Just twice the size of New York City, the tiny country of Israel packs incredible diversity and beauty into its slice of Middle Eastern land. The centre of much political tension and regional instability, it calls travellers looking to step beyond the boundaries of their everyday life and experience a whole new world. One of the most vital things to do in Israel is undeniably visit the Old City of Jerusalem, a spiritual epicentre of the world and the supposed site of Jesus’s death, resurrection and empty tomb. But ancient religious sites are just part of the story; the streets of Tel Aviv portray a more progressive and cosmopolitan persona. Here you can sip cocktails in shiny beach bars, admire modern art, and dance the night away in world-class nightclubs. Another quintessential Israeli experience is a float in the Dead Sea, where salt waters offer unusual buoyancy and heal many bodily ailments. You can try to tread this dense water if you’re feeling energetic, in fact it may help burn off some of the countless falafels and shnitzels you will have likely consumed by the end of your trip. Not to mention the sweet pastry of börek, which is likely to grab your attention many times given the numerous fillings on offer - all of which you ‘need’ to try. Those with more time to spare can journey to the very south of Israel to the beach resort town of Eilat, a popular diving site and the gateway to geologically astounding Red Canyon. From Bible Lands Museum to the Red Sea Jazz Festival, Rosh Hashanah to Yad Vashem, your Israel itinerary deserves plenty of careful consideration.