Palestine

Get in

Get into the West Bank Get into Gaza

Get around

thumb|Getting around [[Jericho]]

See

thumb|Church of Nativity in [[Bethlehem]] thumb|Market in [[Hebron]] Palestine is home to some of the most important religious places in history and a number of fabulous, humbling sights. Here, you follow the footsteps of millions of pilgrims, you stand on grounds that saw some of the most influential fights of all time and visit some of the most important biblical and historic sites in the world.

Famous as the birth place of Jesus, the small town of Bethlehem is a must-see for most visitors of the Palestinian territories. The Church of Nativity, built over the cave where – according to tradition – Jesus of Nazareth was born, is a sacred destination for Christians and Muslims alike. From here, it's a short walk to the Shepherd's Field, where the birth of the holy child is believed to be announced to a group of shepherds when they saw the Star of Nativity. Or head to Solomon's Pools, just a few kilometres out of town. Bethlehem is also famous for its Banksy Art, four graffiti can be found here. Around the city visit the stunning Monastery of Mar Saba.

Where Bethlehem is known as a place of birth, Hebron is famous as the burial place for the great patriarchs and matriarchs. A holy destination for both the Islamic and Jewish people, this city is home to the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs and was once the capital of the Kingdom of Israel. Hebron has a delightful old town, full of winding alleys and bustling bazaars and is locally known for its pottery worksho…

Eat

thumb|Knafeh

Shawarma and falafel sandwiches are really popular foods for Palestinians, as well as olives and hummus. It is traditional to eat with bread and not a spoon or fork. It is unusual to eat a meal without bread.

Palestinian cuisine is generally similar to that of neighbouring Jordan. As in Jordan, mansaf is a popular dish of rice with meat, usually lamb. Knafeh is a popular dessert made of cheese, soaked in a sweet sugar-based syrup and topped with shredded filo pastry. Nablus is famous for their variety of knafeh Nabulsiyeh.

Drink

In cities such as Ramallah, alcohol is often available at restaurants. Be aware that most residents of the West Bank are Muslims who do not drink alcohol. As such, public intoxication can be seen as rude.

Taybeh Beer is the only Palestinian national beer with 5 and 6 percent of alcohol. It has a mild taste. The Taybeh Beer Brewery is in Taybeh village and is accessible by taking a shared taxi/private taxi from Ramallah's bus station Taybeh village (inquire for the price of the trip before taking the taxi).

Sleep

Home stays with Palestinian host families are possible, and can be arranged through a number of organisations.

Many new and inexpensive hostels have opened in the bigger cities like Jericho, Nablus and Ramallah.

Respect

Because of the association of Jewish symbols with the Israeli occupation (Israeli military equipment often prominently features a menorah or the Star of David), wearing or displaying such symbols, which the Palestinians see as hostile, is not going to win you any friends. Women should dress conservatively and men should also avoid shorts.

That said, most Palestinians are religiously tolerant, and the Christian minority for the most part lives peacefully with their Muslim neighbours. It is common for Christians to have Muslim friends and vice versa. Like other Middle Eastern people, Palestinians have a tradition of hospitality, and will do their best to make you feel welcome as a visitor.

Stay safe

Palestinians are not more hostile than other people, and are very welcoming. The friendliness can sometimes even feel a little overdrawn, since they understand that it is not just an opener to your heart but also to your wallet. Palestine is a totally different feeling from Israel and pretty much like Jordan. Despite this, the effective Israeli occupation triggers a lot of trouble from time to time. thumb|Checkpoint tower in [[Jericho]] Security concerns result in travel between Israel and the Palestinian Territories being tightly controlled on occasion. Travelers should ensure that their travel documentation is entirely in order and should monitor local news channels in case the security situation changes suddenly. Delays may occur at checkpoints unexpectedly, especially if there has been recent violence or political events, or if you are Arab or Arab-looking. It may be quicker to cross a checkpoint on foot rather than in a vehicle, and then take a taxi to your destination once you get through. It is strongly advised to keep Palestinian flags, PA/PLO pamphlets, and similar articles out of plain sight when going through Israeli checkpoints. Many people send their souvenirs from the Palestinian territories home by Israeli-postal service parcels to avoid having to take the Palestinian-themed souvenirs through Ben Gurion Airport and risk being interrogated by Israeli security for long periods of time about their visits to Palestinian cities.

A few hints for a successful trip: …

Stay healthy

Beware of local water, including ice cubes - bottled is the way to go. Running water is only available for 3 days a week outside the Israeli settlements.

Go next

Although Gaza has great potential as a seaside resort as it once was, today it is closed for tourism due to the Israeli and Egyptian land, sea, and air blockade. The logical next destinations are the bordering countries of Israel or Egypt, though be aware of the political atmosphere when you are traveling and plan accordingly. This concerns Israel in times of higher tensions, when the border and checkpoints are guarded more heavily, and Egypt due to the fact that Sinai is sometimes subject to terrorism.

For details on the travel between the West Bank and Jordan, see Jordan#King Hussein "Allenby" Bridge.