10 Best Hidden Gems in Israel

Israel travel destinations are pretty obvious. There’s the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, and the Big Orange, Tel Aviv. The small country is packed with history and natural wonders. But like any country, there are hidden gems in Israel that are off-beat, wacky places that very few tourists ever experience. Here are 10 must-see hidden gems in Israel that you should see before they disappear.

The Pool of Arches, Ramla

Beneath an unassuming historic building in the city of Ramla, is an ancient cistern built about 1,200 years ago when the land was ruled by the Abbasid caliphs. The reservoir was used to hold water for the residents of Ramla. The 65ft X 69.4ft (19.82 x 21.17 meters) reservoir is covered by a high ceiling held up by fifteen columns joined by curved arches, which give the Pool of Arches its name.

Today, visitors can have the surreal experience of taking a rowboat out onto the water of the underground pool. As you navigate around the magical hidden pool, see if you can spot the openings in the ceiling where people would lower their buckets to draw water. You can still see the inscription carved into the stone wall commemorating the construction of the cistern in 789.

Beit Guvrin-One of the Best Hidden Gems in Israel

Beit Guvrin National Park appears to be a pleasant expanse of dry countryside in the Judean plains. But beneath the ground are more than 11 hidden caves, underground cisterns and ancient burial caves carved out of limestone rock. Among the most impressive caves are the massive bell caves, shapes like…you guessed it, an upturned bell.

The Romans dug the bell caves out of the chalky limestone to use in road construction. Some of the cave ceilings are 59ft (18m) high. Also see painted Phoenician burial caves and a columbarium (where ancient Romans kept their pigeons).

Israel Travel with Kids-Jerusalem Monster

Tucked away in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Kiryat HaYovel is the Mifletzet, or the Monster. Mifletzet is a weird, fantastical concrete and metal sculpture with slides that come out of its mouth. The avant-garde piece stands in Rabinovitch Park and has become one of the city’s oddities, visited almost exclusively by locals. Franco-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle created the Mifletzet for the Jerusalem Parks Commission in 1972. The artist believed that placing a scary thing in a safe place could help children conquer their fears. Thankfully, there was no need to worry. Kids from across the city fell in love with the black, white, and red monster and happily scrambled up the creature’s back to slide out of its mouth.

Detainee Camp Museum, Atlit

In the small town of Atlit on Israel’s Mediterranean coast, about 12.5 miles (20km) south of Haifa is the former detainee camp used for pre-state illegal Jewish immigrants. In the 1930s and 40s, before Israel gained independence, Palestine was ruled by Britain. Under the British Mandate, the number of Jewish people allowed entry to Palestine was limited. Yet the Jews persistently landed on the shores of Palestine in the hope of establishing their homeland. Approximately 122,000 immigrants managed to get to Palestine before 1948 and the establishment of the State of Israel. Some had permits but illegal immigrants were caught and interned in the Atlit detention camp and other similar camps across the country.

Hidden Gems in Israel – Atlit

Tens of thousands of Jews, mainly escaping the horrors of WWII Europe, were kept in these camps. Ironically, the Atlit detention camp bears a striking resemblance to the concentration camps of WWII Europe with barbed wire fences, prisoner barracks, and a disinfecting room. The camp was used until 1945, with some interns spending up to a year in the camp. Today visitors can walk around the former camp, which has been preserved in its original condition. Truly one of the hidden gems in Isreal.

The Graves of Harry Potter and William Shakespeare

There are six British war cemeteries spread across Israel and all are hidden gems. The cemeteries were created for British and Commonwealth fallen soldiers who fought in Palestine until World War II. Among the 5,731 fallen soldiers buried in the Ramla, British Cemetery is Private Harry Potter. Potter died in a confrontation with an armed Arab gang on the Hebron-Beersheva Road on 22 July 1939. He was only 19 years and 10 months old when he was killed in action. Little did he know how famous his name would become almost 60 years later.

Another fallen soldier with an auspicious name is William Shakespeare, who served as a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps. Willy was 41 years old when he died in Palestine on 23 May 1918. He was laid to rest in the Jerusalem War Cemetery. His gravestone bears the epitaph ‘Always in My Thoughts.’

