Did you know.....

Masada became the most visited pay-to-enter tourist site in 2010, climbing above the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo and the Ramat Gan Safari Park, according to Dun & Bradstreet Israel.

Last year, some 762,992 people visited Masada, the ancient fortification near the Dead Sea, while 718,902 people visited the second most popular site, the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo.

Masada reported that its revenue rose 26 percent to NIS 34 million in 2010, compared to NIS 25.7m. in 2009.

The Hermon National Park (Banias), one of the sources of the Jordan River in the Golan, also rose, from ninth place in 2009, to fourth place in 2010, with 663,000 visitors.
The trailways of the Ramat Gan Safari Park weren't quite as busy in 2010 as in 2009, when the safari park was the second most popular site. In 2010, it fell to fifth most popular pay-to-enter site.

As tourism to Israel grew last year, so too did the overall number of visitors to paid tourist sites across the country. According to Dun & Bradstreet Israel the aggregate revenue of Israel's top ten pay-to-enter tourist sites rose 13% to NIS 143 million in 2010.

The top 10 sites listed in order:

1. Masada
2. Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
3. Caesarea Antiquities National Park
4. Hermon National Park (Banias)
5. Ramat Gan Safari Park
6. Ein Gedi Nature Reserve
7. Hamat Gader Hot Springs
8. Underwater Observatory, Eilat
9. Kumran Caves, Dead Sea
10. Yamit 2000 Water Park, Holon

Tel Aviv Top Five: Most mouthwatering desserts - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Tel Aviv Top Five: Most mouthwatering desserts

The city is overflowing with sweet delights from every imaginable ice cream flavor to rich French patisserie.

By City Mouse Online

Five options for which it would definitely be worth abandoning your diet.

Vaniglia ice cream parlorLocation: 98 Ibn Gvirol Street Tel: 03-602 0185 Price: One scoop of ice cream - NIS 13; two scoops - NIS 18; three scoops - NIS 22

In the middle of one of the city's busiest streets, stumble upon a chilled, sweet paradise. In the Vaniglia gelateria, cool yourself down with ice cream flavors that you won't find anywhere else.

Sample the alfajores ice cream alone (or with a scoop of white chocolate and cardamon ice cream for a sumptuous combination). Other praiseworthy flavors include pavlova, honey yoghurt with pine nuts, banana yoghurt with dates and pecans, lemongrass yoghurt, and blueberry and port with raisins. Cool, tasty, and appealing even in winter.

Kurtosh Hungarian patisseriePrice: NIS 22-25 per pastry.Location:Branches on Lincoln, Bograshov, and Dizengoff streets Tel: 03-5280606

Sweet scents waft out from the Kurtosh bakery and its cylinder-shaped delicacies. You might not believe that a simple pastry can drive you crazy until you taste the hollow pastry tube.

Choose between regular, cinnamon, milk chocolate and even pistachio flavors. For those looking for something simple and tasty, try the regular pastry, which, despite its name, is actually a superb mix of cocoa and sugar.

Mini popsicles at DIP ITPrice: NIS 12 for a mini-dip; NIS 15 for a maxi-dip. Location: 142 Ibn Gvirol Street Tel: 03-5465414

Among sworn sweet lovers lies a truly rare subspecies - those whose favorite frippery comes in the form of a frozen treat on a stick.

At popsicle parlor DIP IT, all you need to do is choose the size and flavor of your iced treat (vanilla, chocolate, caramel or pecan), and the sauce you want it to be dipped in (chocolate, candies, meringue pieces, Oreo cookies, toasted coconut, almonds, granola, pistachio and more).

Mini pastries at Boutique CentralPrice: NIS 4.5 per pastryLocation: 90 Frishman Street, 171 Dizengoff StreetTel: 1-700-700061

The excellent Boutique Central chain offers sweet mini pastries at ridiculous prices. Take for example, the mini Savarin soaked in rum, covered in cream, and topped with a cherry.

Not convinced? How about a mini St Honore - a cream puff filled with vanilla cream, whipped cream and caramel.

Still unmoved? Then try the mini mocha or chocolate flavored eclairs. It doesn't get more Paris-chic than this in Tel Aviv.

Nothing but chocolate cake at Ben-AmiPrice: NIS 24 Location:Ben-Ami Bakery, 22 Nachmani Street Tel: 03-5609960

Those still unfamiliar with King Albert Square should score themselves a big minus on their knowledge of Tel Aviv. The beautiful Ben-Ami bakery is located in the city's most European quarter.

One dark cake stands out against the background of the shop's white walls and furnishings. The aptly named "nothing but chocolate cake" is made on site and contains no flour at all. It is served at room temperature and every bite is pure bliss.

Courtesy of City Mouse (mouse.co.il)

	Kurtosh's delicious cylinder cakes

Gil Travel's Guide To Israel

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Israel's top 10 tourist sites | briefs

Tuesday, April 12, 2011