Travel Guide to Palestine 2026: Bethlehem, Jericho, Hebron & Nablus
Thinking of a trip to Palestine? This travel guide to Palestine focuses on the West Bank and covers the 2026 security situation, how to get there, the best time to go, entry rules, the 10 best places to visit, a 5-day itinerary, costs, safety tips, and the best hotels and universities. From the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the oasis town of Jericho to the old cities of Hebron and Nablus, the ruins of Sebastia and the terraces of Battir, this guide shows a land of deep history, olive groves and warm hospitality.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and costs in this travel guide to Palestine were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Palestine
- Administrative centre: Ramallah💡 Seat of the Palestinian Authority
- Currency: Israeli shekel (ILS)💡 Jordanian dinars and US dollars are also used. Check rates
- Language: Arabic💡 English is spoken in tourism; Hebrew at checkpoints
- Population: About 5.5 million💡 About 3.3 million in the West Bank
- Area: 6,020 km²💡 West Bank 5,655 km², Gaza 365 km²
- Time zone: UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer💡 Convert times
- UNESCO sites: 6💡 Sebastia was added in 2026
- Power: 230 V, plug types C and H💡 The same as Israel
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Palestine are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is Palestine?
The Palestinian territories are on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean. The West Bank lies between Israel and the Jordan River, with Jordan to the east; it runs from Jenin in the north through Nablus, Ramallah, Jerusalem and Bethlehem to Hebron in the south, and down to Jericho and the Dead Sea. Gaza is a separate coastal strip in the south-west, bordering Egypt.
Bethlehem is only about 10 km from Jerusalem, and Ramallah about 15 km, but checkpoints can make journeys much longer. Most visitors fly into Tel Aviv or Amman. Check distances with our distance calculator.
📅 Best Time to Visit Palestine
The best time to visit the West Bank is March to May, when the hills are green and full of wildflowers, and September to November, which includes the olive harvest in October. Summers are hot and dry in the highlands and very hot in Jericho, which lies below sea level. December brings Christmas celebrations to Manger Square in Bethlehem, and winter is the best time for Jericho and the desert monasteries.
Wildflowers, hiking and Easter in Bethlehem.
The olive harvest and comfortable walking weather.
Hot; Ramallah's evenings and festivals.
Christmas in Bethlehem and mild Jericho.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Palestine to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Palestine Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
Entry is controlled by Israel: there is no separate Palestinian visa. Most visitors enter through Israel; visa-exempt travellers, including from the USA, UK and EU, need an ETA-IL before travelling (25 shekels). From Jordan, the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge is the main crossing to the West Bank, but it has closed several times in 2026. Keep your passport and the Israeli entry slip with you at all times.
- PassportValid for at least 6 months from arrival.
- Entry slipKeep the blue entry card you get on arrival; checkpoints ask for it.
- QuestioningExpect questions about visits to the West Bank at the border.
- GazaClosed to visitors; do not attempt to travel there.
🔗 Official sources: ETA-IL (Israel Population and Immigration Authority) · US travel advisory: the West Bank. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking and avoid paid look-alike sites.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Palestine were last checked in October 2026.
⛪ 10 Best Places to Visit in Palestine
These are the places we recommend most in this travel guide to Palestine, with the best months to see each one.
The Church of the Nativity, Manger Square and the Old City.
💡 Best time: All year; Dec for ChristmasTell es-Sultan, Hisham's Palace mosaics and the Mount of Temptation cable car.
💡 Best time: Oct–AprThe Ibrahimi Mosque and glass-blowing workshops.
💡 Best time: Mar–May, Sep–NovOld soap factories, Turkish baths and the best knafeh.
💡 Best time: Mar–May, Sep–NovRoman, Byzantine and Crusader ruins in olive groves.
💡 Best time: Mar–May, Sep–NovAncient farming terraces and walking trails.
💡 Best time: Mar–MayCafés, galleries and the Mahmoud Darwish Museum.
💡 Best time: All yearA 5th-century monastery on a desert cliff.
💡 Best time: Oct–AprKing Herod's hilltop palace-fortress near Bethlehem.
💡 Best time: Oct–MayA long-distance walking trail through villages.
💡 Best time: Mar–May, Oct–Nov🗺️ 5-Day Palestine Itinerary: Bethlehem, Jericho, Hebron & Nablus
Base yourself in Bethlehem and Ramallah, and use a local guide or driver who knows the current checkpoint situation. Shared yellow taxis (servees) link the main towns.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Palestine day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Bethlehem: the Church of the Nativity, the Milk Grotto and the Old City souk.
- Battir & Herodion: a walk on the terraces and Herod's fortress.