Gilgal Rafaim–Israel’s Stone Henge

Israel’s own Stone Henge is a massive circle of stones created about 5,000 years ago (3,500BC) on the Golan Heights. Gilgal Rafaim means Wheel of Ghosts or Circle of Giants or Rujm el-Hiri (the Stone Heaps of the Wild Cats) in Arabic. The structure was made with about 630,000 st. (40,000 tons) of basalt stones laid out in five concentric circles like a bullseye. The largest outer circle is almost 500ft (152.4m) in diameter.

Just like Stone Henge, we don’t know who built Gilgal Rafaim or for what purpose, but the site is shrouded in mysticism. The circle of stones is associated with the Biblical race of giants, the Raphaim led by King Og. The Bible also describes the Raphaim as spirits of the underworld that could communicate with humans. Gilgal Rafaim may have been a tomb, an astronomical observatory, or a place for rituals. Add this ancient stone circle to your Israel travel itinerary for something extra special.

The Salt Caves of Sodom

The caves lie beneath Mount Sodom on the southern shore of the Dead Sea in southern Israel. Remember the Biblical tale of Lot’s wife who turned to a pillar of salt as they fled Sodom? Well, this is where the story of Lot supposedly took place. Mt. Sodom is composed of 80% salt with a thin covering of limestone and clay. There are over 180 caves beneath Mt. Sodom, and they can only be visited with a guide. A tour of the salt caves starts by rappelling down a 275ft (84m) deep shaft into the heart of the mountain.

Eventually, when you reach the bottom of the cave, you are surrounded by multi-colored rock walls of salt with pinnacles of salt in places. The most unexpected part of the experience is the size of the cave and the incredible colors. Then you have to maneuver through the caves, past pools of water, and jagged surfaces, and finally crawl through the last part of the cave until you come to an opening. This one of the hidden gems in Israel may not be for everyone but for thrill-seekers, it is a must.

Store with A 2,000-Year-Old Own Well

On a walk through the narrow streets of Jerusalem’s Old City, your senses are aroused by the colors, music, and aromas. In the Muslim Quarter, at #63 David Street is a store, or rather an Aladdin’s cave called Sinjlawi Market. The family-run business has been around for almost 400 years. Dripping from the ceiling are gold and silver chains, and strings of beads. The shelves are overflowing with fabric, antique weapons, semi-precious stones, painted ceramics, and handmade jewelry. Huge brass platters, Roman glass, silver urns, olive-wood chests, and copper lamps, crowd the floor.

And Sinjlawi has the oldest well in the Old City, dating back to the Romans. Hundreds of years ago it was common for homes to have their own well. Today, Sinjlawi is the only place in the Old City where you can see a stone-hewn well. To see an ancient site and also get your gift shopping done, include this Old City store in your Israel travel itinerary.

Hidden Gems in an Ein Kerem Church Fresco

You can easily miss this oddity if you don’t know what to look for. On a slope overlooking the quaint village of Ein Kerem is the Church of the Visitation. Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi designed the church in the mid-20^th century. The magnificent church has two-stories and incorporates the remains of earlier Byzantine and Crusader churches that once stood here. But the most fascinating feature of this church is a fresco by Vagharini depicting the papal Council at Ephesus held in 431AD. The council officially named Mary as the mother of God.

The Ein Kerem painting shows Mary at the center, surrounded by kneeling followers. Peeking out from behind the group is the church architect, Barluzzi, in his modern suit and tie looking straight out of the painting. This sneaky addition is known as ‘Vagharini’s joke.’ Ein Kerem itself is one of the hidden gems in Israel, but finding the artist’s face in the fresco makes it even more interesting.

Caesarea’s Underwater Museum

It’s worth visiting Caesarea to see the excavated Roman city and amphitheater, but if you have more time, and a swimsuit, you can see even more. This is one of the hidden gems in Israel is in the sea. The Underwater Archaeological Park is for divers to swim in the sunken port built over 2,000 years ago by King Herod. The Underwater Archaeological Park includes the remains of ancient Roman pools, docks, breakwaters, beacons, and boardwalks. Parts of sunken ships and lost cargo can also be seen on the seabed.

There are 25 points marked out in the underwater park. At each point, you can learn about the techniques used by Roman engineers to build their harbors. Sections of the park are for experienced divers only, but amateur divers can swim through most of the park just with a snorkel.

I hope this has given you some travel ideas and will help you uncover the hidden gems in Israel. On this site, you can find many more ideas of what to see and do in the Holy Land.