The Latest Travel News From Isreal

THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS FROM ISRAEL ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE NORTH AMERICA israel.travel #VisitIsrael

THE ISRAELI OPERA TO HOST TWO FESTIVALS IN JERUSALEM AND ACRE THIS SUMMER  (Photo Credit: Yosi Sebkar-Selam) The Israeli Opera, Israel's principal opera company, will once again offer two exciting summer festivals, both staged in spectacular outdoor settings. The Jerusalem Opera Festival will take place from June 22-25, 2016 at venues throughout the city. The Sultan's Pool will serve as the stage for the main production of Opera Paradiso - Pretty Woman Meets The Fifth Elements, an opera combining clips from popular Hollywood films with vocal soloists. The Akko Opera Festival, from July 28-30, 2016, will be held in the northern Old City of Acre. Performances will include pieces from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as well as an original music composition exploring the sounds of the Spanish, Jewish and South American musical traditions.  For more information about the Summer Opera Festivals, click here.

ISRAEL'S MIDBURN FESTIVAL WILL BRING 8,000 PARTICIPANTS TO THE DESERT More than 8,000 participants are expected to attend this year's Midburn Festival from June 8-12, 2016. The Israeli "Burning Man" community will build a temporary city near Sde Boker in the Negev Desert, comprised of themed campgrounds, bars, a beach and even a post office. Creating a platform for communal living, more than 700 international "Burners" are expected to travel from the US, UK, Europe, South Africa, Japan and other countries to join the sandstorm of creativity.  For updates and information, visit the festival's facebook page.

TEL AVIV PREPARES FOR MORE THAN 180,000 PARTICIPANTS IN THIS YEAR'S GAY PRIDE PARADE (Photo Credit: Nir Keidar) As the much-anticipated Tel Aviv Gay Pride event approaches, the city has begun preparations for the waves of visitors expected to attend. From May 25 to June 9, 2016, more than 180,000 participants, including 30,000 international tourists, will attend events throughout the city. Tel Aviv's main event on June 3rd, The Pride Parade, is expecting hundreds of thousands of participants alone as festival-goers march along the Mediterranean coast before arriving at Charles Clore Park for a massive outdoor beach party. Conchita Wurst, winner of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, will serve as the guest of honor for the parade.

NEW EXHIBITION AT THE TOWER OF DAVID MUSEUM OFFERS A GLIMPSE OF JERUSALEM BEFORE 1950 The Tower of David Museum will present the works of photographers living and working in Jerusalem during the first half of the 20th century with its new exhibition, The Camera Man - Women and Men Photograph Jerusalem 1900-1950. From May 26 through December 12, the exhibition will highlight the complex human and cultural heritage of the city and, for the first time, offer a complete look through the photographic eye of Christians, Jews and Muslims living in Jerusalem during this era.  For more information about the exhibit, click here.

URBAN ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL INVITES THE PUBLIC INSIDE The public is invited to explore Tel Aviv's unique urban landscape in the 10th annual Open Tel Aviv urban festival from May 26-28, 2016. This year's event explores the influence of the city's coastline on the architectural identity of Tel Aviv. Free tours will explore design-driven private residences, municipal buildings and private offices. Highlights will include tours of the Herbert Samuel 48, a restored building transformed into a glass townhouse offering exquisite views of the Mediterranean Sea; the Royal Beach Hotel penthouse, a fusion of modern, Art Déco and classic architectural styles; and the hip Ecological Rooftop Apartment, featuring a rooftop that serves as a veritable urban farm.  For a full program of events click here.

FREE ENTRANCE TO ALL OF ISRAEL'S BEACHES THIS SUMMER Tourists and locals alike can benefit from free entrance to all Israeli beaches this summer. The vastly diverse Mediterranean, Dead and Red Seas are all included in this country-wide initiative to provide free access to the country's top bathing hot-spots. With Tel Aviv's designation as the #1 Best Beach Party Spot on the Planet by USA TODAY, the 13 beaches along the city's coastline alone will welcome more than eight million beach-goers this year. In addition to the country's see-and-be-seen beaches, Israel has received wide acclaim for its clean shores. Throughout the country, 21 beaches and two marinas have been awarded the Blue Flag of environmental excellence by the Foundation for Environmental Education.

FIFTH JERUSALEM WRITERS FESTIVAL WELCOMES WORLD- RENOWNED AUTHORS

The fifth Jerusalem Writers Festival, taking place from May 25-28, 2016, will feature lectures, conversations and workshops with dozens of acclaimed writers from Israel and around the world. The four-day event will also offer musical performances, children's activities and tours. Top featured authors will include: Irish novelist Colum McCann; Iranian-French writer Lila Azam Zanganeh; award-winning mother-daughter team from India, Anita and Kiran Desai; celebrated Colombian author Juan Gabriel Vásquez; and Mai Jia, a former Chinese intelligence officer and current bestselling author in China.   (Photo Credit: Xu Xiaolin) To buy tickets to the event, click here.