The 7 Best Scenic Drives in Israel (2026)

Updated August 2026 · 7 picks

The best scenic drives in Israel are Route 90 along the Dead Sea, the Arava run south to Eilat, the Golan Heights loop, the Upper Galilee hill roads, the Judean Hills into Jerusalem, the coastal road to Rosh Hanikra and the crater road through the Negev. Nothing is more than four hours away. Seven, below.

1. Route 90 along the Dead Sea — Jordan Valley to the Arava

The lowest road on earth, between desert cliffs and a shrinking sea.

₪ BudgetBest for Couples · Families · Groups

Route 90 runs the length of the Jordan Valley and down the western shore of the Dead Sea, at more than 400 metres below sea level — the lowest road in the world — with the bare Judean cliffs on one side and the sea on the other.

The stops are the reason to drive it: Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found; Ein Gedi's waterfalls and ibex; Masada; and the beaches at Ein Bokek for the float.

The sinkholes along the shore are visible evidence of the sea's retreat, and some sections of the old shoreline road have been closed because of them. Drive it in the morning; the afternoon heat and haze are worse in both respects.

Good to know: Start early. Qumran, Ein Gedi and Masada in one day works only if you leave Jerusalem by 7am.

Google Maps Website

2. The Arava to Eilat — Southern Negev

Two hours of open desert with the Jordanian mountains alongside you.

₪ BudgetBest for Couples · Groups · Solo

The Arava is the desert valley running south from the Dead Sea to Eilat, and the drive is a long straight run through genuinely empty country with the red mountains of Jordan lining the eastern horizon the whole way.

It is the emptiest major road in Israel and the sense of scale is the point. Stops include Timna Park with its copper mines and rock formations, the Red Canyon, and the desert communities at Neot Semadar and Shitim.

Fill the tank before you start and carry water. There are long stretches with nothing at all.

Good to know: Fuel up before you enter the Arava. The gaps between stations are longer than they look.

Google Maps Website

3. The Golan Heights loop — Golan Heights

Volcanic plateau, wineries, waterfalls and views into Syria.

₪ BudgetBest for Couples · Families · Groups

The Golan is a basalt plateau rising above the Sea of Galilee, and a loop north from the lake takes in the Banias waterfall and springs, Nimrod Fortress, Mount Bental's border viewpoint, and the wineries that have made the region Israel's best wine country.

The landscape is unlike anywhere else in Israel: volcanic cones, black rock, cattle, orchards and, in winter, snow on Mount Hermon at the top of it.

Spring is spectacular — green, with wildflowers and full waterfalls. It is a full day's driving with stops, easily two.

Good to know: Golan wineries mostly need a booking for tastings, and someone has to drive. Plan the day around that.

Google Maps Website

4. The Upper Galilee hill roads — Upper Galilee

Winding hill roads through villages, vineyards and the greenest part of Israel.

₪ BudgetBest for Couples · Families · Groups

The roads through the Upper Galilee between Safed, Rosh Pina, Amirim and the Hula Valley wind through hills that are properly green in spring, past vineyards, olive groves, Druze and Arab villages and hilltop moshavim.

It is the most European-feeling driving in Israel and the least like the popular image of the country. Stops include Safed's artists' quarter, the Hula Valley bird reserve — a major migration crossroads — and a dense concentration of boutique wineries and cheesemakers.

Rosh Pina makes the best base. Roads are narrow and winding, so allow more time than the distances suggest.

Good to know: Time it for the Hula Valley bird migration in autumn or spring — hundreds of millions pass through.

Google Maps Website

5. The Judean Hills into Jerusalem — Between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

Terraced hillsides, pine forest and wineries on the old road up to the city.

₪ BudgetBest for Couples · Groups · Families

The old road into Jerusalem climbs through the Judean Hills in a series of wooded valleys and terraced slopes, and it is a completely different experience from the motorway that most traffic takes.

