Temple Mount, with the imposing Al-Aqsa Mosque and the striking Dome of the Rock, is one of the most sacred and disputed areas of Jerusalem. During my fourth day in the Holy City, I queued up during its limited opening hours to ensure that I could access this unique place.

Its location was perfect to combine my visit with the nearby biblical sites of the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives, where some of the most important events of the New Testament took place; as well as the City of David, the archaeological site where the city of Jerusalem originated over 3000 years ago! 

The Via Dolorosa, a Latin expression that in English means ‘Way of Sorrow’, is a street in the Old City of Jerusalem believed to be the path walked by Jesus on his way to the cross.

Today, it is one of the most popular places of Christian pilgrimage in Israel, where you can follow the nine Stations of the Cross before reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the remaining five stations are located.

Locating some of these stations in the winding streets of Jerusalem is not always an easy task, so find out how to follow this fascinating path through some of the most important events of the New Testament!

The land of Israel has one of the most extensive and complex histories of today’s modern world. From the birth and growth of the 3 main monotheistic religions to the recent Arab-Israeli conflict, a visit to Jerusalem is the perfect occasion to learn about Israel’s ancient and recent past. 

During my second day in the Holy City, I visited the Tower of David, a museum that covers over 4,000 years of history in Jerusalem, as well as Mt. Zion, burial place of King David and the site where the Last Supper took place. Keep reading to learn more about Israel’s fascinating past!

A holy city for Jews, Muslims and Christians alike, no other city in the world means so much to so many people. With over 4000 years of history, Jerusalem has not only witnessed some of the main events that have shaped the course of humankind, but it also keeps some of the most sacred sites on earth for all the 3 main monotheistic religions.

During my first day in the Golden City, I explored the narrow twisted streets of its Old Town to discover all four quarters: Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian. During my visit, I would visit the Western Wall, a sacred site for the Jews; the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where it is believed that Jesus was crucified, anointed and buried; as well as the souks and covered markets of the Muslim quarter. But is Jerusalem really as special as they say?

The north of Israel is a region with a very high religious, historic and natural significance. During my stay in Nazareth, I spent one day visiting the main sites around the Sea of Galilee, including Capernaum, an ancient fishing village where Jesus preached; the Mount of Beatitudes, the biblical site of Jesus' sermon on the mount; the Banyas Natural Reserve with its beautiful waterfalls; as well as Mount Bental in the disputed region of the Golan Heights, overlooking the Syrian border and the ceasefire line created after the region was annexed by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Discover what it was like to talk about the conflict in the zone with a UN peacekeeper in my day visit to the Galilee Sea and Golan Heights from Nazareth!

On the north coast of Israel and approaching the Lebanese border hide two of the most picturesque sights of the Middle East: the city of Haifa with its Bahá'í Gardens, a holy site for the Bahá'í Faith; and the city of Acre, a settlement continuously inhabited since the Phoenician period and famous for the incredible remains of the Crusader town, preserved almost intact since the 13th century. Check out how to combine a visit to both cities in a single day! 

Everybody has heard of Nazareth before. Famous for being the hometown of Jesus, this Arab city located in the northern district of Israel has nothing to do with the small provincial town described in the scriptures. Today, Nazareth is bustling with tourists and pilgrims travelling from the seven corners of the world to visit its main attraction: the Church of the Annunciation.

During my trip to the Holy Land, I spent a full day exploring the capital of the Galilee. Check out what I found during my visit!

Jaffa is an ancient port city that belongs to the Te Aviv-Yafo region and from where modern Tel Aviv has now grown. Inhabited by an Arab majority, this quiet, charming city contrasts with the skyscrapers and hectic lifestyle of Tel Aviv.

With thousands of years of history that date back to the Old Testament, you can't miss a visit to Jaffa during your trip to Israel!

As the saying goes: 'while Jerusalem prays, Tel Aviv plays'. And Tel Aviv is certainly an exception in the Middle East: with one of the best nightlife in the world, a great tolerance no matter what is your style or sexual orientation, and an incredible Mediterranean beach, this city in constant movement is a place like no other. Check out what this incredible destination has to offer!

Discover some of the best examples of street art in Shoreditch, one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in London!

Up in the mountainous region of Lebanon hides the Qadisha Valley, a UNESCO heritage site filled with caves carved in the rocks and once inhabited by Christian monks. During my last day in Lebanon, I went hiking in this surprising part of the country and also took the opportunity to visit the Tannourine Cedars Forest Nature Reserve and the striking Baatara Gorge!

At at the foot of the fertile Bekaa Valley, a renown wine region of Lebanon, stands the Phoenician city of Baalbek. Known as Heliopolis by the Greeks, Baalbek is one of the best preserved ancient cities in the Middle East, and its impressive constructions are one of the best examples of the Imperial Roman architecture.

During my last visit to Lebanon, I decided to explore this UNESCO Heritage Site, and visit on the way the Château Ksara, one of the most famous wine wineries of the Middle East. 

Located only 10km away from the Syrian border and famous for being a stronghold of Hezbollah, is it really safe to visit Baalbek?

First inhabited over 5,000 years ago, the port city of Byblos is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world. If you want to explore the Phoenician past of Lebanon, you can't miss a visit to this ancient city! 

Even though Lebanon might not be your typical destination, if you're visiting this fascinating country, Beirut is the perfect camp base to explore what this place has to offer. During my visit, I stayed at the Mayflower Hotel, a 4-star hotel located just a few meters away from Hamra Street, one of the main streets of Beirut. Check out the review of this hotel and my stay!

Lebanon always gets a very bad press due to its stormy recent past as well as the ongoing conflicts in the neighbouring countries.

However, what I found is a very modern country with an incredibly interesting capital, mixing Middle Eastern and European styles. For a good reason, Beirut is known as the 'Paris of the Middle East'!

If you're curious about what this city has to offer, check out this post!

The Swedish city of Malmö is located less than 30 minutes away from Copenhagen, which makes it the perfect day trip from the Danish capital. Home to the tallest building in Scandinavia, beautiful parks and traditional Swedish architecture, you can't miss Sweden's third largest city!

My first day in Prague visiting the Old Town, Prague Castle and the quarter of Nové Město had been fascinating, but the Czech capital would still provide me with many surprises. During my second day, I continued exploring the Jewish Quarter of Josefov, Charles Bridge and the modern New Town or Nové Město.

Check out my adventures in the fascinating city of Prague!

Prague is the perfect city for culture lovers. Its incredible Gothic and Bohemian Baroque architecture makes you travel back in time, making the Czech capital one of the most magical cities in Europe. If you're visiting Prague for a weekend, check out how to make the best out of your first day visiting the Old Town, Prague Castle and Malá Strana!