The Dead Sea is a large saline water lake in southern Israel and is the lowest point on earth.
On this page, we have gathered for you the top attractions at the Dead Sea.
The area of the Dead Sea is also part of the border between Israel and Jordan. The Dead Sea is famous because of its high salt content and is considered the fourth most saline body of water in the world. Because of its salty water, the Dead Sea is also renowned for its healthy properties. Many tourists come to the Dead Sea to improve their skin and enjoy the health benefits, and that is one of the main attractions in the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the only place in the world where you can float on water, and many visitors can be seen floating on their back while reading a book or listening to music.
The combination of the water of the Dead Sea and its location in the lowest place in the world makes it a popular health tourism destination. People with skin problems experience significant relief from their symptoms and therefore many suffering from skin asthma, melanoma, psoriasis and even joint diseases come to dip in the Dead Sea. Many also cover their body with the mineral-rich mud that is known for its health benefits, which is one of the main attractions in the Dead Sea as well.
You can find many hotels and restaurants around the Dead Sea. The hotels offer spa facilities where you can enjoy beauty treatments with minerals from the Dead Sea and pampering massages. As this is very popular tourist site, we recommend making reservations for your visit well in advance!
Ein Gedi
The Ein Gedi National Park is adjacent to the Dead Sea and is considered one of the popular reserves in Israel. While not particularly large, it offers a wide range of attractions within a relatively small area.
At Ein Gedi National Park you will find several waterfalls, caves, springs and pools, They can be reached on hiking trails of differing difficulty levels, some suitable for families and others for experienced hikers. Ein Gedi also offers ancient archeological sites dating back to 4000 BC, as well as an ancient synagogue from the 3rd century AC.
If you're lucky, during your visit to Ein Gedi, you may encounter some of the wild animals that live in the area, among them ibexes, hyraxes and foxes, and also hear the croaking frogs. Make sure to wear closed shoes to avoid snakes that sometimes roam the area.
Qumran
If you like history, this is one of the best attractions to check out in Israel and specifically at the Dead Sea. Near the Dead Sea and Ein Gedi, you'll find Qumran that has been declared a national park and is visited by tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. This is the site where about 929 ancient scrolls written by Jews were found, dating back to 130-150 BC. Nowadays you can stroll among the remains of the old city of Qumran and see how people once lived there. At the Qumran Nature Reserve, you can see multi-level structures with rooms, houses of prayer, ritual purification pools, and more.
The ancient Qumran community is very interesting because they were an isolated sect that lived in the area and led a reclusive communal way of life. The scrolls documenting their life are now housed in the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum.
Masada
Masada National Park located near the Dead Sea is in fact an ancient fortress located at the top of a high mountain the desert. The ancient fortress was built by Herod at around 40 BC and now you can visit the remains of the fortress atop the mountain. Close to one million people visit Masada every year, amazed at the wonder and the advanced architecture from an ancient period in the heart of the desert.
At Masada, you can find the remains of large public bath houses, a magnificent palace, and highly sophisticated water systems considering the period in which they were built. The water cisterns in Masada are one of the archeological wonders that attract vast numbers of history lovers and visitors surprised to discover the ancient technology for transferring water on a high mountain in the heart of the desert.
The site tells the heroic story of the Jews who lived in the area in the ancient period, and fought against the Romans who imposed a siege on Masada. Ultimately, when the Jews understood that they could not win the battle, they decided to commit suicide rather than fall into the hands of the Roman conquerors. This story is part of a famous ethos.
To reach Masada National Park, you can take the cable car up the mountain, saving you the steep hike, or take the famous snake trail that twists and curves up the mountain. When you think about attractions in the Dead Sea or near by, this one is a must - We warmly recommend going up the mountain as early as possible during the day in order to avoid the hot sun. Remember, Masada is in the desert – and it is therefore very hot.