The area has become Israel's second wine region after the Golan, with a cluster of boutique wineries in the hills, alongside the Sataf terraces, the Ein Kerem village and the forests planted through the twentieth century.

It is a half day from Tel Aviv and it is the drive to take if you are moving between the two cities and have time to spare.

Good to know: Take the old road rather than Route 1. It adds an hour and is a different country.

Google Maps Website

6. The northern coast to Rosh Hanikra — Haifa to the Lebanese border

The Mediterranean on your left, all the way to the end of the country.

₪ BudgetBest for Families · Couples · Groups

The coast road north from Haifa runs past Akko, Nahariya and the northern beaches to Rosh Hanikra, where the white chalk cliffs and sea grottoes mark the Lebanese border and the physical end of the country.

Stops along the way are strong: Akko's walled Crusader and Ottoman city, the Achziv beaches, and the Baha'i gardens at Bahji outside Akko, which are a UNESCO site in their own right.

It is the shortest drive on this list and can be done comfortably in a day from Haifa, with time in Akko for lunch.

Good to know: Akko for lunch in the souk, then Rosh Hanikra in the afternoon. That is the day.

Google Maps Website

7. The Negev crater road — Be'er Sheva to Mitzpe Ramon

Down into the Ramon Crater and out the other side, through empty desert.

₪ BudgetBest for Couples · Groups · Families

The road south from Be'er Sheva through Sde Boker to Mitzpe Ramon and on into the crater itself is the classic Negev drive: bare desert, the Zin Valley, Ben-Gurion's desert home and grave at Sde Boker with its view over the wilderness, and then the crater rim.

From Mitzpe Ramon the road descends into the Makhtesh Ramon itself and crosses the crater floor, past coloured sands and volcanic formations, before climbing out the southern side.

It is the emptiest, quietest driving in Israel and the reason to do it is the scale. Stay overnight at Mitzpe Ramon for the night sky.

Good to know: Stop at Sde Boker for the viewpoint over the Zin Valley — it is one of the great desert views.

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a car in Israel?

For the Galilee, the Golan and the Negev, effectively yes — the sites are spread out and public transport is thin. The coastal cities are well connected by train and bus. Note that all public transport stops from mid-afternoon Friday until Saturday night, which is when a car matters most.

What is driving in Israel like?

Roads are good and well signposted in Hebrew, Arabic and English. Drivers are assertive and use the horn freely; expect to be overtaken. Distances are short — the whole country is about six hours end to end — so drives that look long on a map rarely are.

What should I know about fuel and tolls?

Fuel is expensive by regional standards and most stations are self-service with an attendant option. Route 6, the north-south toll motorway, is camera-billed with no booths — hire cars are charged automatically and the company bills you later, usually with an administrative fee.

Can I drive into the West Bank or Jordan?

Hire car insurance usually excludes the West Bank, and crossing into Jordan or Egypt in a hire car is generally prohibited — check your specific agreement. Route 90 along the Dead Sea passes through Area C; confirm with your rental company what is covered.

When is the best season to drive?

Spring and autumn. Spring after the rains is exceptional in the Galilee and even the northern Negev — green hills and wildflowers. Summer in the Arava and the Dead Sea means 40°C-plus, so drive early. Winter can bring flash floods across desert roads, which close them.

Any safety notes?

Desert roads have long stretches with no fuel, water or phone signal — fill up before the Arava and carry water. Flash floods close desert roads in winter, and the closures are enforced for good reason. Check conditions before driving the Dead Sea and Arava routes after rain.

1. Route 90 along the Dead Sea — Jordan Valley to the Arava

2. The Arava to Eilat — Southern Negev

3. The Golan Heights loop — Golan Heights

4. The Upper Galilee hill roads — Upper Galilee

5. The Judean Hills into Jerusalem — Between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

6. The northern coast to Rosh Hanikra — Haifa to the Lebanese border

7. The Negev crater road — Be'er Sheva to Mitzpe Ramon

Frequently asked questions

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