Israel

Israel's Mediterranean coastal city pulses with Bauhaus architecture, world-class beaches, a legendary food scene, thriving nightlife, and a startup culture rivaling Silicon Valley.

The most contested 0.9 km² on Earth — the Old City's four quarters hold the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, and the Via Dolorosa in such proximity that the city's air itself feels charged with 3,000 years of prayer. Beyond the walls: Yad Vashem is the world's most important Holocaust memorial; the Israel Museum holds the Dead Sea Scrolls; Mahane Yehuda market is one of the Middle East's best food markets. Check current advisories.