Israel is a fascinating blend of ancient history and modern innovation, where millennia-old religious sites meet vibrant contemporary culture. From the golden Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem to the bustling beaches of Tel Aviv and the otherworldly landscapes of the Dead Sea, this small Mediterranean nation offers extraordinary diversity.
Top spas
Curated picks for treatments and day spas.
Carmel Forest Spa Resort
Israel's premier destination spa offers an all-inclusive wellness retreat in ancient Carmel forest with thermal pools, extensive treatment rooms, yoga pavilions, and gourmet organic cuisine. The combination of forest environment, thermal pools, and comprehensive wellness programs makes it unmatched in Israel.
Signature treatment: Dead Sea mineral thermal circuit, forest bathing programs
Herods Dead Sea Spa
Taking full advantage of Dead Sea minerals, this comprehensive spa complex features indoor and outdoor mineral pools, private Dead Sea beach access, and signature treatments using authentic Dead Sea mud and salts. Day packages available without hotel stay.
Signature treatment: Dead Sea mineral immersion pools, authentic mud wrap
The Norman Spa Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv's most exclusive urban spa operates within The Norman boutique hotel with private treatment suites, heated pool, and a menu featuring premium Israeli botanical products alongside international brands like Sisley and Natura Bissé.
Signature treatment: The Norman multi-hour ritual combining sea salt scrub, herbal wrap, and massage
Hammam Al-Pasha, Akko
An authentically restored 18th-century Ottoman hammam in Old Akko offering traditional Turkish bath experience with steam rooms, cold plunge, kese scrub, and foam massage. The beautifully domed historic building is itself a cultural attraction.
Signature treatment: Traditional kese exfoliation scrub and foam massage
Mizpe Hayamim Organic Spa
A holistic spa hotel growing its own medicinal herbs and creating treatments using organic ingredients from their gardens. Treatments range from herbal compress massages to plant-based facials, all within stunning Galilee mountain views.
Signature treatment: Garden-to-treatment herbal therapy using fresh-picked local botanicals
Wellness retreats
Multi-day immersive experiences.
Sivananda Yoga Farm Retreat, Arad
A desert yoga retreat near the Dead Sea offering classical Sivananda yoga twice daily, meditation sessions, vegetarian meals, and desert silence. The unique desert environment and proximity to the Dead Sea make this retreat spiritually potent and deeply restorative.
Kaima Farm Retreat, Jerusalem Hills
An eco-retreat on an organic farm in the Jerusalem Hills offering therapeutic farming activities, forest bathing, farm-to-table gourmet meals, massage treatments, and complete digital disconnection. The farm's permaculture gardens and proximity to nature provide genuine restoration.
Galilee Wellness Retreat, Moshav Amirim
A vegetarian moshav (cooperative community) in the Galilee known for holistic health. Several retreat packages combine Ayurvedic treatments, raw food cuisine, hiking, and workshops with alternative medicine practitioners from across Israel's vibrant holistic health community.
Signature treatments
Local specialties worth seeking out.
Massage
Swedish and deep tissue massage from 150 ILS ($40); Israeli-style sports massage popular with locals from 180 ILS ($49); traditional Thai massage available at specialist studios in Tel Aviv from 130 ILS ($35)
Hammam
Traditional Arab hammam (Turkish bath) available in Old Jaffa at Hammam Al-Pasha and in Acre at the Old City hammam from 120-200 ILS ($33-54); includes steam, kese exfoliation scrub, and foam massage
Body
Dead Sea mineral mud body wraps from 250 ILS ($68) at Dead Sea resort spas; salt scrub treatments from 200 ILS ($54); seaweed body wraps from 220 ILS ($60) at Mediterranean coastal spas
Facial
Dead Sea mineral facials from 200 ILS ($54); AHAVA brand signature facials widely available from 250 ILS ($68); LED therapy and advanced skin treatments at medical spas in Tel Aviv from 300 ILS ($82)
Yoga & meditation
Studios, classes, and meditation centres.
Pure Yoga Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv's largest yoga studio on Dizengoff Street offers daily drop-in classes at all levels from 6 AM to 9 PM including vinyasa, yin, restorative, and meditation. Drop-in $15, monthly pass $80.
Jerusalem Yoga Center
A well-established studio near Mahane Yehuda Market offering traditional Iyengar and Hatha yoga classes with certified teachers. Suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners, with classes in Hebrew and English. Drop-in $12.
Beach Yoga Tel Aviv
Free and paid outdoor yoga sessions on Tel Aviv beach year-round, particularly popular at Gordon Beach. The sunrise sessions combining meditation with Mediterranean sea views are a beloved local ritual.
Wellness travel tips
Get the most from your wellness experience.
Book Dead Sea resort spas well in advance during Jewish holidays (Pesach, Rosh Hashanah period) when Israeli families fill the resorts
Many spas close or reduce hours on Shabbat (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) - verify before booking
Dead Sea mud products purchased at the source are significantly cheaper than in international outlets - buy AHAVA directly in Israel
The best hammam experience is at historically authentic venues in Old Akko and Old Jaffa rather than modern hotel versions
Carmel Forest Spa Resort requires minimum 2-night stay for the full all-inclusive wellness package - day visits available but limited
Most hotel spas in Israel are gender-separated in traditional Jewish and Arab areas - confirm mixed/separate arrangements when booking
The Dead Sea's therapeutic waters are most potent at Ein Bokek resort beaches where mineral concentration is highest