- Jericho: Tell es-Sultan, Hisham's Palace and Mar Saba on the way back.
- Hebron: the Old City and Ibrahimi Mosque with a local guide.
- Nablus & Sebastia: soap factories, knafeh and the Roman ruins.
➕ With more time: Ramallah's museums, Jenin and Burqin's ancient church, or a section of the Masar Ibrahim trail.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Palestine Cost?
The West Bank is cheaper than Israel. These are approximate daily costs per person in 2026, excluding flights. Use our currency converter.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$40–70 | Guesthouses, falafel and shared taxis |
| Mid-range | US$100–160 | Good hotels, restaurants and a guide |
| Luxury | US$250 + | The best hotels and private tours |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Palestine are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
🚕 Yellow shared taxis (servees) run between towns for a few shekels; private drivers cost more but can handle checkpoint changes.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Palestine
Tourist areas such as central Bethlehem and Ramallah are usually calm, but in 2026 the situation can change quickly. Raids, clashes and settler attacks happen, especially around Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm and Hebron, and roads can be closed without warning. Avoid demonstrations, check the news each morning, keep your passport with you, and follow the advice of your guide and embassy. Missile alerts across the region are possible.
You will need it at checkpoints.
Especially at holy sites and in villages.
Above all in Hebron.
Never photograph soldiers or checkpoints.
Olive oil, embroidery and olive-wood carvings.
"Shukran" means thank you.
🏨 Best Hotels in Palestine: 6 Top Picks
Most visitors stay in Bethlehem or Ramallah. Check that your hotel is open and confirm transport before you travel.
A 1910 palace on the Jerusalem–Hebron road.
Check prices on Booking.com →A Franciscan guesthouse next to the Church of the Nativity.
Check prices on Booking.com →A modern hotel with a pool in central Ramallah.
Check prices on Booking.com →A large hotel in the Al-Masyoun district.
Check prices on Booking.com →Bungalows and pools near Hisham's Palace.
Check prices on Booking.com →A small hotel in the heart of the Old City.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Palestine: chosen for location and reputation, with stays in the main towns. Prices and availability change daily, so the buttons open live Booking.com results for each property.
🤝 Affiliate disclosure: hotel buttons are affiliate links. If you book through them, AtlasWise may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which hotels we list.
🎓 Top Universities in Palestine
Palestinian universities are known for engineering, medicine and the humanities; most teach in Arabic and English.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Birzeit University | Birzeit, near Ramallah | Public |
| An-Najah National University | Nablus | Public |
| Bethlehem University | Bethlehem | Private |
| Al-Quds University | Abu Dis, Jerusalem | Public |
| Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie | Tulkarm | Public |
Founded in 1924, Palestine's highest-ranked university.
Visit website →The largest university, with a teaching hospital.
Visit website →A Catholic university founded in 1973.
Visit website →Medicine, law and science.
Visit website →Engineering and applied sciences.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Palestine: the oldest and largest universities in the West Bank. Last checked: October 2026.
🫒 Palestinian Culture & Food
Palestinian culture is rooted in the land and the olive tree; the October harvest brings whole families to the groves. Traditional crafts include tatreez embroidery (on UNESCO's intangible heritage list), olive-wood carving in Bethlehem, glass-blowing in Hebron and olive-oil soap in Nablus, and the dabke line dance appears at every celebration.
The national dish is musakhan, roast chicken with sumac and onions on taboon bread. Try maqluba (an upside-down rice dish), hummus, falafel, za'atar with olive oil, and knafeh from Nablus, served with cardamom coffee.
❓ Travel Guide to Palestine: FAQ
Is it safe to travel to Palestine in 2026?
The US rates the West Bank Level 3: Reconsider travel and Gaza Level 4: Do Not Travel. Central Bethlehem and Ramallah are the most visited areas, but conditions change quickly.
How do you get to the West Bank?
Through Israel (an ETA-IL is needed for visa-exempt travellers) or from Jordan over the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge.
Do I need a visa for Palestine?
There is no separate Palestinian visa; entry is controlled by Israel.
Can tourists visit Gaza?
No. Gaza is closed to visitors.
What currency is used in Palestine?
The Israeli shekel; Jordanian dinars and US dollars are also used.
How many UNESCO sites does Palestine have?
Six, including Bethlehem, Battir, Hebron, Jericho and, since 2026, Sebastia.
What is the best time to visit Palestine?
March–May and September–November.
Can I visit Bethlehem from Jerusalem?
Yes, it is about 10 km away, but check checkpoint status first.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Palestine
- US travel advisory: the West BankCurrent US government advice
- UK travel advice: the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesCurrent UK advice and crossing information
- UNESCO: PalestineWorld Heritage Sites in Palestine
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