‘Akko

The Old City of Acre (Akko) is a UNESCO World Heritage site that feels like stepping into a living, breathing history book. Beneath its Ottoman-era walls lies a labyrinth of Crusader-era tunnels, grand khans (caravanserais), and bustling souks that have traded goods for millennia. The Hospitaller Fortress, a massive underground complex, reveals the daily life of the Knights of St. John, while the vibrant market offers a sensory overload of spices, fresh fish, and local sweets. It is a place where the echoes of Richard the Lionheart and Saladin still resonate through the stone corridors, offering a gritty, authentic Middle Eastern experience.

At Israel’s northernmost point on the Lebanese border lies one of the country’s most spectacular natural wonders. The Rosh Hanikra Grottoes are a series of luminous, turquoise caves carved by the relentless battering of Mediterranean waves against white chalk cliffs. Originally accessible only to swimmers, a dramatic cable car—said to be the steepest in the world—descends the cliff face to provide easy access. Inside, the interplay of light, water, and ancient stone creates a mesmerizing, almost ethereal atmosphere that feels a world away from the arid landscapes typically associated with Israel.