Palestinian Territories

Asia

Palestinian Territories

Visiting the Palestinian territories means walking through some of the oldest continuously inhabited landscapes in the world, from the terraced olive groves of the West Bank hills to the stone alleys of Bethlehem and Hebron's old city. Markets sell warm knafeh and fresh-pressed olive oil, and hospitality runs deep even amid difficult daily realities. Access can be limited and travel requires careful planning, but for those who visit, the welcome from local families and the layered history underfoot leave a lasting impression.

Why go thereSacred sites Ancient ruins Culture & heritage Markets & bazaars Food Architecture & cities Art museums Nature & landscapes Rural traditions

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Musakhan

Roast chicken on taboon bread under sumac-heavy onions and toasted pine nuts.

Maqluba

Rice, aubergine and meat cooked in a pot and turned upside down onto the tray.

Maftoul

Hand-rolled bulgur pearls steamed over a chickpea and chicken broth.

Food & drink to try

Musakhan

Roast chicken on taboon bread under sumac-heavy onions and toasted pine nuts.

Maqluba

Rice, aubergine and meat cooked in a pot and turned upside down onto the tray.

Maftoul

Hand-rolled bulgur pearls steamed over a chickpea and chicken broth.

Knafeh Nabulsieh

Nabulsi cheese under orange semolina pastry, syruped and cut from a metal tray.

Sumagiyya

Gaza's sumac and chard stew with beef and chickpeas, eaten cold at Eid.

Rummaniyya

Lentils and aubergine cooked sour with pomegranate, a Gazan winter dish.

Qidra

Hebron rice and lamb cooked with whole garlic in a sealed clay pot.

Za'atar

Wild hyssop with sumac and sesame, eaten with oil and bread at breakfast.

Zeit wa za'atar

Olive oil and za'atar, the simplest and most constant Palestinian meal.

Warak dawali

Vine leaves rolled thin around rice and lamb, cooked with lemon and ribs.

Msakhan rolls

The same onion and sumac chicken rolled in thin bread and baked in fingers.

Fatteh

Toasted bread under chickpeas, yoghurt and browned butter.

Sfiha

Open meat pies with pomegranate molasses, eaten several at a time.

Freekeh

Green wheat burnt in the field and cracked, cooked as a soup or with chicken.

Maqluba dajaj

The chicken version of the upturned pot, layered with cauliflower.

Qizha

Black nigella seed paste from Nablus, stirred into sweets and bread.

Tahini

Sesame ground on stone mills in Nablus, thinned with lemon for every table.

Qahwa

Cardamom coffee poured in small amounts and refilled until the cup is shaken.

Entry & health

Set your passport

travel.state.gov geocountries.com travelpalestine.ps

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

<cite index="3-1">In the West Bank, tipping in restaurants is not common, except in the larger tourist facilities. Smaller cafes and restaurants are usually family run and locals do not tip.</cite> <cite index="3-2">Israelis and Palestinians usually do not tip a taxi driver.</cite> That said, a small tip (rounding up the bill, or a shekel or two for a taxi) is appreciated from tourists and welcome

Dress modestly, especially at religious/holy sites and in more conservative towns — <cite index="7-0">covered shoulders and covered knees are appropriate in all contexts outside of private homes where the host has indicated otherwise</cite>.
<cite index="5-0">Being affectionate in public is likely to cause offence, and conservative standards of dress and behaviour apply at holy sites in Jerusalem, and throughout much of the West Bank and Gaza.</cite>
<cite index="5-0">Ask permission before taking photos of people.</cite>
Expect strong hospitality — being invited for tea or coffee is a common and genuine gesture; accepting graciously is polite.
Fridays are the main day of rest/prayer for the Muslim majority, so many shops and offices close or run reduced hours — plan sightseeing accordingly.
Respect that the West Bank and Gaza are politically distinct and separated by Israel, and crossing between them or into Gaza is not straightforward for tourists.

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Palestinian Territories — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA