, Tel-Aviv presents a lively combination of entertainment venues, shopping malls, exotic markets, nonstop active nightlife, gorgeous golden beaches and wonderful restaurants of all kinds. It is also the country's greatest cultural center, a home for a variety of museums, galleries, theatres and concert halls.

By contrast, the ancient port city of Jaffa, is medieval in appearance. This special blend of Mediterranean ambience, seaside resort and modern facade is what makes the city so uniquely appealing.

Eilat, located at the southernmost tip of the country, is blessed with everything that makes a perfect vacation: beautiful mirror-like sea, lively beaches, seafront bars and restaurants, first-rate hotels, all kinds of watersports, spectacular underwater world and coral reefs, diving clubs, desert treks, camel tours and even swimming with dolphins. Breathtaking scenery of the magnificent Red Mountains and the crystal-clear Red Sea gloriously lap this exciting fun. Eilat provides its visitors with the ultimate relaxation, given greatly by the magical beauty of the desert-like nature. All this, along with the endless sun and the pleasant, warm winter, makes Eilat the leading tourist city in Israel, preferred both by foreign visitors and Israeli vacationers.

Located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, Tiberias is a favorite health and holiday resort as well as a pilgrimage destination. The city lies on a mountain slope,
beautifully looking over the Golan Heights at the other side of the lake.

Christians refer many episodes to the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinerret in Hebrew), such as the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Walking on the Waters.

Near Tiberias, where the Jordan River leaves the Sea of Galilee, is the Yardenit, the site where Christians claim that Jesus was baptized. The shores of the Sea of Galilee are dotted with trees and green lawns, and the waters of the lake are pleasantly clear and cool.

Scientists are still puzzling over the geological factors that created the remarkable body of water known as the Dead Sea, which lies further beneath sea level than any other spot on earth. For visitors, there is no mystery. This extremely dense and saline sea, which has a far greater concentration of minerals than any of the oceans, and is unable to support any life form, is the source of life-giving properties to all who choose to bathe in it. Floating on the sea is not just fun, it relaxes the body and does the skin and the joints a world of good. The therapeutic black mud, found exclusively on the shores of the Dead Sea, does wonders for everyone's complexion.

The Judean Desert has always attracted people seeking spiritual refuge from the world. The archeological discoveries at nearby Qumran, where the 2,000 year old Dead Sea Scrolls were discoverd in ancient pottery jars, show us how the Essenes created their unique settlements deep in the heart of the desert.