The beaches of Bat Yam and Netanya and the ancient port of Jaffa are now part of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area – you can easily reach them from your city-centre hotel. The Dead Sea is well known for its water in which you float effortlessly and for its mud with healing qualities. This famous saltwater lake lies in the middle of the spectacular landscapes of the Negev Desert, just roughly an hour's drive from Jerusalem. And in only a two-hour drive from Tel Aviv or the capital, you can reach the breathtaking Makhtesh Ramon erosion cirque, a world-renowned geological formation beside the town of Mitzpe Ramon in the middle of the desert. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, head all the way up to very north of Israel to admire the beautiful Sea of Galilee, the world's lowest freshwater lake.